OTTAWA: Canada is on the verge of expanding its regulations on medically assisted deaths, allowing advanced requests and access for “mature minors.” These developments will make Canada one of the most progressive countries globally in terms of medical assistance in dying (MAID), according to a report by an expert panel to Canada’s parliament.
The proposed mental health provision will provide an alternative for individuals who are already distressed with their medical conditions, evaluating death as a viable option. Since 2016, over 30,000 people in Canada have chosen medically assisted death, with more than 10,000 cases in 2021 alone when the legislation was expanded to include individuals whose deaths were not “reasonably foreseeable.” Notably, despite the legislative changes, approximately 98% of assisted deaths in 2021 still involved individuals deemed near their natural death, as per Health Canada data.
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To be eligible for the procedure, individuals must be covered by a Canadian healthcare program and undergo a written application process along with assessments from two independent medical practitioners. If the applicant is not near their natural death, at least one of the medical practitioners must specialize in their condition. The procedure often involves an injection administered at home.
Currently, the Canadian federal government is considering recommendations from a parliamentary committee to allow advance requests and access to assisted death for “mature minors,” referring to individuals under 18 who are deemed capable of making such decisions. Additionally, Quebec recently passed a law on June 7 that permits advance requests for assisted death, effective when individuals reach a predetermined point of incapacity due to conditions like Alzheimer’s.
Although the majority of assisted deaths in Canada comply with legal regulations, a small number have been subjected to investigation by provincial authorities, according to previously unreported data from provincial governments. It is important to note that healthcare responsibilities in Canada are primarily managed by provinces and territories.
However, Georges L’Esperance, president of the Quebec Association for the Right to Die with Dignity, indicated that it could take up to two years for the provision to take effect. Advocacy organization Dying With Dignity Canada has rallied support, gathering nearly 10,000 letters this year urging government officials to legalize advance requests nationwide.
