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OTTAWA — With the Liberal government almost certain to miss the Supreme Court’s deadline for passing a new assisted-dying law, the focus turns to what will happen on June 6. Will there be a stampede of Canadians rushing to ask their physicians to help them die? Will their doctors oblige?

Medical and legal experts agree that some Canadians who wouldn’t otherwise qualify will ask their doctors for help in ending their lives before Bill C-14 comes into effect. That includes people with mental illnesses or other non-terminal conditions.

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But there’s sharp disagreement over how many physicians will actually approve such requests.

Until June 6, only superior court judges can decide whether someone is eligible for an assisted death. If a new law is not in place at that time, however, it will be up to individual doctors to make such a determination.

Physicians will not make such decisions in a vacuum. The Supreme Court laid out four criteria for determining who qualifies for an assisted death. The person must be a competent adult, provide clear consent, have a “grievous or irremediable medical condition,” and be enduring “intolerable” suffering.