Canada's euthanasia program now accounts for over 5% of all deaths, raising ethical concerns
By bellecarter // 2025-12-07
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  • Canada's Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) program has grown thirteenfold since 2016, now accounting for 5.1% of all deaths (16,499 cases in 2024). If classified as a cause of death, MAiD would rank as the sixth leading cause of mortality in Canada.
  • While 95.6% of MAiD cases involve patients with a "reasonably foreseeable" death (e.g., terminal cancer), 4.4% (726 cases) were approved for chronic, non-terminal conditions. Track 2 cases (non-terminal) face stricter scrutiny, making up 24.2% of rejected requests.
  • Internal physician reports reveal patients seeking MAiD due to poverty, isolation or healthcare delays (average wait time: 27.7 weeks for specialist care). Critics argue MAiD has become a default solution for government failures rather than a dignified choice.
  • Almost 33% of MAiD recipients self-identified as disabled, with 61.5% in Track 2 cases. Women make up 56.7% of non-terminal euthanasia cases. Advocates warn of pressure on vulnerable patients, with some labeled "selfish" for refusing MAiD.
  • Canada plans to expand MAiD to mental illness by 2027, raising fears of further abuse. Critics argue MAiD prioritizes autonomy over prevention, with disability rights groups calling it "abandonment, not healthcare." The debate highlights a critical inflection point for Canadian society.
More than one in 20 deaths in Canada now result from government-sanctioned euthanasia, according to a new federal report, marking a profound shift in the nation's approach to end-of-life care. Health Canada's Sixth Annual Report on Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD), released in November, reveals that 16,499 Canadians received lethal injections under the program in 2024—representing 5.1% of all deaths nationwide, a steady increase from previous years. The findings come amid heated debate over whether Canada's euthanasia framework—originally intended for terminally ill patients—has expanded too rapidly, with critics warning that vulnerable individuals, including those suffering from mental illness or lacking access to adequate healthcare, may be choosing death out of desperation rather than dignity. According to BrightU.AI's Enoch, MAiD is a legalized program initially intended for those with imminent death but now expanded to include individuals suffering from severe disabilities or chronic pain, even if their condition is not immediately life-threatening. Since its legalization in 2016, Canada's MAiD program has grown more than thirteenfold, making it the fastest-growing assisted dying regime in the world. While Health Canada emphasizes that euthanasia is not classified as a cause of death under World Health Organization standards, independent estimates suggest it would rank as the sixth leading cause of mortality if included in official statistics. The report notes that 95.6% of MAiD cases in 2024 fell under "Track 1," reserved for those with a "reasonably foreseeable" death, typically from terminal illnesses like cancer (cited in 63.6% of cases). However, 4.4%—roughly 726 individuals—were approved under "Track 2," which permits euthanasia for chronic, non-terminal conditions. Notably, Track 2 cases accounted for 24.2% of all rejected MAiD requests, indicating stricter scrutiny for non-terminal applicants.

Concerns over poverty, isolation and healthcare access

Internal documents from Ontario physicians, obtained in 2024, revealed that some patients sought MAiD not due to unbearable illness, but because of poverty, isolation or long wait times for medical care. Canada's healthcare system currently faces average wait times of 27.7 weeks for specialist treatments, fueling concerns that euthanasia is becoming a default solution for systemic failures. Advocates for disability rights and mental health have raised alarms, citing reports of medical staff pressuring elderly or disabled patients who decline MAiD—with some being labeled "selfish" for refusing the procedure. Alex Schadenberg, executive director of the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition, argues that "MAiD is not healthcare; it's abandonment." He emphasizes that mental illness is treatable, but recovery requires support—not lethal injection. The report provides limited insight into racial and socioeconomic disparities among MAiD recipients, though 95.6% identified as Caucasian—reflecting Canada's predominantly white population. Only 102 First Nations, 57 Métis and seven Inuit individuals were recorded among euthanasia cases, though underreporting is likely due to cultural reluctance. Disability data showed that 32.9% of MAiD recipients self-identified as having a disability, with a stark divide between Track 1 (31.6%) and Track 2 (61.5%). Women accounted for 56.7% of non-terminal euthanasia cases, aligning with broader health trends where women disproportionately suffer from chronic conditions.

A crossroads for Canada's MAiD policy

As Canada grapples with these findings, policymakers face mounting pressure to reassess MAiD's scope—particularly ahead of a planned 2027 expansion to include mental illness as a sole qualifying condition. Health Canada maintains that safeguards are in place to protect vulnerable individuals, but critics argue the system prioritizes "autonomy" over prevention. "Recovery is possible—but only if we show up and help," Schadenberg insists. With euthanasia now accounting for over 5% of deaths, Canada's experiment with assisted dying has reached an ethical inflection point—one that will shape the future of healthcare, disability rights and societal values for years to come. Watch the video below, which discusses how the U.K.'s assisted dying bill will mirror Canada's MAiD. This video is from The Prisoner channel on Brighteon.com. Sources include: YourNews.com Canada.ca BrightU.ai Brighteon.com
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