Coroners and Medical Assistance in Dying: Disrupting Death with Dr. Dirk Huyer

In this episode of Disrupting Death, Kathy and Keri-Lyn have the privilege of learning about the role of the Office of the Chief Coroner in medical assistance in dying (MAiD) from Dr. Dirk Huyer, Chief Coroner for Ontario since March of 2014.

Dr. Huyer received his medical degree from the University of Toronto in 1986. He has served as a coroner in Ontario since 1992, serving as Regional Supervising Coroner between 2008 and 2013. He has been directly involved in over 5,000 coroner’s investigations.

Dr. Huyer has specific expertise in the medical evaluation of child maltreatment and has worked with the Suspected Child Abuse and Neglect (SCAN) Program at the Hospital for Sick Children. He is also an Assistant Professor with the Department of Paediatrics at the University of Toronto.

Since early 2016, Dr. Huyer has been actively involved in Ontario’s response to Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD). He led the implementation of the reporting and oversight process followed by the Office of the Chief Coroner. Dr. Huyer has continued involvement with MAiD, bringing perspective of the post-death review process to policy tables and professional meetings. The approach to MAiD deaths has continued to evolve under Dr. Huyer’s leadership, with successful implementation of a team of specialised nurse investigators dedicated to MAiD review and oversight, along with a recent enhancement of the review process through the newly formed MAiD Death Review Committee.

Music for Disrupting Death was created by the ever-lovely Sarah McInnis. Sarah is a music therapist, a songwriter, a multi-instrumentalist, and an End-of-Life Doula. In 2021, Sarah began The Legacy Song Project, writing original songs for folks at the end of life and for those who have lost loved ones. To learn more about Sarah, visit her website sarahmcinnis.com.

This episode of Disrupting Death was produced by Sadie Mallon.