My experience speaking to the Parliamentary Committee on Euthanasia.

Alex Schadenberg
Executive Director, Euthanasia Prevention Coalition

I was approved to speak to Canada's Joint Committee on Medical Assistance in Dying (euthanasia) on May 5, 2026. Previous sessions of the Joint Committee on euthanasia, which also dealt with expansions of euthanasia, denied me the opportunity to present to the committee.

I was given 5 minutes to present to the committee (link to my speech).

Based on my experience watching the previous hearings that examined euthanasia for mental illness, euthanasia for children and euthanasia by advanced request, I felt that the response from the Members of Parliament had changed. I felt that the majority of the joint committee continued to support euthanasia but they had become more cautious and were having second thoughts about expanding the law to include killing people who have a mental illness as their sole condition.

Alicia Duncan, the daughter of Donna Duncan, who died by euthanasia in 2022, also presented at the same hearing. Alicia provided an excellent testimony about why it was wrong to kill her mother, but also how the family was prevented, by the authorities, from receiving the "medical" reports that approved her mother's euthanasia death.

Alicia was questioned by two Senators who attempted to undermine her testimony. It is obvious that pro-euthanasia committee members are uncomfortable with the truth related to Donna Duncan's death and wanted to undermine her testimony rather than question the law that enabled a doctor to kill her mother.

My testimony focused on the need to fully review Canada's euthanasia law. I stated that:

...Parliament needs to completely review the euthanasia law.

More broadly, Canada’s assisted dying law is vague. While Health Canada provides guidance, the legal framework allows for wide interpretation and it lacks effective oversight.

Because of time constraints, I will highlight one key issue.

Sections 241 (3) and 241 (3.1) of Canada's Criminal Code states that medical practitioners or nurse practitioners are required only to be “of the opinion” that the eligibility criteria are met. That, in practice, makes accountability extremely difficult, even impossible to prosecute a medical or nurse practitioner in Canada, even when the MAiD death is clearly wrong or deeply disturbing.

Canada should not be considering the expansion of the euthanasia law to people with mental illnesses alone but rather Parliament needs to fully review the law.

I was asked several questions.

Senator Yonah Martin acknowledged that there has never been a review of Canada's euthanasia law. Previous committee's examined further expansions of the law, but not whether the law is being abused, even if the abuse is based on the vague language of the law.

One Member of Parliament asked me about people who are dying from cancer.  I will paraphrase my response.

I said that this committee is examining euthanasia for mental illness which I believe is a different issue.

Under the law, a person with a physical condition that is not terminal or irremediable does not qualify for euthanasia. If the law is extended to persons with mental illness, psychiatrists have testified that it is impossible to determine if a person's mental illness is irremediable, but the law would still permit euthanasia.

Most psychiatrists will tell patients with mental illnesses who are requesting to be killed by euthanasia that it is impossible to determine if they have an irremediable condition therefore it is impossible to approve them for euthanasia.

But some psychiatrists will approve requests for euthanasia by stating that the person has an irremediable mental illness. These psychiatrists will become known for approving euthanasia for mental illness, leading to patients, who are doctor shopping, contacting them to be kileed by euthaansia.

This situation is not different than our current situation except that in this case the people seeking death will be living, solely with a mental illnes.

I was also asked about people who wanted to die by euthanasia for mental illness, and are happy to be alive today. I responded by sharing the stories of Kathryn D'hondt and Andrea (Link to stories).

I was sitting beside Helen Long, the CEO of Dying with Dignity. There were several Senators and Members of Parliament who clearly support Dying with Dignity, who glowingly asked questions to enable Long to provide a longer testimony.

Dying with Dignity is a very dangerous group since they support euthanasia for nearly every situation.

Long appeared very nervous. She spoke about the recent legal challenge whereby Dying with Dignity is supporting Claire Brosseau in her demand to be killed by euthanasia based on mental illness. 

Dying with Dignity must be nervous because they wouldn't launch an expensive court case if euthanasia for mental illness will be in place in March 2027.