Craig McCulloh
Voice of America News
Originally posted 8 Feb 24
The Canadian government is delaying access to medically assisted death for people with mental illness.
Those suffering from mental illness were supposed to be able to access Medical Assistance in Dying — also known as MAID — starting March 17. The recent announcement by the government of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was the second delay after original legislation authorizing the practice passed in 2021.
The delay came in response to a recommendation by a majority of the members of a committee made up of senators and members of Parliament.
One of the most high-profile proponents of MAID is British Columbia-based lawyer Chris Considine. In the mid-1990s, he represented Sue Rodriguez, who was dying from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, commonly known as ALS.
Their bid for approval of a medically assisted death was rejected at the time by the Supreme Court of Canada. But a law passed in 2016 legalized euthanasia for individuals with terminal conditions. From then until 2022, more than 45,000 people chose to die.
Summary:
Canada originally planned to expand its Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) program to include individuals with mental illnesses in March 2024.
- This plan has been postponed until 2027 due to concerns about the healthcare system's readiness and potential ethical issues.
- The original legislation passed in 2021, but concerns about safeguards and mental health support led to delays.
- This issue is complex and ethically charged, with advocates arguing for individual autonomy and opponents raising concerns about coercion and vulnerability.
I would be concerned about the following issues:
- Vulnerability: Mental illness can impair judgement, raising concerns about informed consent and potential coercion.
- Safeguards: Concerns exist about insufficient safeguards to prevent abuse or exploitation.
- Mental health access: Limited access to adequate mental health treatment could contribute to undue pressure towards MAiD.
- Social inequalities: Concerns exist about disproportionate access to MAiD based on socioeconomic background.
