Medical Assistance In Dying
Overview
Originally portrayed as a fiscal-savings measure by the federal government via the CBC in 2017.
Two tracts, according to the Department of Justice:
- Track 1: Reasonably Foreseen Death
- Terminal illness.
- Track 2: Not Reasonably Foreseen Death
- Not terminally ill, but a serious and incurable condition.
The federal government pushed through legislation to include “mental illness” as an eligible condition for MAID on February 29 2024. Mental illness as a sole medical condition will become an eligible condition for MAID on March 17 2027.
Legislation
Canada Gazette, SOR/2022-222: Regulations Amending the Regulations for the Monitoring of Medical Assistance in Dying
Parliamentary Inquiry
April 06 2026: Testimony on how “mental illness” was never meant to be a criterion
Bureaucratic Structure
- MAID is under the jurisdiction of the federal government under Health Canada.
- The MAID procedure can be requested to any doctor in any hospital or clinic in Canada, as per universal healthcare rights legislated in the 1984 Canada Health Act.
- All data on MAID is curated by a federal agency known as the Canadian Institute for Health Information. This agency is exempt from ATIP/FOIA.
- The MAID data that Health Canada receives comes from provincial health authorities, and contain provincial-level data. Health Canada apparently does not receive data directly from CIHI.
- For internal record-keeping, MAID goes by an ICD10 code of Z5181, or a discharge disposition code 73.
Official Releases
Federal: Annual Reports
The government of Canada publishes annual reports on MAID, beginning in 2019. The 2025 report is expected to be released in December, 2026.
2024 Report
2023 Report
2022 Report
2021 Report
2020 Report
2019 Report
ATIP/FOIA Files
These files are of general interest to the public, unclassified, and are the results of ATIP/FOIA requests. These parties behind such requests are not necessarily related to Wolfchart.
File HC-A-2024-000969
“Please provide all records of discussions (WhatsApp messages, emails, Microsoft Teams Messages, text messages, meeting minutes) or analysis from the Strategic Policy Branch, MAID Unit regarding physicians and other healthcare workers who’ve left the healthcare profession due to MAID laws. Provide equivalent records if these are not available. Search through electronic documents only, unless relevant documents do not exist in that format. Include documents in which cabinet material can be severed, however exclude documents marked cabinet confidences in their entirety. Final version of documents or last draft if final version is not available. Search records from Jan 1st, 2024 to date of receipt of request”
File HC-A-2025-000201
“Please provide all records of discussions (WhatsApp messages, emails, Microsoft Teams Messages, text messages, meeting minutes), analysis or reports within the Strategic Policy Branch, MAID Unit about authorizing medical assistance in dying for Canadians under the age of 18 (so called “mature minors”). Provide equivalent records if these are not available. Search through electronic documents only, unless relevant documents do not exist in that format. Include documents in which cabinet material can be severed, however exclude documents marked cabinet confidences in their entirety. Final version of documents or last draft if final version is not available. Search records from November 12th, 2024 to date of receipt of request (May 21, 2025)”
File HC-A-2025-00020
“Please provide all records of discussions (WhatsApp messages, emails, Microsoft Teams Messages, text messages, meeting minutes) between Health Canada and representatives of the Canadian Association of MAID Assessors and Providers. Provide equivalent records if these are not available. Search through electronic documents only, unless relevant documents do not exist in that format. Include documents in which cabinet material can be severed, however exclude documents marked cabinet confidences in their entirety. Final version of documents or last draft if final version is not available. Search records from January 1st, 2025 to date of receipt of request (May 21, 2025).”
Controversial Reports
United Nations, January 2021: Disability is not a reason to sanction medically assisted dying – UN experts
“We all accept that it could never be a well-reasoned decision for a person belonging to any other protected group – be it a racial minority, gender or sexual minorities – to end their lives because they experience suffering on account of their status,” the experts said.
“Disability should never be a ground or justification to end someone’s life directly or indirectly.”
Such legislative provisions would institutionalize and legally authorize ableism, and directly violate Article 10 of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which requires States to ensure that persons with disabilities can effectively enjoy their inherent right to life on an equal basis with others.
Global News, January 2026: Ontario family calls for changes after their 26-year-old son received MAID in B.C.
Vafaeian’s family said he first sought MAID in Ontario, where he was from, but was repeatedly denied for several years.
They said that is when he turned to B.C., where he was approved.
“He didn’t have the items necessary to qualify for MAID and quite frankly, the system failed him,” Joseph Caprara, Vafaeian’s stepfather, said.
…
The family says a prominent MAID advocate, Dr. Ellen Wiebe, signed their son’s death certificate and alleges the safeguards were not fully followed.“We believe she was coaching him in order for her to check off her own boxes to approve him,” Marsilla said.
Associated Organizations
Dying With Dignity
- Dr. Ellen Wiebe: Member, Clinician’s Advisory Council
Willow Clinic
- Dr. Ellen Wiebe: Co-Director
Canadian Association of MAiD Assessors and Providers (CAMAP)
- Dr. Ellen Wiebe: (ex)Board member, research director
MAiD2026
- Montreal, April 30 – May 02 2026
- National conference for MAID practitioners and advocates
- “This event is an Accredited Group Learning Activity (Section 1) as defined by the Maintenance of Certification Program of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and approved by the University of Ottawa’s Office of Continuing Professional Development.”
Disclaimer
Citations
Last updated: April 06 2026