Canada had approximately 17,700 euthanasia deaths in 2025.

Canada has had more than 103,000 euthanasia deaths since legalization.

Alex Schadenberg
Executive Director,
Euthanasia Prevention Coalition

We predict that Canada had 17,700 reported euthanasia deaths in 2025 representing about 5.6% of all deaths and a 7.3% increase from 2024. 

We are researching the 2025 Canadian euthanasia data since Health Canada is slow to release data and Canadians have the right to know.

Health Canada's Sixth Annual Report on Medical Assistance in Dying was released on November 28, 2025 (2024 data). The 2024 data indicated that there were 16,499 reported (MAiD) Canadian euthanasia deaths representing 5.1% of all deaths which was up by 6.9% from 15,427 in 2023. 

We published an article on March 17, 2025 with preliminary predictions for 2025 and predicted that Canada would surpass 100,000 reported euthanasia deaths in April 2026.

Where do I get my data?  

The Office of the Chief Coroner of Ontario 2025 (MAiD) euthanasia data indicates that there were 5303 reported euthanasia deaths in 2025 which was up by almost 7.3% from 4,944 reported euthanasia deaths in 2024. Ontario represents 38.9% of Canada's population. 

The British Columbia (BC) Health Authority released its 2025 euthanasia data indicating that there were 3189 reported euthanasia deaths in BC in 2025 which was up by 6.3% from 3000 in 2024.

Based on the reported 43,223 total BC deaths in 2025, euthanasia represents almost 7.4% of all deaths. BC has 13.5% of Canada's population.

Alberta Health Services also released its 2025 (MAiD) euthanasia data indicating that there were 1,242 reported euthanasia deaths in Alberta in 2025 which was up by more than 11% from 1,117 in 2024. Alberta represents 12.7% of Canada's population.

Nova Scotia Health released its 2025 MAiD euthanasia data indicating that there were 462 reported euthanasia deaths in 2025 which was up by 5% from 440 in 2024. Nova Scotia represents 2.6% of Canada's population.

Based on the official euthanasia data from Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta and Nova Scotia, in those provinces, there were 10,196 reported euthanasia deaths in 2025 which was up from 9501 in 2024 representing a 7.3% increase. These provinces represent about 67.7% of Canada's population.

How many people have died by euthanasia in Canada? 

According to the Sixth Annual Report, from legalization until December 31, 2024 there were 76,475 reported euthanasia deaths in Canada. When adding approximately 17,700 reported euthanasia deaths in 2025 we can estimate that from legalization until December 31, 2025 there were approximately 94,175 reported euthanasia deaths.

Is the number of euthanasia deaths increasing, decreasing or stable in 2026?

The official Chief Coroner of Ontario data indicates that there were 1,283 reported euthanasia deaths in the first quarter of 2026 which is up by 2.5% from 1,252 in the first quarter of 2025. This is not conclusive information but it does suggest that the number of euthanasia deaths has continued to increase by approximately 2.5% in 2026.

Based on this data, we estimate that there have been approximately 1,500 reported Canadian euthanasia deaths every month in 2026 and as of June 30, 2026, that there have been approximately 103,175 Canadian reported euthanasia deaths since legalization. 

More articles on Canada's euthanasia deaths.

• Canada surpassed 100,000 euthanasia deaths since legalization (Read). 
• Canada: Euthanasia continued to rise in 2025 (Read).
• Canada will soon surpass 100,000 euthanasia deaths (Read). 
• Canada reports a record number of deaths in 2024 (Read). 
• Health Canada 2024 report states that 16,499 people died by euthanasia (Read)

Nova Scotia woman was approved for euthanasia is alive after being treated in the US

Jennifer Brady was denied medical treatment but approved for euthanasia, has changed her mind after being treated in the US.

Alex Schadenberg
Executive Director, Euthanasia Prevention Coalition

Jennifer Brady

An article by Angela McIvor that was published by CBC News on September 18, 2024 explained that Jennifer Brady, who lives in Nova Scotia, was approved for MAiD (euthanasia) after being unable to obtain treatment for Lymphedema. Lymphedma is a condition that causes an accumulation of fluid and can result in painful swelling, increased risk of blood infection, cellulitis and hardening of the skin.

