The latest government data from Canada shows that medically-assisted dying, also known as voluntary euthanasia, accounted for 4.7% of deaths in the country in 2023. This marks the fifth annual report since euthanasia was legalized in 2016, with approximately 15,300 individuals undergoing assisted dying last year after their applications were approved.
The majority of individuals who sought medically-assisted dying were over the age of 77, and around 96% had a death that was deemed "reasonably foreseeable" due to severe medical conditions such as cancer. In some cases, patients who were not terminally ill sought assisted dying due to long and complicated illnesses that significantly impacted their quality of life.
Canada is among a few countries, including Australia, New Zealand, Spain, and Austria, that have introduced laws allowing for assisted dying in recent years. In Canada, consenting adults can request medical assistance in dying if they have a serious and irremediable medical condition. There are provisions in place, such as the requirement of having two independent healthcare providers confirm the patient's eligibility before their request is approved.
While the rate of assisted dying in Canada increased by nearly 16% in 2023, the report cautioned that it is too early to determine what caused this change. Additionally, the report delved into race and ethnic data of those who died by euthanasia, revealing disparities in the demographics of recipients.
Despite the increase in assisted dying in Canada, the country still falls behind the Netherlands, where euthanasia accounted for around 5% of total deaths last year. The UK is also considering similar legislation, with MPs voting to pass a bill that would give terminally ill adults the right to have an assisted death. Canada's experience with assisted dying has been cited as a cautionary tale by some in the UK due to concerns about safeguards and potential expansions of access.