New government data reveals that medically-assisted dying (MAID), also known as voluntary euthanasia, accounted for 4.7% of all deaths in Canada in 2023, marking a significant increase in the number of assisted deaths since euthanasia was legalized in 2016. The report, the fifth annual release since legalization, shows that approximately 15,300 people chose medically-assisted death last year, up nearly 16% from 2022.
The majority of those who opted for assisted dying were elderly, with a median age of over 77. Around 96% of cases involved individuals whose death was deemed “reasonably foreseeable,” usually due to terminal conditions like cancer. A smaller group, however, sought euthanasia despite not being terminally ill, citing long-term, debilitating illnesses that severely affected their quality of life.
Canada remains among a few countries to have introduced assisted dying laws in recent years, alongside nations such as Australia, New Zealand, Spain, and Austria. Under Canadian law, consenting adults with a serious and irremediable medical condition can request assistance in dying, provided two independent healthcare providers confirm their eligibility.
In 2023, over 320,000 people died in Canada, with 15,300 opting for assisted death, about one in every 20 deaths. Despite the increase, the growth rate of assisted deaths slowed considerably in 2023 compared to previous years, with a 16% rise instead of the usual 31%. The reasons for this slowdown remain unclear.
For the first time, the report also provided data on the ethnic and racial makeup of those who chose assisted death. It found that approximately 96% of those who died by euthanasia identified as white, despite white people making up only about 70% of Canada’s population. The second-largest group were East Asians, who represented 1.8% of assisted deaths, compared to their 5.7% share of the total population.
Quebec continued to lead the country in the use of medically-assisted death, accounting for nearly 37% of all euthanasia deaths, even though the province represents only 22% of Canada’s population. Quebec has launched a study to explore why its euthanasia rate is disproportionately high.
While the number of assisted deaths grows in Canada, the country still lags behind the Netherlands, where euthanasia accounted for 5% of total deaths last year. In the UK, MPs recently voted to approve a bill allowing terminally ill adults in England and Wales the right to seek assisted death, though it faces months of further scrutiny before becoming law.
Some critics of Canada’s euthanasia system, such as the Christian think tank Cardus, have raised concerns about the rapid growth of assisted dying, calling it alarming. The report comes as Canadian provinces have expressed reservations about expanding the program to include those with mental illnesses, a move initially scheduled for earlier this year but delayed after concerns about system capacity.
In Ontario, a controversial report highlighted cases where individuals were granted assisted dying despite not being terminally ill. One case involved a woman in her 50s with depression and a chemical sensitivity who requested euthanasia after struggling to find housing that met her medical needs. In another instance, a Nova Scotia cancer patient revealed that she was repeatedly asked if she considered assisted dying during her mastectomy surgeries, which she described as “inappropriate.”
Concerns have also emerged over the potential for people with disabilities to consider euthanasia due to inadequate housing or disability benefits. As the number of medically-assisted deaths continues to rise, the slippery slope of euthanasia is seen in the debate over the ethics and the seemingly increasing erosion of safeguards around assisted dying.
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