The good news is that McIvor published an update to the story that was published by CBC News on September 18, 2025 explaining that Brady won a 6-year court battle with the Nova Scotia government and has received treatment in New Jersey. McIvor wrote:

After years of fighting the N.S. government for coverage, Jennifer Brady recently had lymphedema surgery

McIvor continues:

Brady went public one year ago with her application for medical assistance in dying. At the time, she spent several hours a day managing her disease, feeling severely depressed and unable to care for her two children.

Then, last October, after winning a judicial review against Nova Scotia's Department of Health and Wellness, Premier Tim Houston publicly apologized to Brady. He also promised to pay for her future treatment.

McIvor explained more about the legal battle for the right to be receive treatment:

In 2022, Brady took her fight to Nova Scotia Supreme Court after her requests for out-of-province care were repeatedly denied on the grounds she did not have a referral from a Nova Scotia specialist. Justice Timothy Gabriel pinpointed in his Oct. 2024 decision how MSI, the medical insurer for Nova Scotia, refused to acknowledge there is no such specialist in the province.

He ruled that Brady was "treated in a procedurally unfair manner" and the decision made by the province to deny care was "unreasonable."

The great news is that Brady changed her mind about euthanasia after receiving treatment:

Since having a lymph node transplant on July 16 at The Valley Hospital in Paramus, N.J., Brady said she's feeling remarkable improvement. She said she can see her kneecaps for the first time in years, and she no longer needs a massage machine that previously tethered her to the couch for six hours a day.

She has also taken her medical assistance in dying (MAID) application off the table.

Jennifer Brady is not the first Canadian who was not offered medical treatment but offered euthanasia, but then received successful treatment in the US.

Allison Ducluzeau

In December 2023 I published an article about Allison Ducluzeau who lives in Victoria BC. Allison was diagnosed with abdominal cancer and offered MAiD (euthanasia) rather than treatment, but she was successfully treated at the Institute for Cancer Care at Mercy Medical Centre in Baltimore.

Allison Ducluzeau was offered euthanasia but not medical treatment. The Ducluzeau story concerned the fact that she was suing the BC Ministry of Health for the cost of the successful treatment that she received in Baltimore.

Like Brady, Ducluzeau was able to die by euthanasia but was not being offered the option of medical treatment for her condition.

Approximately 15,300 Canadian euthanasia deaths in 2023.

Canada had approximately 15,280 euthanasia deaths in 2023 and more than 60,000 (as of December 31, 2023) since legalization. 

Alex Schadenberg
Executive Director, Euthanasia Prevention Coalition

The Euthanasia Prevention Coalition wonders why Canada's province of Saskatchewan had a greater than 25% increase in euthanasia deaths in 2023.

The Saskatchewan Health Authority reported to the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition that there were 344 assisted deaths in 2023 up from 257 in 2022.

On July 8, 2024 we published an article estimating that there were approximately 15,280 euthanasia deaths in 2023, a 15.4% increase based on data from Ontario, Quebec, British Columbia, Manitoba, Alberta and Nova Scotia.

Based on data  published on July 8 there were approximately 15,280 Canadian assisted deaths in 2023. Here is how the numbers add up:

The BC Medical Assistance in Dying 2023 report stated that there were 2767 reported assisted deaths up 10% from 2515 in 2022.

CBC Radio Canada published an article on March 9, 2024 stating that in 2023 there were 5,686 reported deaths representing 7.3% of all deaths and a 17% increase in Québec euthanasia deaths from 2022.  This represents the highest euthanasia rate in the world. The Radio Canada report was based on the Quebec euthanasia deaths between January 1 - December 31, 2023.

The Office of the Chief Coroner of Ontario released the December 2023 MAiD data indicating that there were 4641 reported euthanasia deaths in 2023 which was up by 18% from 3934 reported euthanasia deaths in 2022.

The Alberta Health Services reports that there were 977 reported assisted deaths in 2023 which was up by more than 18% from 836 reported assisted deaths in 2022.

The Nova Scotia Medical Assistance in Dying data indicates that there were 342 reported assisted deaths in 2023 which was up by more than 25% from 272 in 2022.

An article published by Global News, which may only be preliminary data, indicated that there were 236 reported Manitoba assisted deaths in 2023 which was up by 6% from 223 in 2022.

