Canada's Assisted Dying: A Look at 2023 Stats

In 2023, Canada saw the highest number of medically-assisted deaths, making up about 1 in 20 of the country's overall deaths, according to a government report. This process, called MAID (Medical Assistance in Dying), allowed eligible Canadians to get help in ending their lives. Who qualifies for MAID? Well, you have to be at least 18, be of sound mind, and have a severe, unfixable medical condition. Most folks who used MAID in 2023 were expected to die naturally soon anyway. The data shows there were around 19, 660 requests for MAID last year, but not everyone went through with it. Some people died before they could, some weren't eligible, and some changed their minds.This year's report also looked into the backgrounds of the people who used MAID. Most were identified as Caucasian or White (95. 8%), and the next largest group was East Asian (1. 8%). Canada isn't alone in having assisted dying laws—countries like Australia, Austria, New Zealand, and Spain also do. In the U. S. , 10 states and the District of Columbia allow it. Just recently, the U. K. had a first vote on a bill to permit assisted dying for those who are terminally ill. The trend of people opting for MAID is slowing down a bit, with a 15. 8% increase compared to the rise of around 31% seen from 2019 to 2022.