- Canada's Assisted Dying Rate Rises 16% in 2023
- 4.7% of Canadian Deaths Now Due to Euthanasia
- Report Sparks Debate Over Safeguards and Expansion
Canada’s rate of medical assistance in dying (MAID) has increased for the fifth consecutive year, albeit at a slower pace, according to the country’s fifth annual report on the practice. The report, released by Health Canada, reveals that approximately 15,300 people underwent assisted dying in 2023, accounting for 4.7% of deaths in the country.
The data also shows that the rate of assisted dying increased by nearly 16% in 2023, a significant drop from the average increase of 31% in previous years. The report notes that it is too early to determine the cause of the slowed growth rate.
The majority of those who requested assisted dying (around 96%) had a foreseeable natural death, while the remaining 4% were granted euthanasia due to having a long-term chronic illness with no imminent natural death. The average age of those seeking assisted dying was 77 years old, with cancer being the most frequent underlying medical condition.
For the first time, the report includes data on the ethnicity of those seeking assisted dying, revealing that around 96% of recipients identified as white, despite accounting for only 70% of Canada’s population. The second most reported ethnic group was east Asians (1.8%), who account for about 5.7% of Canadians.
Assisted dying continued to have the highest usage rate in Quebec, accounting for nearly 37% of all euthanasia deaths, despite the province holding just 22% of Canada’s population.
The report’s findings have sparked debate, with some citing Canada as a cautionary tale due to its perceived lack of safeguards. Cardus, a Christian think tank, described the latest figures as “alarming” and noted that Canada has one of the fastest-growing euthanasia programs in the world.
Health Canada defended the procedure, stating that the criminal code sets out “strict eligibility” criteria. However, concerns have been raised about the expansion of access to assisted dying, including plans to broaden access to people with mental illnesses by 2027.
Recent reports have also highlighted controversial cases where people were granted assisted dying despite not being near death, including a woman with a history of depression and suicidal thoughts who was granted euthanasia after failing to secure housing that met her medical needs.
Canadian news outlets have also reported on cases where people with disabilities have considered assisted dying due to a lack of housing or disability benefits, sparking further debate about the practice.