According to the data from Ontario, Québec, Alberta, Nova Scotia, Manitoba, British Columbia and Saskatchewan, there were 14,757 assisted deaths in 2023 (in those Provinces) which was up by 15.7% from 12,747 assisted deaths in 2022 (in those Provinces). 

Since the total number of Canadian assisted deaths in 2022 was 13,241, we estimate that there were approximately 15,280 Canadian assisted deaths in 2023.

Canada had approximately 15,280 assisted deaths in 2023, a 15.4% increase.

There were approximately 15,280 reported Canadian assisted deaths in 2023 up by more than 15% from 2022.

Alex Schadenberg
Executive Director, 

Euthanasia Prevention Coalition

As I wait for the federal government to release Canada's 2023 euthanasia data, last week British Columbia released it's 2023 provincial euthanasia data.

According to the BC Medical Assistance in Dying 2023 report there were 2767 reported assisted deaths up by 10% from 2515 in 2022.

It is concerning that "other conditions" represented 32.9% of the BC assisted deaths in 2023. Other conditions were reported under these catagories:

Autoimmune Condition 2.4%, Chronic Pain 24.8%, Diabetes 9.8%, Frailty 60.5%, Other Comorbidities* 52.1%

Canada's MAiD law does not require that a person be terminally ill. Diabetes, frailty chronic pain and autoimmune conditions are usually chronic and not terminal conditions. 

 

The report doesn't indicate the conditions that comprise "Other Comorbidities" yet the report indicates that Mental Disorders, as a comorbidity, is within that category.

Euthanasia for mental disorders alone is not permitted in Canada but if a person has a mental disorder and another comorbidity (condition) then the person can qualify to be killed.

The report excludes any important information, such as an analysis of questionable deaths or a further examination of why a person actually asked to be killed, rather it only includes their condition.

Canada's euthanasia statistics:

On February 6, 2024 I predicted that there were approximately 16,000 Canadian euthanasia deaths in 2023. At that time I had less data.

 

Based on the data from Ontario, Quebec, British Columbia, Manitoba, Alberta and Nova Scotia, I now predict that there were approximately 15,280 Canadian euthanasia deaths in 2023. Here is how I came to that predication:

CBC Radio Canada published an article on March 9, 2024 stating that there was a 17% increase in Québec euthanasia deaths with 5,686 reported deaths representing 7.3% of all deaths, which is the highest rate in the world in 2023. The Radio Canada report was based on the Quebec euthanasia deaths between January 1 - December 31, 2023.

The Office of the Chief Coroner of Ontario released the December 2023 MAiD data indicating that there were 4641 reported euthanasia deaths in 2023 which was up by 18% from 3934 reported euthanasia deaths in 2022.

The Alberta Health Services reports that there were 977 reported assisted deaths in 2023 which was up by more than 18% from 836 reported assisted deaths in 2022.

The Nova Scotia Medical Assistance in Dying data indicates that there were 342 reported assisted deaths in 2023 which was up by more than 25% from 272 in 2022.

An article published by Global news, which may only be preliminary data, indicated that there were 236 reported Manitoba assisted deaths in 2023 which was up by 6% from 223 in 2022.

The BC Medical Assistance in Dying 2023 report stated that there were 2767 reported assisted deaths up 10% from 2515 in 2022.

According to the data from Ontario, Québec, Alberta, Nova Scotia, Manitoba and British Columbia, there were 14,413 assisted deaths in 2023 (in those Provinces) whihc is up by 15.4% from 12,490 assisted deaths in 2022 (in those Provinces). Since the total number of Canadian assisted deaths in 2022 was 13,241, I can predict that there were approximately 15,280 Canadian assisted deaths in 2023.

Assisted suicide becomes a wider option in Canada.

Alex Schadenberg
Executive Director, Euthanasia Prevention Coalition

The Halifax Examiner published an article on January 13 by Yvette d'Entremont concerning new options for assisted suicide in Nova Scotia and Canada. The article outlines how nearly every (MAiD) assisted death is done by euthanasia (lethal injection) in Canada. A lethal drug cocktail has now been approved to enable an "oral option" otherwise known as assisted suicide.

d'Entremont reported Jocelyn Downie, Canada's leading pro-euthanasia academic, as stating:

“Ultimately it’s grounded in the twin values that should be behind our MAID decisions, which is respect for autonomy, so the capacity for self-determination, for charting the course of your own life and death, and then the alleviation of suffering,” Downie said in an interview.

