From Nationalpost · · 1m 20s
Liberals' MAID Plan Faces Mental Health Pushback
Liberals' MAID reform avoids mental health euthanasia but faces strong opposition from health advocates.
In brief
Liberals' MAID reform avoids mental health euthanasia but faces strong opposition from health advocates. Canada's Liberals will ban medical assistance in dying for mental illness but face opposition from mental health professionals who argue current care systems are inadequate. Originally reported by Nationalpost.
Liberals solve two euthanasia issues
The federal Liberals resolved two long-standing problems with Canada's euthanasia regime by banning medical assistance in dying for mental illness and expanding advance directives for degenerative conditions.
Mental illness euthanasia ban effective immediately
The government will prepare legislation to permanently prohibit medical assistance in dying for mental illness, which was originally scheduled to take effect in 2023.
Advance directives expand MAID access
The reform allows individuals with degenerative conditions to create advance directives for medical assistance in dying if they lose future capacity to make decisions.
77% support original MAID regime
An Angus Reid Institute poll from June showed 77 percent of Canadians support the original euthanasia regime for people severely suffering with foreseeable death.
Mental illness support drops to 43%
Support for MAID for mental illness dropped to 43 percent, nearly matching the 39 percent who oppose it in the same poll.
Mental health advocates oppose reform
Mental health professionals argue current care systems are inadequate, creating a moral obligation to avoid euthanasia for mentally ill individuals.
What to remember
Canada's Liberals will ban medical assistance in dying for mental illness but face opposition from mental health professionals who argue current care systems are inadequate.
