Canada’s Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID) Developments
Canada’s federal government, under the leadership of former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, legalized medical assistance in dying in 2016. Critics had, perhaps unsurprisingly, anticipated a swift and significant liberalization of these programs, resulting in an increase in both the number of accepted rationales for euthanasia and the total deaths attributed to it.
Now, Alberta seems determined to rein in the expansion of MAID, especially in light of the upcoming changes to eligibility set for next year by the Carney government.
Background
Initially, in its first year of operation, MAID assisted 1,108 Canadians. The following year, that figure surged to over three times that amount. By 2021, the number of individuals euthanized under the program had exceeded 10,000 annually. More recently, a government report indicated that in 2024, 16,499 people underwent euthanasia, representing about 5% of all deaths in Canada that year. Alarmingly, approximately 4.4% of those euthanized did not have a terminal illness, with Alberta noting a slightly higher rate of 4.6%.
As of the end of 2024, projections suggest that around 76,000 Canadians could have been euthanized under MAID.
Initially, applicants were required to be over 18 and demonstrate a “serious and irreversible medical condition” that caused significant suffering. However, the landscape has shifted, complicating matters further, as financial struggles, PTSD, and other mental health issues have increasingly entered the conversation.
Notably, a significant change is expected on March 17, 2027, when individuals suffering solely from mental illness will also become eligible for MAID.
Alberta’s Response
The Attorney General of Alberta, Mickey Amery, who also serves as the Minister of Justice for the United Conservative Party, recently introduced the Safeguards for Termination of Life by Last Resort Act. This legislation aims to enhance oversight and clarify the eligibility criteria for MAID.
This new bill would restrict MAID to certain cases, prohibiting it for individuals whose only underlying issue is mental illness or who lack the capacity to make informed health care decisions. It would also limit euthanasia for individuals whose natural death is not reasonably foreseeable, and it would grant healthcare professionals the authority to refuse participation in the process. Penalties would be imposed on those who violate these regulations.
Amery noted, “Canada has the fastest growing MAID-related mortality rate in the world,” pointing out that this program has quickly transformed from a last resort into a leading cause of death in the country. Projections suggest Canada could reach 100,000 MAID deaths soon, a staggering statistic compared to other regions that allow physician-assisted death.
Premier Daniel Smith emphasized the need for treatment and support for those enduring severe mental health issues rather than offering them an endpoint through MAID. A Kansas-based health program director expressed support for the protective measures outlined in Alberta’s new legislation.
While the Catholic bishops in Alberta remarked that euthanasia is fundamentally wrong, they acknowledged the bill as a positive step forward. They stressed the importance of protecting vulnerable populations and ensuring proper care for all.
A disabled rights advocate reiterated the necessity of state support for disabled lives rather than fostering systems that enable euthanasia. Some media voices against the bill have framed it as a significant limitation on patients’ rights, arguing that it undermines autonomy and choice.
Former health officials in Alberta have spoken out against the proposed restrictions, contending that they could lead to increased suffering for capable individuals in need. These discussions seem to underscore an ongoing debate about the balance between individual rights and protections within the rapidly evolving realm of medical assistance in dying.
