Medical assistance in dying in Canada has increased for the fifth consecutive year, though at a reduced pace, according to official figures.
In its fifth annual report since legalising assisted dying in 2016, the country published data showing approximately 15,300 people received medical assistance in dying last year, representing 4.7 per cent of all deaths in Canada.
For the first time, the report included ethnicity data of recipients.
Health Canada reported on Wednesday that assisted deaths rose by nearly 16 per cent in 2023, marking a significant decrease from the previous years’ average increase of 31 per cent. The cause of this slowdown remains unclear, the report noted.
The vast majority of recipients, about 96 per cent, faced a foreseeable natural death. The remaining 4 per cent received approval due to chronic illnesses without imminent natural death.
The average recipient was 77 years old, with cancer being the most common underlying condition.
New ethnicity data revealed that 96 per cent of recipients identified as white, despite this group comprising roughly 70 per cent of Canada’s population.
East Asians formed the second largest group at 1.8 per cent, though they represent about 5.7 per cent of Canadians.
Quebec showed the highest utilisation rate, accounting for nearly 37 per cent of all cases despite housing just 22 per cent of Canada’s population.
The provincial government initiated an investigation earlier this year to examine these elevated figures.
Whilst Canada’s assisted dying rates are increasing, they remain below those of the Netherlands, where such deaths constituted about 5 per cent of total mortality last year.
Canadian lawmakers are considering expanding access to include individuals with mental illnesses by 2027.
The country, which initially permitted assisted dying only for those facing reasonably foreseeable death, broadened access in 2021 to include those with chronic, debilitating conditions.
A planned expansion to include mental illness cases was recently postponed for the second time after provinces, which manage healthcare delivery, expressed concerns about system readiness.
Health Canada defended the programme, citing “strict eligibility” criteria in the criminal code.
However, Cardus, a Christian think tank, described the latest figures as “alarming” and indicated Canada’s programme was among the world’s fastest-growing.
A recent Ontario report highlighted controversial cases, including a woman in her 50s with chemical sensitivities who received approval after failing to secure suitable housing.
In another instance, a Nova Scotia cancer patient reported being informed about assisted dying options twice during mastectomy treatments, which she deemed “completely inappropriate”.
Canadian media have also documented cases of individuals with disabilities considering assisted dying due to inadequate housing or disability benefits.
Canada joins several nations that have enacted assisted dying legislation in the past decade, including Australia, New Zealand, Spain and Austria.
(with information from BBC)
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