There were around 16,500 Canadian euthanasia deaths in 2024 representing 5% of all deaths. There have been around 90,000 Canadian euthanasia deaths since legalization.
.jpg)
Executive Director,
Euthanasia Prevention Coalition
On December 11, 2024, Canada's Ministry of Health released the Fifth Annual Report on Medical Assistance in Dying which outlines the 2023 reported euthanasia data.
The 2023 report indicated that there were 15,343 reported Canadian euthanasia deaths representing 4.7% of all deaths. The number of reported euthanasia deaths was up from 13,241 in 2022. I predict that there were around 16,500 Canadian euthanasia deaths representing 5% of all deaths in 2024.
Recently, EPC obtained the 2024 British Columbia (BC) euthanasia data which indicated that there were 3000 reported euthanasia deaths in 2024 which was up by more than 8% from 2767 in 2023.
There are some clear concerns in BC.
Why does Island health have higher euthanasia rates?
The BC Ministry of Health must assure the public that euthanasia guidelines are being followed by Island Health. Independent research into the reasons for the higher rate of euthanasia deaths must be done.
Another concern is that 35% of the 2024 BC euthanasia deaths were approved based on "other conditions" which was up from 32.9% in 2023.
.JPG)
The number of BC euthanasia deaths related to "other conditions" is further exasperated by the fact that (65.9%) or 691 of the people who died by euthanasia based on "other conditions" that the approval was related to frailty.
Frailty is not defined in the report but it likely refers to an elderly person who is not dying but has comorbities. In other words, the term frailty can also encompass euthanasia for "completed life."
Euthanasia for "completed life" means that an elderly person is not sick or dying, but wants to die. "Completed Life" is being debated in the Netherlands, but in Canada, it has never been debated, but based on the lack of definition in the law, it is being done.
The BC Ministry of Health must assure the public that euthanasia
is not inappropriately being done by conducting independent research into the reasons for the higher number euthanasia deaths related to "frailty."
Based on the 2024 data from Ontario, Québec, Alberta, and BC; I predict that there were approximately 16,500 Canadian euthanasia deaths in 2024 representing 5% of all deaths.
The 16,500 euthanasia death prediction for 2024 is based on data. By comparing the 2023 reported euthanasia deaths to the 2024 data you notice that:
- Ontario reported 4641 in 2023 and 4958 in 2024.
- Quebec reported 5691 in 2023 and 6058 in 2024.
- Alberta reported 977 in 2023 and 1116 in 2024.
- British Columbia reported 2767 in 2023 and 3000 in 2024.
Since Ontario, Québec, Alberta and BC represent 87% of Canada's population, and since there were 1056 more euthanasia deaths in those provinces in 2024, and since there were 15,343 reported euthanasia deaths in 2023, therefore it is safe to predict that there were around 16,500 reported euthanasia deaths in 2024. There was a 7.5% increase in euthanasia deaths in Ontario, Québec, Alberta and British Columbia in 2024.
As of December 31, 2023 there were 60,301 reported euthanasia deaths in Canada since legalization. I am predicting that there were approximately 16,500 reported euthanasia deaths in 2024. Therefore, as of December 31, 2024 there were around 76,800 reported euthanasia deaths since legalization. Since this article is published in late September, 2025, it is likely there have been around 90,000 Canadian euthanasia deaths since legalization.
Sadly, the number of reported euthanasia deaths continues to increase. From January 1 to June 30, 2025; there were 2551 reported euthanasia deaths in Ontario representing a 4% increase since 2024.
1 comment:
Island Health has 16% of the population and 30% of medical homicide. That is grotesque.
You mention less stringent criteria. But let us ask playing into that sloppy clinical culture.
There are two factors which make for larger numbers. We tend to think first of how many people want that death. But there is also the efficiency and enthusiasm with which MAID is sold to patients by their doctors.
In looking at Quebec I found districts, just like Island Health, which were totally out of whack in comparison to others in the same circumstances. Twice and even three times the volume.
https://alexschadenberg.blogspot.com/2025/04/quebec-can-tell-us-about-lack-of-social.html
No logical reason why more people would be spontaneously asking for MAID.
So between patient desire and the effect of gung-ho doctors and local hospitals running up their scores, my money is on the latter.
Post a Comment