Euthanasia deaths are increasing in Alberta.

Alex Schadenberg
Executive Director, Euthanasia Prevention Coalition.

Similar to other Canadian Provinces, in Alberta the number of euthanasia deaths increased substantially in 2019.

An article by Jason Herring published in the Calgary Herald on January 12, reports on the data published by Alberta Health Services that there were 377 assisted deaths in 2019 up from 307 in 2018, and 206 in 2017 in Alberta. Ontario has had similar increasing numbers of euthanasia deaths.

The Alberta data indicates that there was a 23% increase in assisted deaths in 2019.

The Calgary Herald article is oriented to encouraging more euthanasia. The article quotes Dr. Jim Silvius, the Alberta Health Services lead for the program.

Some physicians who choose not to participate are conscientious objectors with moral opposition to death under medical supervision. But some doctors just don’t feel comfortable with the procedure due to a lack of training. 

“You’re ending a life, and that’s not what we were trained to do,” Silvius said, partially because many doctors weren’t exposed to physician-assisted death in medical school.

Media articles are not examining possible abuses of the law but rather they take the position that euthanasia is increasing.

The Euthanasia Prevention Coalition (EPC) is urging its supporters to participate in the Canadian Department of Justice Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) consultation. (Link).