Should Canada Extend MAID to People with Mental Illness? | The Walrus

"Some say that mental health conditions can cause as much suffering and pain as physical conditions. I don't know of anything, really, that is as painful as a deep depression. It can be physically painful, with symptoms of low energy, fatigue, the inability to get out of bed, to motivate oneself, to enjoy anything."

"A doctor never hears a patient say, 'I had a heart attack and now I'm suicidal.' They might for a patient with a stroke, if the person lost enough function, maybe. But then depression is part of the stroke experience to the point that, now, prescribing antidepressants is best practice for most post-stroke patients."

"MAID is different, as it's a calculated, planned-out process where a patient feels there's no more hope for recovery. That can be different than having suicidal thoughts."

Bill C-7, passed on March 17, 2021, repealed the requirement of 'reasonable foreseeability of natural death' for medical assistance in dying (MAID). This change allows individuals with intolerable suffering, even if they might live for decades, to seek MAID. However, those with mental illness as their only condition are excluded from eligibility, a provision deferred to March 17, 2027. Mental health conditions can cause significant suffering, comparable to physical ailments, and the connection between mental and physical health is profound, impacting treatment approaches.

Read at The Walrus