Canada provides assisted death option for those in poverty

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In 2016, Canada introduced MAID, medical assistance in dying program for adults with terminal illness. There was an update to the MAID program in 2021, where individuals with serious and chronic physical conditions would be eligible, even if the condition was not life threatening. In 2021, there were 10,064 MAID cases which accounts for 3.3% of all deaths in Canada. In 2024, MAID will be available for individuals with severe mental illness as well. This has raised concerns on the ethics of this program and if it is making death too easy of a solution for those in a vulnerable state. The MAID law itself is vague with the motivation not to offend people. The concern is due to the vagueness of the law, it is not specific enough to protect people.


Canada has some of the lowest social care spending and is known for being a country with very limited funding to help the unhoused and those with disabilities. It was found that it was more affordable to have people go through with assisted death than the cost of healthcare for chronic conditions. Based on the definition of the MAID law, anyone with a chronic medical condition can be approved for assisted death, this would include people with disabilities. Individuals with disabilities are requesting assisted death due to poverty, homelessness and not being able to receive the medical treatment or support they need to live a quality life. It seems strange that we live in a time where people with disabilities experience difficulty receiving the medical treatment they need yet experience minimal barriers when requesting approval for assisted death.


It is often underestimated the effect that poverty has on one’s mental health. Living in a constant state of stress and cutting corners when it comes to medication, food, clothes, ect. When Canadians were asked about their thoughts on MAID, many said they would prefer to live but felt their only choice would be to end their life as they were too poor to improve their conditions due to their community failing to provide them the resources they need to survive. When people start saying they want to end their life because they don’t want to live in poverty anymore, it is clear that their government has failed them. Even if it was not the original intent of the bill, many believe it has come to the point where Canada is solving the deficiencies of their social care system through the MAID program.


References

Who can die? Canada wrestles with euthanasia for the mentally ill. (n.d.). BBC News. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-64004329


Hungry, Poor, and Disabled Canadians Now Seeking Assisted Suicide. (2022, December 13). NCR. https://www.ncregister.com/cna/hungry-poor-and-disabled-canadians-now-seeking-assisted-suicide

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