Canadian MP’s bill aims to keep mental illness from qualifying for ‘assisted death’

As Canadian lawmakers consider expanding the country’s Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) law to allow death for reasons of mental illness alone, one Canadian MP has introduced legislation to prohibit it.

Key Takeaways:

• A new bill would prohibit MAiD (euthanasia or assisted suicide) for mental illness alone.

• The legislation comes as lawmakers are considering expanding the MAiD law exclusively for mental illness reasons.

• Canada ranks as a world leader in euthanasia deaths, and there are reports that people are already receiving approval for MAiD for mental illness.

The Details:

MP Tamara Jansen introduced her Private Members Bill on June 20. The legislation, C-218, would amend the current criminal code to explicitly prohibit “assisted dying” for mental illnesses, stating that “a mental disorder is not a grievous and irremediable medical condition.”

Tamara Jansen Private Members Bill

Jansen summarized the impetus for her bill when introducing the legislation in Parliament.

“Imagine your son or daughter battling depression for some time after losing a job or a broken relationship. Imagine they feel the loss so deep they’re convinced the world would be better off without them. Now imagine this, starting in March 2027, under Canadian law they could just walk into a doctor’s office and ask them to end their life, and under our law the system could legally do just that,” she said.

She added, “Those battling depression, schizophrenia, PTSD, are being told that death is a solution we’re now willing to offer in response to a life of suffering … that’s not health care, that’s not compassion. It’s abandonment.”

Why it Matters:

“Assisted death” in Canada has skyrocketed since it was first implemented in 2016, and the country now ranks as one of the world’s leaders in euthanasia deaths. Advocates have been pushing to remove safeguards and amend the current law to allow “assisted death” solely for mental illness reasons, though the legalization has been delayed. For now, it is slated to take effect in 2027.

Anecdotally, however, there are reports that people are already getting approved for euthanasia despite the fact that they were not terminally ill, like a man in 2022 who suffered from mental illness, and an autistic woman whose family has been battling in court to keep her alive. Despite the march toward expanded euthanasia, a survey released in 2024 showed that less than half of respondents supported the idea of MAiD for mental illness alone.

The Bottom Line:

According to Alex Schadenberg of the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition, Jansen’s bill is identical to 2023 legislation that was narrowly defeated in parliament. Though it failed, that bill forced lawmakers to delay implementing the mental illness MAiD qualification — a delay that is still in effect today. Jansen’s bill is expected to reach debate in November.