In brief
Canada’s justice ministry has indefinitely suspended the move to let people with mental illness alone access medically assisted dying (Maid) after a parliamentary panel found no clear consensus on eligibility. The decision, announced by Justice Minister Sean Fraser, will mean those who would have qualified under plans for March 2027 will be left without that option. Supporters argue the restriction violates constitutional rights and curtails end‑of‑life care, while a federal court case continues to challenge the earlier 2021 delay. Fraser hinted the government will soon introduce new legislation allowing patients with progressing incurable illness to request assisted dying before their condition worsens, a change not yet legal. The move follows earlier delays in 2023 to study practical delivery and follows concerns raised by disability advocates over the program’s reach.
Canada’s justice ministry has announced it will indefinitely suspend the move to let people with mental illness alone access medically assisted dying (Maid), after a parliamentary panel found no clear consensus on eligibility.
Justice Minister Sean Fraser said the choice is difficult but believes it is the correct approach. The pause means those who would have qualified under plans for March 2027 will lack that option.
Supporters say restricting the program violates constitutional rights and limits end‑of‑life care. A federal court case remains that challenges the earlier 2021 decision to delay expanding Maid for mental‑illness patients.
Fraser hinted the government will soon introduce new legislation that would allow patients with progressing incurable illness to request assisted dying before their condition worsens. The current law only permits requests while patients are still able to decide.
Maiden laws first passed in 2016 for terminally ill patients and broadened in 2021 to cover those with incurable but non‑imminent deaths. Questions about the program’s reach are not new; disability advocates raised concerns over cases where people with disabilities were offered assisted dying without their clear request.
The government’s change follows earlier delays in 2023 to study how the extension could be delivered. The public is invited to share views and stay updated via PulseWire’s live discussion thread.
