On February 6, 2024, after obtaining the euthanasia data from Alberta, Ontario and Québec I published an article stating that there were approximately 15,300 euthanasia (MAiD) deaths in Canada in 2023.
On July 8, 2024 I published an article with links to the euthanasia data from Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, Ontario and Québec. Once again I predicted that there were about 15,300 euthanasia deaths in 2023.
On December 11, 2024, Canada’s Ministry of Health released the Fifth Annual Report on Medical Assistance in Dying which indicates that there were 15,343 reported euthanasia deaths representing 4.7% of all deaths in 2023.
Why did Canada’s Ministry of Health wait until December 2024 to release the 2023 euthanasia data when the report essentially concerns numbers and data while lacking information on the actual reason for people wanting to be killed by euthanasia?
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Some of the interesting data in the report.
- The 15,343 reported euthanasia deaths broke down to 95.9% being Track 1 deaths, meaning the person was deemed to have a terminal condition, while 4.1% were Track 2 deaths, meaning the person was deemed to not having a terminal condition.
- People with disabilities accounted for 33.5% of the Track 1 euthanasia deaths and 58.3% of the Track 2 euthanasia deaths. In 2022, 27% of Canadians were people with one or more disabilities. People with disabilities are over-represented in Canada’s euthanasia statistics.
- 95.8% of those who died by euthanasia were caucasian (white) while fewer than 1% were First Nations people. In 2022, 69.8% of Canadians were caucasian and 5% of Canadians were First Nations people.
What is happening in British Columbia, Ontario and Québec?
When analyzing the 5th Annual Report, I wonder – What makes British Columbia, Ontario and Québec different than the rest of Canada? In 2023, euthanasia deaths increased by 36.5% in Québec, 30.3% in Ontario and 18% in British Columbia. When examining the data from the other seven provinces, the next highest rate of increase was Alberta with a 6.4% increase in euthanasia deaths.
Québec has the highest euthanasia rate with 5601 reported euthanasia deaths which represents 7.3% of all deaths and 36.5% of all Canadian euthanasia deaths. Canada’s 2021 Census indicated that 23% of Canadians live in Québec.
I question the accuracy of the Québec euthanasia data. CBC Radio Canada reported on March 9, 2024 that the Québec government had reported that there were 5,686 reported euthanasia deaths in 2023 but the 5th Annual report states 5,601.
Also, analysis of the Québec Commission on End-of-Life Care Eighth Annual Report (April 1, 2022 – March 30, 2023) by Amy Hasbrouck indicated that there were 190 euthanasia deaths that may not have been reported by the doctor or nurse practitioner who carried out the death. 190 unreported euthanasia deaths is serious.
Euthanasia for frailty was listed as a reason in 1,392 deaths representing more than 9% of all euthanasia deaths. In 92 euthanasia deaths, frailty was listed as the only reason.
Euthanasia for chronic pain was listed as a reason in 933 deaths with 23 of the deaths listing chronic pain as the only reason.
Euthanasia for dementia was listed as a reason in 241 deaths with 106 of those deaths listing dementia as the only reason.
Similar to other jurisdictions the reason for seeking euthanasia was highly oriented to the person’s social condition.
- 96% listed “Loss of ability to engage in meaningful activities”,
- 87% listed “Loss of ability to perform activities of daily living”,
- 70% listed “Loss of dignity”,
- 55% listed “Inadequate pain control”.
It is important to note that loneliness and isolation was listed in more than 21% of all euthanasia deaths representing more than 3200 people.
People with disabilities should be concerned that more than 50% of those who died identified “loss of independence” and almost 50% listed being a perceived burden on family, friends or care givers.
People with disabilities should also be concerned that “other conditions” was the highest identified condition for euthanasia. For people with disabilities, 46.2% of the Track 1 deaths were based on “other conditions” and 62.9% of the Track 2 deaths were based on “other conditions.” Other conditions is not further defined and indicates a serious concern with discrimination of people with disabilities.
We recognize another concern related to the difference in income levels for Track 1 and Track 2 euthanasia deaths. People who died by Track 2 euthanasia were more likely to have a lower income than the Track 1 deaths.
More analysis of The Fifth Annual Report needs to be done. The report includes more information than the previous years reports but it does not examine why people are asking for euthanasia nor does it uncover deaths that may be outside of the parameters of the law.
In October 2024 the Chief Coroner of Ontario released a report from the Ontario MAiD Death Review Committee reporting that between 2018 and 2023 there were euthanasia deaths driven by homelessness, fear and isolation and that poor people are at risk of coercion indicating that Canadians with disabilities are needlessly dying by euthanasia. The data from the Ontario Death Review report indicated that in the reported time period there were at least 428 non-compliant euthanasia deaths and 25% of the euthanasia providers violated the law.
The Ontario MAiD Death Review report has three parts (Part 3) (Part 2) (Part 1).
The federal government needs to do a complete review of Canada’s experience with euthanasia.
LifeNews.com Note: Alex Schadenberg is the executive director of the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition and you can read his blog here.
