Canada's Medical Assistance in Dying: A Decade of Data

Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID) has been legal in Canada for a decade, with recent data from Health Canada revealing significant numbers since its 2016 legalization.

Between June 2016 and December 31, 2024, a total of 76,475 individuals received MAID. This procedure now accounts for 5% of all deaths in Canada. The data also shows a growing number of MAID practitioners, with 2,266 in 2024, predominantly doctors (93.2%) and nurse practitioners (6.8%).

The median age for MAID recipients is 77.9 years. For those whose deaths were reasonably foreseeable (Track 1), the median age is 78, while for those whose deaths were not reasonably foreseeable but who endured intolerable suffering (Track 2), the median age is 75.9 years. Cancer remains the most common underlying condition for MAID recipients, with 10,035 cases in 2024.

In 2024 alone, 16,499 people received MAID. Of these, 15,767 had deaths deemed reasonably foreseeable, while 732 had deaths not reasonably foreseeable. The article also notes that 1,327 people were assessed as ineligible in 2024, 692 withdrew their requests, 68 changed their minds immediately before the procedure, and 4,017 died before receiving MAID.

Looking ahead, the federal government has stated it would begin offering MAID to individuals whose sole underlying condition is mental illness in 2027. This expansion has faced repeated delays and remains a subject of significant controversy.