The Right to Life, and Death: A Health Equity Approach to Canada's Expansion of Medical Assistance in Dying for Individuals With Mental Disorder(s)

Omega (Westport). 2025 Feb 13:302228251318414. doi: 10.1177/00302228251318414. Online ahead of print.

Abstract

Canadian medical assistance in dying (MAID) is positioned to expand to allow voluntary euthanasia for individuals with mental disorders as their sole underlying condition(s) (MAID-MD-SUMC) by 2027. As governments consider this type of legislation, thoughtful critique of proposed eligibility criteria is imperative in order to consider potential consequences that may follow expansion of current policies guiding end-of-life care. As MAID-MD-SUMC enters another phase of revision, we propose two critical consideration: (1) the need to define a comprehensive, empirical basis for the "irremediability" of psychiatric disorders and (2) a more comprehensive consideration of the inextricable links between an individual's surrounding environment, socioeconomic factors, access to healthcare and outcomes resulting from treatment of mental health disorders.

Keywords: assisted dying/suicide; euthanasia; extraordinary treatments; right to die; suicide.