“This is just another element in respecting autonomy. It’s providing another pathway for people to realize their goal of alleviating their suffering on their own terms. It’s not the kind of development that we’ve seen in the past few years. It’s not seismic. But I think it’s consistent and it’s a completion.”

Memorial University medical ethics professor Daryl Pullman who published an Impact Ethics piece last November comparing the number of MAID deaths in Canada in 2020 to the “dramatically lower” number that occurred in California under its assisted suicide law. d'Entremont reported Pullman as stating:

…Given the significant number of patients in California who meet the criteria for an assisted death, who receive the lethal prescription, but then never follow through, for some simply knowing they have the option seems sufficient,” Pullman wrote.

“The decision not to follow through with ending one’s life is also a matter of autonomous choice. But it is a choice that seems all too rare in the Canadian context, and we should worry that some who initiate the MAiD process might then feel compelled to follow through.”

My anecdotal experience from talking with friends and family members of people who have died by (MAiD) euthanasia in Canada is that there is pressure to complete the act. I refer to it as getting on the euthanasia train. There are very few places where the train stops in Canada.

Concerning the radical difference between the number of assisted deaths in California as compared to Canada, Pullman states: 

“Doesn’t this disturb anybody that these numbers are so blatantly different,”

Pullman expresses further concern about the expansion of Canada's law to permit euthanasia for mental illness alone. d'Entremont reports:

“The Canadian Parliament seems more interested right now in waxing the runners on the sleigh than in actually trying to assess whether or not the hill we’re going down is pretty steep. We seem to be rushing headlong for a precipice here,” Pullman said.

“We’re medicalizing suicide in Canada, effectively, so that people who, for whatever reason, judge their life to be unacceptable they can, under this legislation, get medical assistance in ending their life and that’s a little bit disturbing.”

The approved protocal for assisted suicide (oral option) requires that an IV be inserted first in case the assisted suicide drug cocktail doesn't work.

Downie disagreed with Pullman, but that is not surprising because she has radically promoted euthanasia for years.

The article concludes by stating that according to Nova Scotia Health, since 2018, of the 1,389 patients, 29 (2.1%) who were referred for MAID have paused or withdrawn their MAID requests.

When only 2.1% of the people in Nova Scotia who ask for euthanasia change their mind, clearly the mantra's of choice and autonomy ring hollow.

Nova Scotia and Ontario report increase in euthanasia deaths.

Alex Schadenberg
Executive Director, Euthanasia Prevention Coalition

Last March, Canada's federal government passed Bill C-7 to widen access to euthanasia (MAiD) in Canada (Link to article on Bill C-7).

I have written articles on the increasing number of euthanasia deaths but now Rebecca Lau reported for Global news that Nova Scotia has temporarily put (MAiD) euthanasia referrals on hold as it attempts to deal with a euthanasia backlog. Lau reports:

Nova Scotia Health is placing a 30-day hold on referrals for Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID) because increased demand has created a “significant backlog.”

According to Nova Scotia Health, the program has already exceeded the total number of referrals received in 2020.

Nova Scotia health is seeking for more medical doctors or nurse practitioners to become involved with (MAiD).

There has also been a significant increase in Ontario euthanasia deaths. Data from the Ontario Office of the Chief Coroner indicates that there were 1875 euthanasia (MAiD) deaths in the first 8 months of 2021 up by 24% from 1517 in the first 8 months of 2020. In the last three months there were 793 euthanasia deaths representing a significant increase in lethal injection deaths.

The euthanasia lobby refer to the increase in euthanasia deaths as a success. 

 

In reality, the combination of normalizing killing, expanding access to killing, and a healthcare system stretched by Covid concerns has led to this outcome.

Jack Sorenson RIP.

Alex Schadenberg
Executive Director, Euthanasia Prevention Coalition

Katherine Sorenson

Taryn Grant reported on October 6 for CBC news that Jack Sorenson, Katherine's husband, died on Saturday, after the Nova Scotia Court of Appeal decided that they had no role in reviewing euthanasia assessments, even if a euthanasia assessment was wrong.

