Cardus

Canada's MAiD law splits patients into two tracks: those with a reasonably foreseeable death (Track 1) and those without (Track 2). Track 2 comes with extra safeguards, including a ninety-day assessment period.

But those categories are proving hard to hold the line on. Cardus Health program director Rebecca Vachon explains how patients living with a chronic condition or disability—who would normally fall under Track 2—have been reclassified as Track 1 simply by declining treatment for that condition. Fewer safeguards follow. The Ontario Coroner's Office MAiD death review committee has documented troubling cases of exactly this.

Read the full breakdown in our newest research brief. Link in the comments ⬇️

Most countries that allow assisted dying require a terminal prognosis. Canada does not.

Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands share that same feature, but they still require a doctor to confirm that reasonable alternatives, like palliative care or disability supports, have actually been tried. Canada does not. Here, the patient alone decides what counts as a reasonable alternative, and they only need to be informed of it, not access it.

Cardus Health program director Rebecca Vachon breaks down how Canada's eligibility criteria compare to other countries in our newest research brief.

Read the full brief at the link in the comments ⬇️