Skip to Content Subscribe Our Offers My Account Manage My Subscriptions FAQ Newsletters Canada Canadian True Crime Canadian Politics Health World Israel & Middle East Financial Post NP Comment Longreads Puzzmo Diversions Comics NP News Quiz New York Times Crossword Horoscopes Life Eating & Drinking Style Sponsored Play for Ontario Travel Travel Canada Travel USA Travel International Cruises Travel Essentials Culture Books Celebrity Movies Music Theatre Television Business Essentials Advice Lives Told Tails Told Shopping Buy Canadian Home Living Outdoor Living Kitchen & Dining Tech Style & Beauty Personal Care Entertainment & Hobbies Gift Guide Travel Guide Amazon Prime Day Deals Savings National Post Store More Sports Hockey Baseball Basketball Football Soccer Golf Tennis Driving Vehicle Research Reviews News Gear Guide Obituaries Place an Obituary Place an In Memoriam Classifieds Place an Ad Celebrations Working Business Ads Archives Healthing Epaper Manage Print Subscription Profile Settings My Subscriptions Saved Articles My Offers Newsletters Customer Service FAQ Newsletters Canada World Financial Post NP Comment Longreads Puzzmo Diversions Life Shopping Epaper Manage Print Subscription HomeNP CommentRebecca Vachon: Canadians support a fantasy version of MAID, not its realityMost Canadians falsely believe MAID is reserved for terminal cases, after treatment has failedLast updated 4 days ago You can save this article by registering for free here. Or sign-in if you have an account.The report tabled Wednesday by the special joint committee of senators and MPs contains a single recommendation: “That the Government of Canada amend the Criminal Code to indefinitely exclude persons whose sole underlying medical condition is a mental illness from eligibility for medical assistance in dying.” Photo by Getty ImagesWhile public consensus can be reassuring, we don’t have it when it comes to Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID). With the 10th anniversary of MAID’s legalization this week, the data shows that public support for MAID is narrower and softer than it may at first seem.Enjoy the latest local, national and international news.Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events.Unlimited online access to National Post.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.Enjoy the latest local, national and international news.Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events.Unlimited online access to National Post.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorFor instance, if you believe MAID recipients must be dying imminently to be eligible, if you believe patients must try medically effective treatment before being approved for MAID, and if you believe MAID is only for exceptional or last resort situations, you’re far from alone — this, broadly speaking, is what a majority of Canadians support.The problem? That’s not actually what the law on MAID requires.This newsletter from NP Comment tackles the topics you care about. (Subscriber-exclusive edition on Fridays)By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try againAn academic study found most Canadians could not actually correctly answer questions about MAID. A majority agreed with MAID for exceptional situations and after treatment options have been exhausted. The law, however, does not require patients to have a terminal condition and only requires that patients be informed of or offered alternatives or treatments. The result is tragic cases such as Kiano Vafaeian, a 26-year old with mental health challenges who doctor-shopped until he found someone willing to end his life.Take that background into account when considering new polling data from the Angus Reid Institute (ARI), which generally points to ongoing support for MAID but also finds a strong majority agreeing that the government should have to demonstrate adequate housing, income, and disability care before MAID is offered to someone living with a disability. Clearly, the Canadian public believes MAID should be used as an exceptional option — one that is only appropriate when someone truly has adequate care and living conditions already in place.Likewise, previous ARI data has also shown Canadians have concerns, particularly among persons living with severe disabilities, about how inadequate care might influence vulnerable Canadians to opt for MAID.The data may also reflect an increased discomfort with the expanded version of MAID created in 2021, which Canadians are becoming increasingly aware of due to heartbreaking media reports and other disclosures. Comparing the recent ARI poll with past data shows support for MAID for those without a “reasonably foreseeable death” has dropped by 10 percentage points.This creates a challenge for our federal government as it considers, for a third time, whether to move forward with the planned 2027 expansion of MAID for those whose only condition is mental illness, something that more than half of Canadians polled by ARI did not know was coming. A report that was tabled Wednesday by a special joint committee of senators and MPs contained a single recommendation: “That the Government of Canada amend the Criminal Code to indefinitely exclude persons whose sole underlying medical condition is a mental illness from eligibility for medical assistance in dying.” Members of Parliament have until July 11 to provide thoughts on the committee’s recommendation.While the federal government debates this issue, the province of Alberta has not only passed legislation to limit MAID to those who are expected to die within 12 months — in line with other jurisdictions like Australia, New Zealand and the U.S. — but also has proactively blocked MAID for mental illness, something the federal government should take note of.Likewise, the government should listen to the recent letter from 90 disability and mental health organizations who called for a permanent halt to this expansion of MAID to those with mental health conditions, not to mention the similar calls from chairs of psychiatry and international experts.The version of MAID that Canadians seem to support doesn’t actually exist, but following the example of governments like Alberta could get us much closer.National PostDr. Rebecca Vachon is the director of Cardus Health. Join the Conversation This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.