Medical Assistance in Dying in Canada: Too Much, Too Fast?

August 23, 2022

(Medscape) – Canada will expand eligibility for medical assistance in dying (MAID) in 2023 to include individuals with a mental disorder as the sole underlying condition. The change is adding fuel to the MAID debate, which has been simmering among practitioners and the public since the law went into effect in 2016. Data suggest that about 80% of Canadians support making it easier to make their own end-of-life decisions; however, that support is nuanced, according to Canada’s Cardus think tank. Whereas 33% are “enthusiastic supporters” of MAID, 48% are “cautious supporters” who “express serious concerns about how MAID might harm aging and vulnerable Canadians as well as the Canadian healthcare system.” (Read More)