Canada suspends expansion of assisted dying law to mental illness cases

Canada has indefinitely suspended plans to expand medically assisted dying to people whose sole underlying medical condition is mental illness.

According to the BBC, the government cited a lack of consensus over who should qualify for medically assisted dying, commonly known as MAID in Canada.

The decision follows a recommendation earlier this year by a parliamentary panel that the programme should not be expanded to people whose only condition is mental illness.

Justice Minister Sean Fraser announced the decision on Wednesday, saying, “while there is not a perfect consensus on this issue, we believe this is the correct approach”.

Supporters of extending MAID argue that excluding people suffering solely from mental illness violates their constitutional rights and restricts access to healthcare.

The issue remains subject to legal challenge. A federal case is currently before the courts contesting the government’s earlier decision to delay MAID access for people with mental illness.