Canada should 'indefinitely exclude' people with mental illness from assisted dying, report says
Summary
A Canadian parliamentary committee recommends that people whose only illness is a mental disorder should not be allowed to use medical assistance in dying (MAID) for an indefinite time. The report follows multiple delays to expanding MAID eligibility and highlights ongoing debates and legal challenges about assisted dying for mental illness.Key Facts
- Canada’s committee report advises indefinitely excluding people with only mental illness from assisted dying.
- Medical assistance in dying (MAID) laws have existed in Canada for 10 years, initially allowing it only for terminally ill adults.
- Expansion to include mental illness has been delayed twice, most recently until March 2027.
- Some committee members disagreed with the report, calling it biased and flawed.
- The government must respond to the report by July 11.
- The committee heard from medical experts, advocates, and European countries that allow assisted dying for mental illness.
- Conservative politicians support the exclusion, calling expansion dangerous.
- Legal cases are ongoing from people with mental illness seeking access to MAID.
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