Katherine believed that her husband of 48 years, who was approved for (MAiD) euthanasia even though he received conflicting assessments, is not dying, has questionable capacity, and is delusional about his medical condition.

Katherine's lawyer, Hugh Scher, sought an injunction to prevent the euthanasia death. The affidavit's state that Jack was not terminally ill, that he had questionable capacity to decide and he had "delusional" beliefs concerning his medical condition.

Grant interviewed Katherine for the CBC news article. Katherine stated:

She learned of his death when the funeral home called to tell her they had his body.

She said that after months of separation, his passing was not a shock and she was doing "pretty well, considering."

"I've had a wonderful life with Jack. There have been, as with any marriage, lots of varying opinions between the spouses and I thought we did a pretty good job of reconciling two pretty opposite views," she said, referring to their difference of religion. She is a practising Christian and he had been an atheist since his early adulthood.

When communicating with Katherine, it was sad to learn that she was not informed about her husband's death until after the funeral home received him.

Katherine told CBC news that Jack probably wouldn't like that she requested that donations go to the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition (EPC), but EPC covered Katherine's legal expenses.

Donate to the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition (Link) by: 

Paypal (Link),
Donate by credit card by calling the EPC office at: 1-877-439-3348, or
Send a cheque to the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition, Box 25033, London ON., N6C 6A8.

More information on this story.

• Court of Appeal decides that the court has no role to review euthanasia (MAiD) assessments even when assessments differ (Link).
• Nova Scotia court decides that a man who is not dying and may be delusional can die by euthanasia (Link). 
• Woman goes to court to prevent her husband's assisted death (Link). 
• Nova Scotia woman seeks to prevent her husband's death by euthanasia (Link).

Court of Appeal decides that the court has no role to review euthanasia (MAiD) assessments even when assessments differ.

Alex Schadenberg
Executive Director, Euthanasia Prevention Coalition

When Canada's parliament passed Bill C-14 legalizing euthanasia (MAiD) the legislation required two doctors or nurse practitioners to agree that a person qualified for death by lethal injection. As long as two euthanasia assessments approve death, it doesn't matter if several euthanasia assessments determine that a person doesn't qualify under the law.

Katherine's Sorenson believes that her husband of 48 years, who is approved for (MAiD) euthanasia even though he received conflicting assessments, is not dying, has questionable capacity, and is delusional about his medical condition.

Katherine's lawyer, Hugh Scher, sought an injunction to prevent the euthanasia death based on an assessment by a physician, an affidavit from a physician who has known her husband for years, and Katherine's affidavit. These affidavit's state that her husband is not terminally ill, that he has questionable capacity to decide and he has "delusional" beliefs concerning his medical condition.

Today, the Nova Scotia Court of Appeal decided that:

there is no role for courts in the review of MAiD eligibility assessments. ... Parliament considered, and rejected a role for judges in the pre-approval or review of MAiD eligibility assessments. Parliament made clear that the role rests with approved healthcare assessors.

In other words, if two doctors or nurse practitioners approve a death by lethal injection, that it doesn't matter that other doctors or nurse practitioners assessments disagree that the person qualifies to be killed under the law.

Further to that, if a euthanasia assessment is false, such as, if a MAiD assessor accepting a person's delusional beliefs about their medical condition, that there is no legal way to challenge the assessment, even if the challenger has been married to that person for 48 years.

Katherine Sorenson

Katherine stated:

I am committed to seeing this matter through for the benefit and protection of my husband of 48 years and for the benefit of others across Canada in the public interest, who may lack capacity and who otherwise will remain unprotected by a MAID law that clearly lacks adequate safeguards to protect those who are vulnerable.

Katherine's lawyer Hugh Scher noted that; 

Doctor shopping is a serious concern that must be addressed. Court or tribunal oversight are essential in those rare cases where there are multiple conflicting medical reports over the core issue of capacity which is an essential condition of eligibility for MAID.

Hugh Scher

Hugh Scher also noted that: 

The federal MAID law requires application in accord with provincial laws including those regarding consent and capacity.  Where capacity is at issue provincial consent and capacity laws across Canada call on courts or tribunals to resolve conflicts and disputes over capacity. 

