Increasing Number of Canadians Opting for Medically Assisted Death
Over 15,000 Canadians opted for medically assisted death last year under the nation's suicide legislation. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
A recent government report highlights the increasing prevalence of euthanasia within Canada, indicating that it accounted for nearly 5% of all deaths in the country last year. Health Canada’s annual report on medical assistance in dying (MAID), published on Wednesday, reveals that 15,343 individuals underwent euthanasia in 2023, marking a record high. While this figure reflects a growth of 15.8% compared to 2022, it signifies a decline from the previously observed average annual growth rate of approximately 31%.
Despite the slowed growth rate, the statistics still underscore another double-digit rise in the number of Canadians choosing to end their lives through the nation’s assisted suicide law. The MAID report commented that it is “not yet possible to make reliable conclusions about whether or not these findings represent a stabilization of growth rates over the longer term.”
Federal data indicates that assisted deaths represented 4.7% of total deaths in 2023, up from 4.1% the year prior.
The report noted that over 95% of euthanasia cases involved individuals with terminal illnesses, with cancer being the most cited cause for requests. The average age of those seeking assisted death exceeds 77.
The report further stated, “An increased awareness of MAID within the care continuum, population aging, and the associated patterns of illness or disease, personal beliefs, and societal acceptance, as well as the availability of practitioners who provide MAID, may all influence the rate of provisions.”
In Canada, medically assisted death is currently legal only for individuals based on a physical health condition. However, reports suggest the government is contemplating the inclusion of individuals with Alzheimer’s and dementia, allowing them to request euthanasia before the conditions severely impact their quality of life.
Earlier this year, the government postponed a controversial initiative to permit assisted dying for those experiencing mental illness until at least 2027, emphasizing the necessity for healthcare services to adequately prepare. Medical professionals expressed their concerns regarding the current lack of training to determine eligibility for euthanasia among individuals with mental health conditions.
Canadian Health Minister Mark Holland acknowledged the government’s recognition of the equivalence of mental suffering to physical suffering but emphasized that it is a “question of readiness.”
In 2021, Canada amended its euthanasia legislation, eliminating the requirement for a patient’s condition to be terminal and allowing individuals with serious, non-curable conditions to request assisted death. The number of medically-assisted deaths has significantly increased since its introduction, rising from roughly 1,000 in 2016 to over 15,000 last year.
Other nations, including Austria, Australia, and Spain, have also started implementing assisted dying laws in recent years. Recently, the UK passed legislation addressing this issue, though the vote in the House of Commons does not represent a definitive conclusion on the matter.
Anna Muller contributed to this report for TROIB News
Despite the slowed growth rate, the statistics still underscore another double-digit rise in the number of Canadians choosing to end their lives through the nation’s assisted suicide law. The MAID report commented that it is “not yet possible to make reliable conclusions about whether or not these findings represent a stabilization of growth rates over the longer term.”
Federal data indicates that assisted deaths represented 4.7% of total deaths in 2023, up from 4.1% the year prior.
The report noted that over 95% of euthanasia cases involved individuals with terminal illnesses, with cancer being the most cited cause for requests. The average age of those seeking assisted death exceeds 77.
The report further stated, “An increased awareness of MAID within the care continuum, population aging, and the associated patterns of illness or disease, personal beliefs, and societal acceptance, as well as the availability of practitioners who provide MAID, may all influence the rate of provisions.”
In Canada, medically assisted death is currently legal only for individuals based on a physical health condition. However, reports suggest the government is contemplating the inclusion of individuals with Alzheimer’s and dementia, allowing them to request euthanasia before the conditions severely impact their quality of life.
Earlier this year, the government postponed a controversial initiative to permit assisted dying for those experiencing mental illness until at least 2027, emphasizing the necessity for healthcare services to adequately prepare. Medical professionals expressed their concerns regarding the current lack of training to determine eligibility for euthanasia among individuals with mental health conditions.
Canadian Health Minister Mark Holland acknowledged the government’s recognition of the equivalence of mental suffering to physical suffering but emphasized that it is a “question of readiness.”
In 2021, Canada amended its euthanasia legislation, eliminating the requirement for a patient’s condition to be terminal and allowing individuals with serious, non-curable conditions to request assisted death. The number of medically-assisted deaths has significantly increased since its introduction, rising from roughly 1,000 in 2016 to over 15,000 last year.
Other nations, including Austria, Australia, and Spain, have also started implementing assisted dying laws in recent years. Recently, the UK passed legislation addressing this issue, though the vote in the House of Commons does not represent a definitive conclusion on the matter.
Anna Muller contributed to this report for TROIB News
