The Right to Life, and Death: A Health Equity Approach to Canada's Expansion of Medical Assistance in Dying for Individuals With Mental Disorder(s).

Bojkovic K, Jupudi R, Bojkovic M, Bossarte R. The Right to Life, and Death: A Health Equity Approach to Canada's Expansion of Medical Assistance in Dying for Individuals With Mental Disorder(s). Omega. 2025 Feb 13; 302228251318414.

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Abstract:

Canadian medical assistance in dying (MAID) is positioned to expand to allow voluntary euthanasia for individuals with mental disorders as their sole underlying condition(s) (MAID-MD-SUMC) by 2027. As governments consider this type of legislation, thoughtful critique of proposed eligibility criteria is imperative in order to consider potential consequences that may follow expansion of current policies guiding end-of-life care. As MAID-MD-SUMC enters another phase of revision, we propose two critical consideration: (1) the need to define a comprehensive, empirical basis for the "irremediability" of psychiatric disorders and (2) a more comprehensive consideration of the inextricable links between an individual''s surrounding environment, socioeconomic factors, access to healthcare and outcomes resulting from treatment of mental health disorders.