It would be criminal to subject terminal treatment decisions under MAID to less protection than any other treatment decision. 

Toronto lawyer John Campion stated that: 

A more nuanced test for injunctions should be developed for end of life cases as the present tests of serious issue to be tried, irreparable harm and balance of convenience are inadequate and/or obviously determined in favour of the applicant (wife in this case) when the result is so final - death. The process should identify the single issue- in this case capacity - and design a process that brings the central concern into timely focus with evidence and argument as part of the balance of convenience... 

Lawyer Kate Naugler noted that: 

The dignity and autonomy of all Canadians is threatened where a person who lacks capacity is permitted to access MAID.

Katherine Sorenson and her legal team have not yet decided their next course of action.

The Euthanasia Prevention Coalition needs your help. EPC is paying the legal bills, but in turn, we need your financial support.

Donate to the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition (Link) by:

Paypal (Link),
Donate by credit card by calling the EPC office at: 1-877-439-3348, or
Send a cheque to the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition, Box 25033, London ON., N6C 6A8.

More information on this story.

• Nova Scotia court decides that a man who is not dying and may be delusional can die by euthanasia (Link). 
• Woman goes to court to prevent her husband's assisted death (Link). 
• Nova Scotia woman seeks to prevent her husband's death by euthanasia (Link).

Nova Scotia case continues. Katherine is trying to prevent the wrongful euthanasia death of her husband.

Alex Schadenberg
Executive Director, Euthanasia Prevention Coalition

The Nova Scotia court case concerning a woman who is trying to prevent her husband of 48-years from dying by euthanasia returned to court today.

Katherine's husband was approved for (MAiD) euthanasia even though he received conflicting assessments for MAiD (euthanasia). Katherine says he is not dying and is delusional about his medical condition.

The Canadian Press report on the trial stated:

The woman is appealing last month’s decision by Nova Scotia Supreme Court Justice Peter Rosinski who rejected her request for a temporary injunction against her husband.

Her lawyers told the three-member panel of judges today that the woman has been given power of attorney by her 83-year-old husband and has an obligation under the law to step in.

They say there were conflicting medical reports about his health condition and about his capacity to seek an assisted death.

Katherine

Katherine's lawyer, Hugh Scher stated that there is no other way to cross examine the medical experts who assessed Katherine's husband.

According to the Canadian Press, the lawyer for Katherine's husband, Philip Romney, argued that:

a proper medical assessment was made under the law and it’s not the duty of the appeal court, or any court, to act as a substitute for the opinion of medical experts.

Romney says the medical assistance in dying process would “fall apart” if the decisions of doctors and nurse practitioners were subject to court review. He said medical professionals would decline to participate in the procedure if their decisions were systematically questioned by the courts.

The Chief Justice stated that the decision would be made quickly.

The Euthanasia Prevention Coalition needs your help.

EPC agreed to pay for the legal bills, but in turn, we need your financial support.

Donate to the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition (Link) by:

Paypal (Link),
Donate by credit card by calling the EPC office at: 1-877-439-3348, or
Send cheques to the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition, Box 25033, London ON., N6C 6A8.

More information on this story.

• Nova Scotia court case continues (Link).
• Nova Scotia court decides that a man who is not dying and may be delusional can die by euthanasia (Link). 
• Woman goes to court to prevent her husband's assisted death (Link). 
• Nova Scotia woman seeks to prevent her husband's death by euthanasia (Link).

Nova Scotia court case about the husband who was approved for euthanasia, but is not terminal and may be delusional, continues.

Alex Schadenberg
Euthanasia Prevention Coalition

The Nova Scotia court case concerning a woman who is trying to prevent her husband of 48-years from dying by euthanasia will continue on September 24.

Katherine's husband was approved for (MAiD) euthanasia even after receiving conflicting assessments for MAiD (euthanasia). Katherine says he is not dying and is delusional about his medical condition. Justice Elizabeth Van den Eynden recently lifted a temporary injunction to allow the man to die by euthanasia, even though the judge set the court date for September 24.

The Euthanasia Prevention Coalition found the decision by Justice Van den Eynden to be untenable.

To schedule a hearing on the merits of the injunction for September 24 and then lift the temporary injunction on September 4, allowing him to die by lethal injection, makes a mockery of justice. 

