The Chief Medical Officer of Health for Southern Health-Sante Sud says, to his knowledge, there have been no requests for assisted dying within the RHA. Dr. Denis Fortier made the comment after word that, in the first four months since the law came into effect in June, 60 Manitobans had requested assisted dying, and 12 of them had undergone the procedure.

"We have asked all our physicians, if there is a request, to bring this to my attention and I will say that, so far, no cases have come to my attention that way."

Fortier adds if a request came forward for assisted dying, Southern Health would refer the person to a special medical team based in Winnipeg.

"This team of experts, as far as I know, is a team of people from around the province. They have done extensive research and reviewed extensive literature to determine the best way to approach the procedure of assisting people with dying. Because it's such an important, delicate procedure, I feel, and I think my colleagues feel, that the best approach is for people to go see experts in the field."

Fortier says Southern Health won't do such procedures, but will instead give people information on where it can be done.

"By law, we have to comply and so what we have determined, both within our region and with our physicians and nursing stakeholders etc., is that the way we can comply, I guess in good conscience, would be to offer the information to our patients who are requesting (assisted dying) of where they can go get information and where they can access the service."