Young Canadian with diabetes seeking assisted suicide in Switzerland

Alex Schadenberg
Executive Director, Euthanasia Prevention Coalition

The Canadian government recently extended the implementation of euthanasia for mental illness until March 17, 2024, but the story of Kiano Vafiaen, the 23-year-old, who is not terminally ill but lives with type 1 diabetes continues. 

Kiano was originally scheduled to die by euthanasia on September 22, 2022. Then his mother started a campaign to stop her son from being killed, so the MAiD House rescheduled his death for September 28 and then cancelled it.

Margaret started a campaign and a petition to prevent Kiano from being killed.

The Euthanasia Prevention Coalition helped to prevent the killing of Kiano last year. After speaking with his mother I published an article titled: Mother wants to stop her 23-year-old son from being killed by euthanasia. (Link). EPC was given permission to republish Margaret's petition on CitizenGo. Almost 10,000 people signed the CitizenGo petition to prevent Kiano's death.

On March 17, Kiano was featured on an episode of the Rupa Subramanya Show. Rupa explains that 

Kiano was going to proceed with assisted suicide and was very close to completing the life-ending procedure before his family stepped in and his story ended up on the national news. 

The resulting backlash prompted the doctor who was going to perform the procedure to back out completely.

Rupa then explains that Kiano has now applied for assisted suicide in Switzerland.

Link to the episode of the Rupa Subramanya Show (Youtube Link).

Kiano remains alive but his suicidal ideation continues.