Ben Swann
The Price Tag on Life: Canada's Expansion of Euthanasia
Canada legalized euthanasia in 2016 through the innocuously titled Medical Aid in Dying act (MAID). While the U.S. first legalized the practice in Oregon in 1997 and currently has a total of 8 states as well as the district of Colombia where euthanasia has been legalized, Canada’s euthanasia laws are arguably the most permissive in the world.
Over 10,000 lives were legally taken last year by the hands of medical professionals in Canada. This is an increase of a third from the previous year. While the numbers of deaths are tracked, there is no commission that reviews possible mishandling or abuse of cases. There are no requirements as to what options of care, if any, should be presented to the patient before prescribing death.
Beginning in 2023, legal suicide will now be extended to those suffering from mental health disorders including PTSD. Along with those suffering from mental illness, a special joint parliamentary committee is now tasked with deciding whether to expand this practice to “mature minors” to treat their mental anguish.
There have been growing concerns about whether choices made in this practice, said to enable individuals to freely choose life or death, are greatly impacted by financial concerns. Individuals who suffer from chronic illness often carry great medical and financial burdens as a result. If one feels they cannot comfortably and reasonably carry out a dignified life because they cannot afford the needs their illness requires them to, they may opt for assisted suicide, which oftentimes will be paid for by the government. On average, assisted suicide only costs the taxpayer $2,327.
What should the price tag be on life?
