More than five percent of all deaths in Canada in 2024 were the result of legalized doctor-assisted suicide, according to the latest government report on MAID (Medical Assistance in Dying).Key findings from the 2024 report:
- 95.6% of MAID cases (n=15,767) were Track 1 (death reasonably foreseeable).
- 4.4% of cases (n=732) were Track 2 (death not reasonably foreseeable).
For Track 1 patients, where death is imminent, most people cited a terminal cancer diagnosis, including lung, colorectal, pancreatic and blood cancer.
For Track 2 patients, where death was not imminent, the most commonly cited underlying medical conditions were neurological disorders and “other” conditions such as diabetes, frailty, autoimmune diseases, and chronic pain.
When MAID was first debated and legalized, Health Canada estimated it would account for no more than 2% of all deaths. The rate has since more than doubled that projection and continues to rise.
There have been several documented cases of Canadians receiving euthanasia primarily due to financial stress or poverty, including one woman who said she “simply cannot afford to keep living.”
In a survey conducted last month, 25% of Canadians agreed that poverty or homelessness should qualify someone for MAID.Canadian politicians are currently debating whether to expand eligibility to include mature minors (children) and people whose sole condition is mental illness.
