Medically assisted deaths made up 4.7% of all deaths in Canada last year, according to a report released by Health Canada. Approximately 15,300 individuals underwent euthanasia in 2023, reflecting a 16% increase from the previous year.
Most patients who sought euthanasia were over 77 years old, and 96% of cases involved terminal illnesses such as cancer, where death was considered “reasonably foreseeable.” A smaller portion of cases involved individuals with non-terminal conditions who cited severe impacts on their quality of life as the reason for seeking assisted death.
Quebec reported the highest rate of euthanasia nationwide, accounting for 37% of the cases despite representing just 22% of Canada’s population. This disparity has drawn attention to differences in the program’s implementation across provinces.
A report from Ontario’s Coroner’s MAID Death Review Committee revealed a troubling trend, showing nearly half of non-terminal patients pursuing euthanasia were from the province’s poorest areas. Critics argue this points to potential socio-economic influences on the decision to pursue assisted death.
Canada’s assisted dying laws, among the most expansive globally, require patients to meet eligibility criteria verified by two independent healthcare providers. While safeguards are in place, concerns persist over the increase in non-terminal cases and the ethical questions raised by expanding access.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has been a strong supporter of the program, framing it as a matter of individual choice and autonomy. As assisted deaths continue to rise, debate remains over whether the system adequately protects vulnerable populations from external pressures that could influence such decisions.
