Death by Doctor May Soon Be Available for the Mentally Ill in Canada

Canada currently has one of the world’s most liberal assisted death laws, allowing it for terminally and chronically ill individuals. However, a new law, set to take effect in March, will extend assisted dying to those with only mental illness, making Canada one of a few countries with such provisions. 

This move has sparked division among Canadians, with some seeing it as an indication of insufficient psychiatric care in the public health system. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government, criticized for the policy rollout, cites a 2019 court decision in Quebec as the basis for expansion. Opposition comes from both the Conservative Party, accusing the government of promoting a “culture of death,” and left-leaning politicians advocating for a focus on expanding mental health care. 

Individuals who suffer from severe depression and have unsuccessfully attempted suicide are advocating for assisted dying as they feel resistant to available treatments and unable to endure continued suffering.

For more information see Vjosa Isai “Death by Doctor May Soon Be Available for the Mentally Ill in Canada”, The New York Times, December 27, 2023.

Special thanks to Lewis Saret (Attorney, Washington, D.C.) for bringing this article to my attention.