In its fifth annual report on assisted dying, Health Canada noted the 15,343 individuals who received help to die in 2022 represented a 15.8% increase from 2021, indicating that the growth rate had significantly reduced from an average annual increase of 31% between 2019 and 2022. Despite this slowdown, the report did not provide assurance whether this trend suggests a long-term stabilization of cases, highlighting the complexity of analyzing the evolving landscape of assisted death in Canada.
The latest statistics also highlighted that in both 2022 and 2023, approximately 96% of assisted death cases involved individuals suffering from terminal conditions, predominantly cancer. Furthermore, the median age for individuals opting for euthanasia stood at 78, underscoring the demographic profile of those accessing this medical assistance. These numbers reflect a societal shift towards accepting euthanasia for terminally ill patients while engaging in discussions about expanding eligibility to include advanced directives for conditions such as Alzheimer's.
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