Government to exclude people who solely suffer from mental illness from medical assistance in dying
The federal government will table legislation this fall to keep the ban in place and allow advance requests for patients who may lose capacity.
- On Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2026, Justice Minister Sean Fraser and Health Minister Marjorie Michel announced Canada will permanently exclude mental illness as a sole condition for MAID, ending a decade-long debate.
- Expanding MAID for mental illness, initially set for March 17, 2027, was deferred twice amid warnings from psychiatry experts that the policy could facilitate avoidable deaths and erode suicide prevention efforts across Canada.
- Dr. Sonu Gaind, past chief of psychiatry at Toronto's Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, testified that predicting long-term prognosis is akin to a "coin toss," while Liberal MP Marcus Powlowski cited "questionable conduct" by providers.
- Ministers intend to table legislation this fall maintaining the exclusion "on an indeterminate basis," while permitting advance MAID requests for patients diagnosed with illnesses threatening their future capacity to consent.
- The announcement coincides with a House of Commons vote on a Conservative bill, as Fraser said he wanted to take time "to line things up the appropriate way" on this controversial issue.
37 Articles
37 Articles
This fall, the Canadian government will introduce a bill to this effect. An amendment to the Canadian Penal Code is also under consideration to ensure that physicians who meet the criteria for euthanasia are not prosecuted in criminal proceedings.
Canada to exclude mental illness as sole reason for euthanasia
By Maria Cheng TORONTO, Oct 7 (Reuters) - Canada’s Justice Minister Sean Fraser said on Wednesday the government will introduce legislation this autumn to exclude mental illness as the sole reason for euthanasia months after a parliamentary committee...
Canada to Indefinitely Exclude Mental Illness From MAID
The Liberal government says it will table legislation in the fall to indefinitely exclude people who solely suffer from mental illness from medical assistance in dying. Justice Minister Sean Fraser said there is a lack of consensus on when mental illness is irremediable, and concern around a lack of access […]
Ottawa to indefinitely extend MAID exclusion for people solely suffering from mental illness
The federal government will introduce legislation this fall that will indefinitely extend the ban on access to a medically assisted death for people who are only suffering from a mental illness, Justice Minister Sean Fraser said on Wednesday.
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 60% of the sources lean Left
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
