Unravelling MAiD in Canada

"Since Canada legalized in 2016 medical assistance in dying (MAiD), which encompasses both euthanasia and assisted suicide, more than 60,000 Canadians have died by MAiD, the highest number in the world. Not only the internationally unprecedented increase in numbers, but also the expansion of MAiD outside the end-of-life context and plans to introduce MAiD for sole reasons of mental illness, continue to evoke heated societal and political debate. This book discusses in detail how Canada's MAiD law developed and what some of the key social justice and health care concerns are, particularly for specific populations such as disabled persons (including those with mental disabilities) and Indigenous people. Canadian developments are also closely watched around the world. Countries that legalized some form of MAiD or are debating whether to go that route face questions about the consequences of legalization; about what forms of MAiD could be legalized (assisted suicide or euthanasia); and about the efficacy of safeguards. Many want to understand why Canada's MAiD practice has bypassed the most liberal euthanasia regimes in the world and what the implications are for health care and social justice. The chapters in this book are written by leading legal, medical and disability experts who participated directly in the debate. They explore key health care and social justice related issues around the Canadian MAiD law and policy and its potential further expansion. This book will be of interest to Canadian and international academic experts, medical professionals, politicians, students, the legal community, and the broader public."--