I am a proponent of MAID, but I find it extremely disturbing that we’re opening up MAID to conditions that aren’t even covered under our social health system. We are openly saying that we consider mental health issues too expensive to treat and would prefer that people with these conditions just die already. Social supports for people with disabilities and expanding health care to include mental health coverage should absolutely be part of this, or we’re just being murderous ghouls as a society.
I agree with this as long as the solution is more healthcare, not less MAID. The latter is just cruelty.
Yep. I believe people should have choices, but after proper care. My daughter has Anorexia, but since she was still not an adult she had access to a counsellor, medication, and programs. It turned her life around. But once you are 19+ there is nothing unless you have lots of money
unless your have lots of money
That’s the key right there isn’t it?
Why should the wealthy elite of this society be the only ones to get access to the care they need to stay alive and well???
We are becoming a society with castes. This will not go well.
The title of this article is deplorably sensationalistic, but the article itself isn’t bad. I guess they couldn’t fit this into the title:
It requires a written application and assessments from two independent medical practitioners, including at least one specialized in their condition if the applicant is not near their natural death.
The article also notes:
Even after the change in the legislation [to allow non-foreseeable death applications], about 98% of the assisted deaths in 2021 were people deemed near their natural death, according to Health Canada data.
She can apply but it doesn’t mean she’ll get it. It’s being expanded to allow consideration for mental conditions. There’s still a ton of hoops and second opinions needed to get approved.
There is way too much misinformation and sensationalism over MAID
Everyone should have the right to end their life when they see fit - and the reality is people do it whether it’s legal or not - but it’s so sad when someone with treatable mental health issues can’t see any light or hope because the issues are untreated. I’ve known so many people over the years who talked of ending things because of depression, who were eventually able to get to a better place and were so happy that they pushed through it.
If you want to die and are found competent, then who the hell are we to deny you?
I’m all in favor for life termination by choice.
As someone with a medical condition I am afraid assisted suicide could become the expected solution. The same for old people or people with complex mental health issues or symptoms that aren’t curable yet. I wonder how it can be prevented to go down that path.
But then it wouldn’t be by choice, or am I not understanding you correctly? Assisted suicide without consent would in my mind always be considered murder or at least 2nd degree murder.
I mean an unspoken expectation. Don’t know if you’ve personally dealed with a disability, but it is quite shocking how some people think you should live your life (or rather shouldn’t) when you are disabled.
“Gently nudging” people into assisted suicide is something I can guarantee you will happen in situations where a person is considered a burden to the ones around them. The question is, can you make such a system safe in an environment where we still attribute value to people in dependence on how productive they are? Or, even worse, how do we protect people who cost society a lot of money and aren’t considered valuable?
When mental health issues are considered a valid reason for assisted suicide, I think these cases become an issue.
MAID prevents messier suicides.
The fact that it’s necessary is a disappointing condemnation of our healthcare system, but it’s better than blowing your brains out or jumping off of a bridge.
I knew someone who threw themselves off a bridge. Well, I knew their sibling. I was there when the call came through from the RCMP that they were missing. Then the call that the body was found. To say that it destroyed that family would be an understatement. I remember that my friend had to go down with their mother and identify what was left of the body. They were (understandably) never quite the same after that.
I don’t know if I support expanding MAID to people with mental health issues or not. I have a feeling their sibling would’ve found a way to kill themselves one way or another. Maybe something more dignified would’ve been easier on the family? I don’t know.
If people wanna die, they’ll die.
Our choice is whether it’s humane, or super cruel and messy. It’s a binary choice; you pick.
