Reports of same-day assisted deaths in Canada are raising concerns that limited palliative care access may be influencing end-of-life decisions.
Health officials in Canada are raising concerns after reports showed 65 people in Ontario died on the same day they requested assisted dying in 2023. A Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) review highlighted cases where patients received approval and died quickly, including an 80-year-old woman who initially withdrew her request, citing “personal and religious values and beliefs.” Despite concerns from one assessor about possible “coercion or undue influence,” two other assessors approved her eligibility, and she died the same day.
The MAiD law, introduced in 2016, once required a 10-day waiting period but was relaxed in 2021 for patients whose deaths were “reasonably foreseeable.” Critics warn the system may make assisted dying more accessible than palliative care. Dr Ramona Coelho said, “The focus should have been on ensuring adequate palliative care and support.” Advocates argue the data should serve as a warning for countries considering similar legislation, including proposed assisted suicide laws in England and Wales.