Prohibit MAID if death unforeseeable
Petitioners ask the federal government to prohibit MAID for anyone whose natural death is not reasonably foreseeable, using a cutoff of prognosis over six months. The government responds that federal safeguards and assessments already apply.
Why we would sign this petition
- It would protect people with disabilities or chronic illness from being eligible for MAID when their death is not imminent, reducing pressure to choose death due to service gaps.
- It could preserve incentives to invest in treatments, supports and accessible care rather than relying on MAID as a 'solution' to unmet needs.
- A six‑month prognosis cutoff would create a clear legal boundary limiting MAID to those near end of life.
Why we wouldn’t sign this petition
- It would restrict autonomy by denying MAID to non‑terminal patients who contend their suffering is intolerable despite not being near death.
- Prognoses are often uncertain; a strict six‑month cutoff can be arbitrary and exclude people with serious, enduring suffering.
- Rather than a blanket prohibition, strengthening safeguards and improving access to health, disability and palliative services may address concerns more precisely.
The summary and both sets of reasons are AI-generated from the petition and given equal weight. Claims are the petitioners’ own; consult the official record for the full text.
Official petition
Petition to the House of Commons Whereas: Choosing medical assistance in dying (MAID) due to lack of available services or treatments is not a real choice; Allowing medical assistance in dying for those with disabilities or chronic illness who are not dying devalues their lives, tacitly endorsing the notion that life with disability is optional, and by extension, dispensable; Offering medical assistance in dying as a "solution" for disability or chronic illness reduces incentives to improve treatment and care for people with these conditions; Canadians do not want an ableist healthcare system where the lives of those with disabilities are seen as not worth living; Many disability advocates in Canada have expressed opposition to allowing MAID for people with disabilities. Therefore we, the undersigned citizens and residents of Canada, call upon the Government of Canada to: Protect all Canadians whose natural death is not reasonably foreseeable by prohibiting medical assistance in dying for those whose prognosis for natural death is more than six months.
Government response
Response by the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency Signed by (Minister or Parliamentary Secretary): THE PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY PATRICIA LATTANZIO Medical assistance in dying (MAID) is a complex and deeply personal matter and there are diverging views across the country. The legal framework for MAID balances different interests and societal values. Provinces and territories manage the delivery of health services, including MAID as part of end-of-life or complex care. The federal government, however, is responsible for the federal legal framework for MAID in the Criminal Code, setting minimum requirements for the lawful provision of MAID in Canada. These requirements include eligibility criteria to determine who can obtain MAID and procedural safeguards to ensure its safe provision. MAID has been the subject of many judicial challenges which shaped the legal framework. As there are additional challenges that arise in the context of MAID for persons whose deaths are not reasonably foreseeable, the federal legal framework sets out safeguards that must be satisfied in those instances. These safeguards aim to address the risks associated with diverse sources of suffering and vulnerability, that could lead someone not close to death to seek MAID. The safeguards examine whether their suffering results from factors other than the medical condition and whether there are ways of addressing their suffering other than through MAID. For example, a minimum 90-day assessment period seeks to ensure enough time to explore all relevant aspects of the person’s situation, including the availability of treatments or services that could help reduce their suffering like counselling services, mental health and disability support services, community services and palliative care. Additionally, at least one of the two mandatory eligibility assessments must be done by a practitioner with expertise in the condition causing the person’s suffering or in consultation with another practitioner with such expertise, ensuring all treatment options are identified and explored. The patient and practitioners must also agree that the person has seriously considered alternatives to alleviate their suffering. Our government understands that the disability community continues to be concerned about MAID and we are committed to continue working to ensure the disability community’s needs and voices are incorporated into these complex issues. We will also continue with our provincial and territorial partners to ensure barriers facing disabled communities are dismantled. The Disability Inclusion Action Plan is an example of our commitment to achieving full and meaningful participation of persons with disabilities.