Geripal-podcast

Four percent of deaths in Canada are due to Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID).  Four percent. The number of people who have used MAID in Canada since it was legalized in 2016 has increased year on year from about 1,000 people in the first year to over 13,000 people in 2022. California, which has a similar population size as Canada and legalized MAID around the same time, has fewer than 1000 deaths per year from MAID.  In further contrast to the United States, MAID in Canada is almost entirely administered by a clinician, whereas in the United States patients must self administer.   To be eligible in Canada patients must have a “grievous and irremediable” condition,  including disability; they do not have to have a terminal illness with a prognosis of less than 6 months.  They could have a prognosis of years, or decades.  A planned expansion of MAID to include people with mental illness was placed on hold until March 2024. The Canadian parliament will soon hear a report on potentially expanding MAID to “m