August 5, 2025
By Jena Johnson
Normand Meunier’s tragic story has been circulating news sites. A quadriplegic who chose to end his life following hospital-induced health complications, Norman developed bed sores after being left on an emergency room stretcher for four days. While his widow grieves his passing, she blames a neglectful health care system who failed to properly care for her husband. Some would highlight the relief that came from Norman’s ability to medically end his life and thus his suffering, others would note the alarming problem of his needless suffering in the first place.
What is the right thing when it comes to an individual’s choices to alleviate their agony?
It is this complex question of human suffering, government responsibility, individual autonomy, and death that fuels the ongoing debate about medical assistance in dying (MAID), also referred to as death with dignity, the right to die, or assisted suicide. The world is mainly focused on Canada’s radically permissive approach to MAID. In 2016, Canada legalized MAID for adults suffering from irreversible illnesses with short life expectancy, though the criteria for qualifying became dangerously ambiguous.
By 2021, eligibility expanded to include individuals experiencing unbearable suffering, no longer requiring a foreseeable natural death. The law also removed the requirement for final consent immediately before the administration of lethal drugs. What began as a tightly regulated framework of safeguards has spiraled precariously toward mainstream misuse. Although the original intent of enacting such laws was the relief of human suffering, public discourse is increasingly concerned that MAID in Canada is out of control.
Canada is not the only country providing this “service”. Many countries offer assisted suicide and even several US states have passed—or are considering passing—medically assisted death laws. Oregon was the first state to legalize assisted suicide, passing the Death with Dignity Act in 1994. In 2023, medically assisted deaths accounted for 0.8% of all deaths in Oregon. By stark contrast, Canada—where MAID has been legal for a far shorter period of time—reported that nearly 5% of all 2023 deaths were medically assisted.
It is a false sense of compassion that is driving the growth of MAID. Advocating death is a poor substitute for addressing the grievances society itself has created. What originated as a “protection” of autonomy has clearly revealed its true colors as euthanasia.
Society can do better—and action must be taken to defend life. Canada is already pushing for yet another expansion of euthanasia laws. Initially scheduled for 2023, pushed to 2024, and now delayed until 2027, the latest proposal would allow individuals to access medically assisted dying based on mental illness alone.
The United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities released a March 2025 report highlighting concerns about people with disabilities requesting MAID at unprecedented numbers. They condemn the government for its systemic failure to provide assistance, including adequate medical care, affordable housing, employment opportunities, etc. stating that the impact of their failure has led many to “choose” death by MAID out of desperation, believing it to be the only choice they had. Is this really the best that a legal protection of autonomy can offer?
Member of Parliament Tamara Jansen recently presented Bill C-218 in the House of Commons to prevent the 2027 expansion. This bill is identical to the bill just narrowly defeated in 2023. Support for MAID for mental illness is dropping, and people’s stories and willingness to speak out are critical at this time. The bill will be debated beginning November of this year.
As the conversation continues to unfold, Canada is at a critical crossroads. If enough people speak out, the failings of MAID can be fully exposed and proper action can be taken to truly alleviate suffering, focusing on the freedoms to enjoy life rather than the desperate choice to end it.
