Nature of suffering of people who received MAID in Canada in 2022

In 2022, around 86 percent of people in Canada who received a medically assisted death suffered from a loss of ability to engage in meaningful activities, and 59 percent had inadequate control of pain. Medical assistance in dying (MAID) is permitted in Canada under very specific circumstances, with only medical practitioners allowed to assess and provide MAID.

How many medically assisted deaths are there in Canada per year?

In 2022, there were 13,241 medically assisted deaths in Canada. The number of medically assisted deaths in Canada has increased over the past few years, with only 5,665 such deaths in the year 2019. In 2022, Quebec was the province with the highest number of medically assisted deaths, followed by Ontario, and British Columbia. Most medically assisted deaths in Canada are among the elderly, and in most cases, natural death is reasonably foreseeable.

Reasons for medically assisted death

To be eligible for medical assistance in dying in Canada, one must meet certain criteria. One important criterion is that a person must have a grievous and irremediable medical condition. Among those who receive MAID, the most common medical conditions they suffer from are cancer, cardiovascular conditions, and respiratory conditions. However, cancer accounts for the majority of cases, with around 63 percent of those receiving MAID in 2022 suffering from cancer.