Medically assisted dying in Canadawhich is legal in that country in some circumstances, reached its highest level last year, accounting for about 1 in 20 deaths, government data shows.
According to the data, released Wednesday by Health Canadaapproximately 4.7% of Canadians who died in 2023 received MAID, or Medical Assistance in Dying.
This is an increase of 15.8% compared to 2022, but overall the upward trend is slowing, according to the data. From 2019 to 2022, the average growth rate was 31%.
Health Canada defines MAID as “a health service that allows someone who is found to be eligible to receive assistance from a medical professional to end their life.” “
To be eligible, individuals must meet a list of criteria, including being at least 18 years old, mentally competent and have a “difficult and intractable medical condition”. to have
The majority of 2023 cases, approximately 96%, involved individuals who had one of these conditions and were assessed as having “reasonably expected” natural deaths.
Of the 19,660 MAID applications received in 2023, approximately 15,343 people received it. Some died before receiving MAID (about 2,906 people); others were deemed invalid (915) and some withdrew their application (496).
The data was part of the nation's fifth annual report on medically assisted deaths, which for the first time also looked at the racial, ethnic or cultural identity of MAID recipients. The report found that the majority of recipients identified as Caucasian or White (95.8%) and the second most identified as East Asian (1.8%).
Canada is among a few other countries, including Australia, Austria, New Zealand and Spain, that have supported euthanasia laws. In the US, assisted dying is legal in 10 states and the District of Columbia.
Earlier this month, the The UK passed the first vote in a bill that would allow assisted dying for the terminally ill.
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