Original article (in Serbian) was published on 8/2/2024; Author: Stefan Kosanović
In 2016, Canada introduced medical assistance in dying (MAID), marking a significant shift in its healthcare policy, although Quebec, its largest province, had already legalized the practice a year prior. Recently, plans to expand MAID to include individuals with mental disorders sparked a heated public debate, leading to a postponement of this expansion. Amidst this controversy, misleading reports emerged on domestic web portals, falsely claiming that Canada was euthanizing citizens experiencing stress. The Canadian Ministry of Health – Health Canada – has refuted these claims, emphasizing the stringent criteria and rigorous procedures required for patients to be eligible for the MAID program.
In 2016, Canada passed a law legalizing euthanasia for individuals suffering from incurable and untreatable diseases expected to lead to death within a short period.
Five years later, the legislation was broadened to include those with incurable, though not necessarily terminal, conditions. There were plans to further expand this law to include people with mental disorders. However, due to concerns about the medical system’s readiness, the government has recently postponed this extension for three years.
This delay and ongoing debate around euthanasia have led to the spread of misinformation. For example, Webtribune, followed by Srbin.info, Objektivno and Nulta tacka, erroneously reported that ‘in Canada, stressed out citizens are being euthanized to help save the planet.’
“Trudeau’s health minister, Mark Holland, has announced that the controversial medical assistance in dying (MAID) program will be extended to those suffering from mild mental disorders, such as stress or transient anxiety”, reported these media outlets. However, neither stress nor transient anxiety are mental disorders, making the claim unfounded.
Contrary to these reports, mental health conditions alone do not qualify an individual for the MAID program. Health Canada has explicitly confirmed to Raskrikavanje that only those suffering from a serious and incurable illness or disability, which results in an advanced state of irreversible decline in capability and causes enduring and unbearable suffering, are eligible for MAID. This process is stringent, requiring the approval of two independent doctors who agree that the patient fulfills all the necessary criteria. Thus, it’s clear that the program has strict guidelines to determine eligibility, ensuring that only those who meet these specific conditions can access MAID.
To categorize a patient as “incurable”, doctors must investigate all previous attempts at treatment, the duration and intensity of treatment, as well as the severity of the illness or disability. “A person cannot refuse all or most treatment and automatically become incurable to access MAID”, Health Canada explains in a statement to Raskrikavanje, adding that assessment of patients must be done over a period of time, not just during times of stress or emotional distress.
The proposed extension of the MAID program is intended for individuals whose sole qualifying health condition is a mental disorder, provided they meet all other existing eligibility criteria. This expansion is geared towards conditions primarily managed by psychiatry, such as depression and personality disorders, but explicitly excludes neurocognitive and neurodevelopmental disorders, along with other conditions impacting cognitive functions.
Since the proposal in 2021 to expand Canada’s medical assistance in dying (MAID) program to include mental disorders, there has been significant public opposition and criticism from several institutions, including notable objections from the Center for Addiction and Mental Health Canada. These critics highlight the medical system’s unpreparedness for such an expansion.
The primary concerns revolve around the lack of precise clinical guidelines, inadequate resources, and the absence of clear procedures to differentiate between individuals with suicidal intentions and those genuinely seeking medical assistance for enduring and unbearable suffering.
Our colleagues from Croatia’s fact-checking outlet Faktograf also addressed manipulative claims regarding euthanasia in Canada.