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Euthanasia in Canada in its legal voluntary form is called Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD, also spelled MAID) and it first became legal along with assisted suicide in June 2016 for those whose death was reasonably foreseeable.[1] Before this time, it was illegal as a form of culpable homicide. In March 2021, the law was further amended by Bill C-7 to include those suffering from a grievous and irremediable condition whose death was not reasonably foreseeable.[2] The planned inclusion of people with mental illnesses is controversial and has been repeatedly delayed. The legality of this postponement to 2027 is being challenged in court.[3]
The intensity and breadth of Canada's MAID program has led to condemnation of its program by UN human rights experts and disability rights groups in Canada.[4] It has also been the subject of substantial international attention and criticism.[5][6][7] Human rights advocates have criticized Canada's euthanasia laws for lacking safeguards, devaluing the lives of disabled people, prompting health workers and doctors to suggest euthanasia to people who would not otherwise consider it, and killing people who were not receiving adequate government support to continue living.[4] According to the Fifth Annual Report on MAID, there were 15,343 MAID provisions reported in Canada, accounting for 4.7% of all deaths in Canada.[8] There have been 60,301 MAID deaths reported in Canada since the introduction of legislation in 2016.[8]
- ^ "Medical assistance in dying: Legislation in Canada". Government of Canada. 28 October 2024. Retrieved 8 January 2025.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
C7 viewerwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Cite error: The named reference
CTV constitutionalwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ a b Cheng, Maria (11 August 2022). "'Disturbing': Experts troubled by Canada's euthanasia laws". Associated Press. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
- ^ "As Bill C-7 reaches Senate, UN watchdog raises concerns about MAiD for persons with disabilities". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 2 February 2021.
- ^ Zhu, Yuan Yi (31 December 2022). "Most-read 2022: Why is Canada euthanising the poor?". The Spectator. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
- ^ "As assisted dying broadens, countries wrestle with new ethical lines". Christian Science Monitor. ISSN 0882-7729. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
- ^ a b "Fifth annual report on Medical Assistance in Dying in Canada 2023". www.canada.ca. 11 December 2024. Archived from the original on 11 December 2024. Retrieved 14 December 2024.