MAiD - CANADA'S "Healthcare" Option

(Heading from the Government of Canada website)

MAiD: Death With Dignity?

Offered as part of Canada’s healthcare system, the Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) program is promoted as a way to provide Canadians with “death with dignity.”

Since becoming a legal option in Canada in 2016, 60,301 deaths have been administered through this program by the end of 2023.

Who Chooses MAiD?

Demographics of MAiD Recipients in Canada:

• Average Age: 77.6 years

• Gender: ~52% male, 48% female

• Primary Medical Conditions:

  • Cancer: 63%

  • Cardiovascular disease: 18.8%

  • Respiratory disease: 13.2%

  • Neurological conditions: 12.6%

  • Other conditions (frailty, chronic pain, etc.): 14.9%

• Palliative Care Access: 75% of recipients had access to palliative care.

Canada vs. USA: Two Different Approaches to Assisted Dying

While Canada has embraced the MAiD program nationwide, the United States has taken a much more limited and cautious approach. Only 11 U.S. states have legalized some form of physician-assisted suicide.

The key distinction:

• In Canada, doctors (or nurse practitioners) administer the lethal drugs—euthanasia.

• In the USA, the patient must self-administer the drugs. Physicians may prescribe, but they do not carry out the final act. This requirement is seen as a safeguard to protect personal autonomy and reduce the risk of coercion.

By the Numbers:

• Canada (2016–2023): 60,301 deaths via MAiD

• USA (across 11 states): 5,329 doctor-assisted suicides

The Bigger Questions

The stark differences between Canada’s and the USA’s approach highlight broader societal, legal, and ethical debates around assisted dying.

Future editions will take a deeper look at these issues—examining the ethical dilemmas, moral arguments, and practical concerns that come with choosing to end life through medical intervention.