Canada suspends plans to expand assisted dying to people with mental illness
Canada has indefinitely suspended plans to expand its medically assisted dying (MAID) program to individuals whose sole condition is mental illness. The government cited a lack of national consensus and will introduce new legislation to address the pause.
Why it matters
This decision highlights the complex ethical and legal tensions between expanding healthcare access and ensuring patient safety in end-of-life care.
Image source, Bloomberg via Getty Images Image caption, Justice Minister Sean Fraser said the decision to pause the expansion was a difficult one
Canada says it will indefinitely suspend plans to expand its medically assisted dying law to people whose sole condition is mental illness, citing a lack of consensus on who would be eligible.
It comes after a parliamentary panel earlier this year recommended that medically assisted dying - known as Maid in Canada - should not be expanded.
On Wednesday, Canada's justice minister, Sean Fraser, said that "while there is not a perfect consensus on this issue, we believe this is the correct approach".
Supporters of extending the programme to those with mental illness alone argue that not doing so violates their constitutional rights and access to healthcare.
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