The policy opens their euthanasia allowance to those who are not terminally ill.
QUICK FACTS:
- The Canadian government will now pay for those who are “too poor to continue living with dignity” to kill themselves, or according to the medical term, be euthanized.
- Canada is expanding its medical assistance in dying (MAID) program, which has been an option for those with certain types of illnesses for years.
- The program includes health authorities providing a drug that will intentionally kill the person, at their request, according to The Post Millennial.
MORE ON CANADA’S MAID PROGRAM:
- The British Columbia government website, “Medical assistance in dying provides people, who are experiencing intolerable suffering due to a grievous and irremediable (incurable) medical condition, the option to end their life with the assistance of a doctor or nurse practitioner.”
- “Medical assistance in dying is provided only to legally eligible persons. To ensure this service is provided in a safe manner, a system of safeguards has been designed to protect vulnerable people and support all people to make an informed decision,” the site says.
- Up until recently, the person receiving the service must be eligible for the government-funded health program, at least 18 years of age and mentally competent, have made a voluntary request for assistance in dying, have given informed consent about potential palliative care, have a “grievous and irremediable medical condition,” and be enduring physical or psychological suffering that is “intolerable to them and cannot be relieved under conditions that they consider acceptable.”
BACKGROUND:
- In 2015, the Canadian Supreme Court struck down a long-standing ban on assisted suicide, and just a year later, its parliament passed legislation allowing “MAID.”
- The program was touted as a resource for those whose death was “reasonably foreseeable.” However, five years later, the “reasonably foreseeable” language was dropped, as was the requirement of a terminal illness.
