Over 13,000 Canadians died by euthanasia in 2022. What can we do about it?
The Canadian government just released the MAiD numbers for last year.
On Wednesday, the Canadian government released it’s fourth report on Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD), sharing data from 2022.
In 2022, there were 13,241 MAiD deaths in Canada.
We expected high numbers. Sadly, the government is moving full-steam ahead toward expanding MAiD to include mental health as a sole condition despite warnings from many, many mental health professionals and advocates across Canada.
Last week the Conservatives put forward a bill that would stop expansion of MAiD to mental health. The bill was narrowly defeated in the House of Commons.
The new report gives a snapshot of how the assisted suicide is becoming more and more popular.
Here are snapshots from the report we shared on X (see screenshots below for the highlighted portions of the report).
Quick look at MAiD numbers for 2022
Canada is approaching 50,000 deaths by doctor since the Criminal Code was changed to legalize assisted suicide. Male deaths trend higher than women, like last year. In total, 44,958 Canadians have died by euthanasia since 2016.
MAiD stats when death is "not reasonably foreseeable" are on a continued upward trend (2.2% increase from 2021).
More and more doctors are killing their patients and it's mostly family doctors (19% increase in physicians performing euthanasia).
Doctors who perform MAiD ended, on average, the lives of 7 patients each in 2022.
Most Canadians get MAiD at home (almost 40%).
More Canadians than ever are asking for doctors to kill them. And the numbers keep climbing (26.5% increase in requests for MAiD in 2022).
More and more people are eligible for MAiD: "The number of individuals that were found ineligible declined...."
What can you do about it?
It’s still worth doing all we can to stop expansion of MAiD to mental health and mature minors.
We encourage people to:
Talk about it. People continue to be surprised and shocked as they learn how many Canadians are dying at the hand of their doctors and how “mainstream” MAiD is becoming. It’s an uncomfortable subject, but the fact that Conservatives, NDP and Greens all voted to stop expansion to include mental health shows that there’s a growing consensus things have gone too far.
How do you talk about it?
A great conversation starter is our docuseries MAiD in Canada. We’ve created the series simply to shine a light on what’s taking place. Let it be a resource for you. It’s free to watch and it breaks down the complexity of the issue and the concerns through interviews with psychiatrists, doctors, veterans, people struggling with health, disability advocates, reporters, lawyers and family members impacted by MAiD.
Call your MP or MLA, especially if you’re in a riding where your Liberal or Bloc MP voted against the life-saving bill noted above, call their office. Here’s a list of the votes. They represent you and you get to tell them what is on your mind and what you want and value. At least, that’s how it should be. Email or phone.
And, of course, pray. People’s lives depend on it. Your family and friends. We can attest as a family that because the “procedure” is available, people choose to request it. No Canadian family will be untouched by MAiD. Canadians of family members suffering from mental health and addiction will need much wisdom and support in the days ahead as MAiD expands to include mental health and is offered to mature minors. Pray for wisdom, courage, clarity. Pray for life.
Thanks for reading,
Matthew, Andrew and Daniel (The Kooman Brothers)
Catch up on the Episodes
