Canadians with mental illness who saw MAID as an option feel abandoned: ‘They’ve left me with nothing’
The committee said clinicians lack consensus on improvement and suicidality, leaving people who delayed suicide for MAID with few options.
- On June 17, a special government committee recommended against expanding medical assistance in dying to people with mental illness, citing concerns over distinguishing requests from suicidality. The decision has left many Canadians feeling abandoned.
- Concerns regarding the difficulty of determining a patient's prospect of recovery drove the recommendation, as experts struggle to separate MAID requests from suicidality. For patients like John, a Halifax resident diagnosed with depression, the rejection stalls access after years of treatment attempts.
- Clinical psychologist Dr. Margaret McKinnon testified in April 2026 against expansion, citing her own recovery from major depressive disorder. Downie notes MAID eligibility requires three criteria, emphasizing "either A or B can cause C" regarding enduring and intolerable suffering.
- Danelia Chacon, an Ottawa resident, is pursuing a medically assisted death in Switzerland following the government's decision. Justice Minister Sean Fraser stated he will review the committee's report before deciding on the government's next steps.
- Support remains available 24/7 by calling or texting 988, Canada's national suicide prevention helpline, for those in crisis. While some patients pursue legal avenues, others like John are engaging with local MAID assessment processes as the debate continues.
28 Articles
28 Articles
‘They’ve left me with nothing’: Why these Canadians with mental illness say they feel abandoned after MAID decision
Betrayed. Dehumanized. Devastated. These are the words some Canadians use to describe how they feel about a special government committee recommending not to expand medical assistance in dying to people seeking the procedure for a mental illness.
Canadians feel betrayed and dehumanized in the face of the recommendation of a special government committee not to extend medical assistance in dying to those who seek this procedure because of mental illness.
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Canadians with mental illness who saw MAID as an option feel abandoned: ‘They’ve left me with nothing’
TORONTO — Betrayed. Dehumanized. Devastated. These are the words some Canadians use to describe how they feel about a special government committee recommending not to expand medical assistance in dying to people seeking the procedure for a mental illn...
Canadians with mental illness who saw MAID as an option feel abandoned: 'They've left me with nothing'
TORONTO — Betrayed. Dehumanized. Devastated. These are the words some Canadians use to describe how they feel about a special government committee recommending not to expand medical assistance in dying to people seeking the procedure for a mental illness. On June 17, the recommendation was released, stating that there was a lack of consensus on whether it was possible to determine if a patient has any prospect of getting better, and how to dist…
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