In 2016, Canada introduced MAiD, initially intended for terminally ill patients. However, in 2021, the federal government expanded the program, allowing chronically ill individuals, who are not at risk of imminent death, to seek euthanasia. This expansion has led to a rise in requests from individuals whose suffering may stem more from financial hardship and social isolation than from medical conditions alone. (Related: Disabled Canadian man reveals he's been offered EUTHANASIA multiple times by hospital staff.)
According to information published on Oct. 16 by the Associated Press, these non-terminal patients seeking MAiD come from impoverished communities in Ontario where access to adequate housing, social support and financial aid might have mitigated their distress.
One doctor recounted the case of a middle-aged man suffering from chronic injuries who sought euthanasia after the government support payments he received were reduced, leaving him trapped in poverty and without any other options.
In another case, a man suffering from a serious lung disease requested euthanasia largely because he was homeless and in debt, unable to face the prospect of long-term care. Despite initial hesitation, the doctor eventually agreed to the request.
Other cases involved an obese woman who referred to herself as a "useless body taking up space." One doctor argued that her condition met the criteria for MAiD, stating that obesity is "a medical condition which is indeed grievous and irremediable."
In another instance, an 80-year-old woman on dialysis sought MAiD after experiencing profound grief from losing her husband, sibling and pet cat all within six weeks.
These internal reports revealed that among the 4,528 euthanasia deaths in Ontario in 2023, 116 cases involved non-terminal patients, many of whom were impoverished. Data from Ontario's chief coroner also showed that more than three-quarters of individuals who were euthanized without an imminent risk of death in 2023 had been receiving disability support before their passing.
Moreover, nearly 29 percent of those euthanized despite not being terminally ill came from the poorest communities of Ontario, where only 20 percent of the province's general population resides.
Canadians turning to MAiD out of desperation
Canada has the world's fastest-growing program for euthanasia.
According to recent figures from Health Canada, 13,241 Canadians died by lethal injection through MAiD in 2022, representing 4.1 percent of all deaths that year – a significant 31.2 percent increase from the previous year.
This rapid increase in euthanasia coincides with mounting concerns over the healthcare system of Canada. The average wait time for receiving care has ballooned to 27.7 weeks, prompting some Canadians to turn to MAiD out of desperation, as they struggle to access timely medical support. For those who decline euthanasia, the experience can be isolating, with reports of patients being labeled "selfish" by healthcare providers for choosing to continue treatment.
But despite all this, some healthcare providers have raised ethical questions about its rapid expansion, especially in cases where vulnerable patients could be better served with real care and support rather than MAiD. "I don't want (euthanasia) to become the solution to every kind of suffering out there," a physician wrote to colleagues in one of their private forums.
"I have great discomfort with the idea of MAiD being driven by social circumstances," another admitted. "I don't have a good solution to social deprivation either, so I feel pretty useless when I receive requests like this."
Visit Euthanasia.news for more stories related to Canada's medical assistance in dying program.
Watch the video below that talks about assisted suicide.
This video is from the CHP Canada channel on Brighteon.com.
More related stories:
Euthanasia legalized in Australia: State of Victoria will allow assisted suicide beginning mid 2019.
Euthanasia- and infanticide-promoting philosopher wins $1 Million dollar Berggruen prize.
Op-ed: EUTHANASIA of young, healthy women in the Netherlands a warning to Canada.
Sources include:
Please contact us for more information.
