A chilling milestone: Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID), Canada’s legalised form of euthanasia, now accounts for one in every twenty deaths in the country, a sobering development that has drawn concern from pro-life groups worldwide.
Implemented less than a decade ago, MAID was originally intended for those whose deaths were “reasonably foreseeable” and near. But eligibility has steadily expanded, and today the practice outpaces causes such as Alzheimer’s and diabetes combined. In 2023 alone, 15,343 Canadians ended their lives through MAID, representing 4.7% of all deaths.
These figures underscore a deeply worrying cultural shift. SPUC condemns MAID as the erosion of the sanctity of life, warning that once society normalises assisted death, what follows is an inevitable expansion into increasingly vulnerable groups.
When euthanasia becomes routine, claiming nearly 5% of Canadian lives, it reflects a disturbing tolerance for ending life when support and hope should prevail. MAID is not compassion, but the capitulation to despair.
Pro-life advocates warn that this trend pressures individuals, especially the elderly, disabled, or chronically ill, into choosing death when they need care and community. The move away from palliative and social support undermines human dignity and abandons those who most need it.
Medical professionals and disability rights groups have raised concerns too. Canada’s MAID regime has drawn criticism for its weakening safeguards. The recent enlargement under Bill C-7 permits euthanasia even when death is not imminent, placing individuals with chronic conditions or psychological suffering at risk. Human rights experts argue this trend disproportionately impacts marginalised individuals, eroding society’s moral foundations.
SPUC echoes the warning: the choice to legalise assisted death, initially framed as narrow and compassionate, has become expansive and alarming. Pro-life voices urge governments to pause further expansion and instead invest in enhancing palliative care, mental health services, social networks, and community-based support.
This crisis is more than statistical, it’s a moral crossroads. The pro-life movement re-iterates that every human life, regardless of circumstance, offers irreplaceable value. The rise of euthanasia in Canada should be a wake-up call for societies worldwide to reaffirm that support, love, and compassion, not termination, must define end-of-life care.
