Canada's MAID (Medical Assistance In Dying)

"The implications of Canada's law [on euthanasia] is that a life with disability is automatically less worth living and that in some cases, death is preferable."

Theresia Degener, professor or law and disability studies, Protestant University for Applied Sciences, Germany

 

"[Canada's euthanasia law is] probably the biggest existential threat to disabled people since the Nazis' program in Germany in the 1930s."

Tim Stanton, director, Canadian Institute for Inclusion and Citizenship, University of British Columbia

 

"[Canadian politicians should listen to the concerns of those facing hardships who believe euthanasia is their only option'."

"In an era where we recognize the right to die with dignity, we must do more to guarantee the right to live with dignity."

Marie-Claude Landry, Ad. E., Chief Commissioner, Canadian Human Rights Commission

The Senate has passed Bill C-7, which expands access to medical assistance in dying, including, eventually, to people suffering solely from mental illnesses. CBC

Disability experts have concluded that Canada has the world's most permissive euthanasia regulations which permit people with serious disabilities to decide to reach out for death, absent any other medical issues. A majority of Canadians in general support the concept of euthanasia for those for whom life is untenable for medical reasons. The advocacy group Dying With Dignity hails the process as being "driven by compassion", to end human suffering. Well and good.

 

Human rights advocates on the other hand, feel the regulations are too loose, lacking required safeguards. In the process lives of disabled people are devalued, inciting doctors and health workers to recommend the procedure to those of their patients who might not otherwise consider ending their lives. According to advocates, troubling instances occur where people seek assisted suicide in direct relation to inadequate government support in living.

 

Euthanasia access is to expand in 2023, against advocacy that insists the system warrants scrutiny at the present time. The euthanasia law "recognizes the rights of all persons -- as well as the inherent and equal value of every life", insists Canada's health minister. Euthanasia protocol sees doctors administer drugs meant to take away life of patients -- meant to be a compassionate response to people's end-of-life requests -- is legal in Belgium, Canada, Colombia, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand and Spain, along with several states in Australia.

Jurisdictions in several American states permit assisted suicide, with patients themselves under supervision taking the lethal drug that will end their lives. Originally in 2016 when Canada introduced euthanasia legally, the procedure was to be granted to people age 18 and over meeting several criteria, including having a "grievous and irremediable" medical condition that caases unbearable suffering. Death was to be reasonably foreseeable, as a qualification.

Later legislation removed the death-be-imminent restriction, an issue removing a key safeguard, according to critics of the legislation. In Belgium and the Netherlands, euthanasia has been legal for the past two decades, where monthly commissions review potentially troubling cases. Canada lacks this oversight. No restrictions apply to doctors suggesting euthanasia to patients who have not themselves requested it; strictly forbidden elsewhere as a practise.

There is no requirement to have exhausted all treatment options for people seeking euthanasia in Canada, unlike what pertains in Belgium and the Netherlands. Under current Canadian euthanasia law, any adult with a serious illness, disease or disability can apply for euthanasia. Critics say that permitting euthanasia based solely on disability represents a clear human rights violation.

Another issue has arisen, whereby in some instances people finding themselves with mounting medical bills due to their disabilities choose to be euthanized. Canada is preparing to allow people to be euthanized from next year for mental health reasons exclusively. Consideration of extending euthanasia is being given to "mature" minors, children under age 18 meeting the same criteria as adults.

 

The most needily vulnerable people whose lives could be improved sufficiently so as to make them worthwhile living with some thoughtful medical and therapeutic assistance, along with government disability financial assistance surely is far preferable in a compassionate society than offering suffering humanity early death in lieu of life under tolerable living conditions. 

 

Kiefer Pix/Shutterstock

"A few days ago, a 30-year-old patient with very treatable mental illness asked me to end her life. Her distraught parents came to the appointment with her because they were afraid that I might support her request and that they would be helpless to do anything about it. It’s horrific they have to worry that by going to a psychiatrist, their daughter might be killed by that very psychiatrist."

Psychiatrist editor of the Journal of Ethics in Mental Health