In 2023, Canada is expected to see 15,343 people opt for physician-assisted euthanasia, also known as Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID), according to Health Canada’s “Fifth Annual Report on Medical Assistance in Dying in Canada 2023,” released on December 11. This figure represents a 15.8% increase compared to 2022. While the rate of increase has slowed—down from an average of 31% per year between 2019 and 2022—the report cautions that it is too early to determine if the numbers have “stabilized.”
Of the 19,660 people who applied for MAID in 2023, 2,906 passed away before the procedure could be administered, 915 were deemed not eligible, and 496 withdrew their applications. Approximately 96% of those who received MAID had conditions where natural death was reasonably foreseeable, with cancer being the most common medical condition, affecting 64% of recipients. The median age of those who chose MAID was 78 years old.
In terms of provincial distribution, Quebec had the highest number of MAID recipients, with 5,601 cases, followed by Ontario at 4,644 and British Columbia at 2,759. While MAID is currently only legal for those suffering from physical illnesses in Canada, federal Health Minister Mark Holland has indicated that the government is exploring options to expand the scope of eligibility to accommodate a wider range of needs.