Stop MAiD expansion for mental illness

AI summary

The petitioners say eligibility for Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) is scheduled to expand in 2027 to include people whose sole diagnosis is a mental illness. They assert that most licensed psychiatrists oppose the expansion, that it would lead to many preventable deaths, and that only an Act of Parliament could stop it; they ask the government to end the expansion, prioritize protecting people with mental illness rather than offering MAiD, and pass the Right to Recover Act (Bill C-218).

AI summaries describe petitioners’ requests and claims. Consult the official record for the full text.

Official petition

Petition to the House of Commons We, the undersigned citizens and residents of Canada, draw the attention of the House of Commons to the following: Whereas: • Eligibility for Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) is scheduled to expand to allow those with solely a mental illness to receive MAiD, beginning in 2027; • The vast majority of licensed psychiatrists in Canada are against this expansion and believe it cannot be safely implemented; • Many preventable deaths will happen if this expansion takes place; • Only an Act of Parliament can stop this scheduled expansion. Therefore, we, the undersigned citizens and residents of Canada, call upon the Government of Canada to: • End the expansion of MAiD where someone's sole diagnosis is a mental illness; • Protect the vulnerable and those with mental illness instead of offering them MAiD. • Pass the Right to Recover Act, Bill C-218.

Government response

No government response is available yet.