Canada has decided to indefinitely postpone its plan to allow assisted dying for individuals suffering solely from mental illness due to a lack of consensus on the issue.
On October 7, the BBC reported that no agreement had been reached in Canada regarding the expansion of the scope of Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD).
According to Yonhap News, Canada legalized assisted dying in 2016, initially applying it only to patients with terminal illnesses. In 2021, the scope was expanded to include those with incurable diseases.
However, a clause was added to prevent assisted dying solely for mental illness.
Canada had aimed to expand eligibility to include individuals with mental health conditions in 2023, but due to a lack of social consensus, the clause has been extended, with its expiration approaching in March of next year. The government plans to submit a bill to Parliament soon to indefinitely extend the clause.
Sean Fraser, Canada’s Minister of Justice, stated, “While there is no perfect consensus on this issue, I believe this is the right approach for now.”
Meanwhile, advocates for the expansion of the program have criticized the decision, claiming it infringes on constitutional rights and access to healthcare services.
Helen Long, the head of the advocacy group Dying with Dignity, expressed disappointment, stating, “The number of individuals with severe chronic mental illnesses who would be eligible for this expansion is very small, but their suffering is comparable to that of those with physical diseases.”
The BBC reported that while a majority of Canadians support medically assisted dying, support decreases when it comes to patients with mental illnesses.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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