If the case continues, and if it is decided that the husband lacked effective capacity to decide or did not qualify under the law, but at the same time he had already died by euthanasia is farcical.

Katherine lawyers were denied a formal review of the decision even though her husband can die by euthanasia before September 24. The case questions whether her husband qualifies for MAiD and how to respond to conflicting or false MAiD assessments.

In response to media inquiries Katherine stated:

I have learned so much about the potential for abuse of vulnerable people in Canada through MAID. The MAID programs don’t even follow their own procedures. Doctor shopping is rampant and there is no oversight by court or Tribunal. This must change for the safety of all vulnerable Canadians.

Her Lawyer Hugh Scher noted:

There must be a significant overhaul to MAID in Canada. The limited safeguards put in place by parliament have proven ineffective to prevent against doctor shopping and arbitrary application of the law. If MAID is health care as many argue then it must be subject to the same oversight requirements as other end of life treatments in terms of resolving disputes about capacity, consent and reasonable foreseeability of death.

Absent that we have unleashed a dangerous program of euthanasia on demand that puts the lives of vulnerable people at risk.

Hugh Scher

In an interview by CTV News Avis Favario, Scher suggested that this case may be appealed to the Supreme Court of Canada.

"What I think this court case speaks to fundamentally is the need to have a dispute resolution process through the courts in those rare cases where there is a fundamental disagreement or conflict between multiple experts that needs to be resolved, because they're coming to completely alternate positions about the question of whether the person meets the criteria or not,"

The decision as to whether Katherine will seek to appeal this case to the Supreme Court of Canada cannot be determined at this time.

The question that the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition seeks to clarify that when there are conflicting or a false MAiD assessment, is there an avenue to challenge the assessment, especially since this is a life and death decision.

The Euthanasia Prevention Coalition needs your help.

EPC agreed to pay for the legal bills, but in turn, we need your financial support.

Donate to the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition (Link) by:

Paypal (Link),
Donate by credit card by calling the EPC office at: 1-877-439-3348, or
Send cheques to the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition, Box 25033, London ON., N6C 6A8.

More information on this case.

• Nova Scotia court decides that a man who is not dying and may be delusional can die by euthanasia (Link). 
• Woman goes to court to prevent her husband's assisted death (Link). 
• Nova Scotia woman seeks to prevent her husband's death by euthanasia (Link).

Nova Scotia court decides that a man who may not be dying and may be delusional can die by MAiD (euthanasia).

Alex Schadenberg
Executive Director, Euthanasia Prevention Coalition

Update: Katherine's lawyer requested a judicial review to prevent her husband's death until after the Sept 24 court case. On Sept 10 we learned that the review was dismissed. It is crazy that the court is willing to hear the case on Sept 24 but Katherine's husband could die by lethal injection before the case, even the the court may decide that he doesn't qualify.

Taryn Grant reporting for CBC News Nova Scotia that a man who has received conflicting assessments for MAiD (euthanasia) and whose wife of 48 years says is delusional about his medical condition, can go ahead and die by euthanasia. Grant reported:

A Nova Scotia Court of Appeal judge has upheld a lower court decision that effectively allows a man to go ahead with a medically assisted death, in spite of his wife's efforts to stop him.

The 83-year-old man from Bridgewater, N.S., was assessed by physicians and approved for medical assistance in dying (MAID) earlier this year, but his wife, Katherine, 82, filed for an injunction with the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia, forcing him to cancel his plans.

CBC News is identifying the couple only by the woman's first name to protect their privacy and his ability to access health care. His wife has threatened to sue health-care providers who help her husband access a medically assisted death.

While the husband says he's suffering and near the end of his life because of advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), his wife says his wish to die is not based on physical illness, but anxiety and mental delusions.

The couple have known each other for more than 60 years and have been married for 48.

Hugh Scher

Hugh Scher, the lawyer for Katherine sent out the following comment:

The decision calls into serious question the arbitrary application of the criminal law in a way that puts vulnerable people at risk.

In this case there are multiple medical opinions questioning the husband's capacity while others say he has capacity. Similarly multiple reports state that his death is not reasonably foreseeable. Others say his death is reasonably foreseeable.

