A Media Analysis of Medical Assistance in Dying and its use in Canada: March 2024 - May 2025

Abstract

Canada legalized Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) in 2016 through amendments to the criminal code allowing for medical practitioners to assist someone with their death if they met a number of criteria. These criteria included that the patient’s medical condition must be grievous and irremediable and their natural death had to be reasonably foreseeable. In 2021, Bill C-7, an Act to amend the criminal code (medical assistance in dying) came into force thereby removing the foreseeable death requirement. Between 2016 and 2023, 60,301 have died through MAiD. The number of MAiD deaths in 2023 was 15, 343 which is up 15.8% from 2022. With the increasing number of cases of MAiD, there is growing concern about who is applying for and receiving MAiD in Canada.

This report is based on our project which sought to build on our previous research by identifying emerging trends in public discourse about MAiD through ongoing media coverage. We continued our documentation of people reportedly applying for MAiD due to social determinants of health including poverty, inadequate housing, social and government supports, and inadequate health care. The scope of the project expanded to include an analysis of legislative compliance regarding MAiD in Canada. We uncovered stories where legal action has been pursued or where medical or legal repercussions were absent despite clear violations of regulatory procedures. Our research also included a scan of euthanasia laws in other countries. This report highlights the findings from our media scan and jurisdictional research related to MAiD. We conclude with recommendations to address concerns about MAiD utilization in Canada