The notion that a court should be precluded from resolving such a fundamental conflict about capacity and that the legal requirements of the criminal code are met is a glaring violation of the rule of law in Canada that puts vulnerable people at risk of death.

The notion that individuals should be free to see 10 doctors who find they lack capacity, but then find 2 more that say they don’t to justify an assisted death is troubling and renders the safeguards and protections of the criminal law completely meaningless.

Katherine calls on Parliament, the Nova Scotia Legislature and the courts to fix an arbitrary and broken legal process that permits the intentional killing by euthanasia of those who lack capacity and who don’t meet the most basic requirements of the law.

The Supreme Court of Canada made clear that legalization of euthanasia in Canada depended completely on parliament’s ability to implement reasonable safeguards to protect the most vulnerable of Canadians.

Today’s decision by a single judge of a court of appeal on a procedural matter demonstrates how woefully inadequate the present regime and procedures are to protect vulnerable people lacking capacity from being put to death in Canada.

Katherine

Grant reported that the case might continue:

The case could still go to a formal appeal hearing and is scheduled to do so on Sept. 24.

Katherine's lawyers noted last week that should her husband go ahead with the MAID procedure before then, it would render the appeal moot. This was one of their arguments for an extension of the interim injunction.

The Euthanasia Prevention Coalition finds this decision to be untenable.

To schedule a hearing on the merits of the injunction for September 24 and then lift the temporary injunction on September 4, allowing him to die by lethal injection, makes a mockery of justice. 

If the case continues, and if it is decided that the husband lacked effective capacity to decide or did not qualify under the law, but at the same time he had already died by euthanasia is farcical.

Katherine lawyers may ask for a formal review of the decision, but her husband might be dead before the review can be considered.

This is a clear example of justice being denied. 

Katherine could not have carried out the legal proceedings and or file an appeal without the support of the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition. She loves her husband and she launched the legal action to prevent the wrongful death of her husband, but she could not do so without help.

 
EPC agreed to pay the legal bills, but in turn, we need your financial support.

Donate to the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition (Link) by:

• Paypal (Link),
• Call the EPC office at: 1-877-439-3348 to donate by credit card, 
• Send a cheque to the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition, Box 25033, London ON., N6C 6A8.

We will provide more information, but based on privacy, we are providing as much information, at this time, as possible.

Thank you for considering EPC in this precedent setting case.

Nova Scotia woman will return to court on September 24 to prevent the euthanasia death of her husband.

Alex Schadenberg
Executive Director, Euthanasia Prevention Coalition

Nova Scotia Justice Van den Eynden heard the request for an injunction to prevent the euthanasia (MAiD) death of a Nova Scotia man today.

Van den Eynden set September 24 as the date for an appeal hearing on an injunction but the judge has not yet decided if the temporary injunction to prevent the assisted death will continue.

The Canadian Press reported that:

Justice Elizabeth Van den Eynden reserved her decision on the request to issue an injunction against a lower court ruling that allowed the 83-year-old man's medically assisted death to proceed.

The lawyers for the 82-year-old woman argued that the stay of the lower court decision is needed because they didn't get a chance to cross examine medical experts. 

The lawyers contend those experts offered conflicting opinions regarding whether the man should have been granted permission to die under the federal law. 

According to court documents, the man says he is near the end of his life due to advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, but his wife maintains his wish to die is based on anxiety and delusions.

In an interview with CTV News Avis Favario, Scher suggested that this case may be appealed to the Supreme Court of Canada.

"What I think this court case speaks to fundamentally is the need to have a dispute resolution process through the courts in those rare cases where there is a fundamental disagreement or conflict between multiple experts that needs to be resolved, because they're coming to completely alternate positions about the question of whether the person meets the criteria or not,"

EPC agreed to pay for the legal bills, but in turn, we need your financial support.

Donate to the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition (Link) by:

• Paypal (Link), 
• Donate by credit card by calling the EPC office at: 1-877-439-3348, or 
• Send a cheque to the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition, Box 25033, London ON., N6C 6A8.

Katherine could not have carried out the legal proceedings or filed an appeal without the financial support of the EPC. She stated that she loved her husband and that she wanted to launch a legal action to prevent her husband's wrongful death. Thank you for helping us stop a wrongful death.