Nine Things You Might Not Know About MAiD
Medical Assistance in Dying is complex and often misunderstood. This guide clarifies common misconceptions with accurate, compassionate insights into Canada's MAiD legislation and practice. Here are 9 things you might not know about MAiD.
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1. Legal Language vs. Medical Definitions
MAiD eligibility requires a "serious and incurable illness, disease, or disability. But "incurable" is a legal term, not medical. If someone reasonably refuses treatment their condition may be legally deemed incurable, even if potentially medically curable.
Terms like "Reasonably Foreseeable Natural Death" and "Intolerable Suffering" are also legal constructs without universal medical definitions. This flexibility allows assessors to evaluate each unique situation compassionately.

Mental Illness
Under MAiD laws, mental illness isn't recognized as an "illness, disease, or disability"—highlighting how legal interpretation differs from medical terminology.
2. MAiD: Permission, Not Obligation
01
Constitutional Challenge
MAiD became legal following the 2015 Carter v. Canada Supreme Court decision.
02
Permission Structure
Laws permit healthcare providers to offer MAiD under specific conditions—they don't obligate the government to provide it.
03
Individual Responsibility
Eligible individuals must find willing healthcare providers. The right exists to seek MAiD, not to receive it automatically.
3. The "Offering" MAiD Misconception
What's Illegal
Counselling someone to end their life is a criminal offence. Saying "Would you like to have MAiD?" could be interpreted as illegal counselling.
What's Legal
Providing information about lawful MAiD provision is explicitly permitted. Asking "Have you been thinking about MAiD?" opens conversation without suggesting action.
Most reports of healthcare providers "offering" MAiD involve communication errors by inexperienced professionals, not criminal intent. These conversations require extreme care and sensitivity.
4. Media Misinformation About MAiD
Most of what you see in the news is not completely accurate.
Fatal Diagnosis Myth
Even reputable news organizations incorrectly reported facts about MAiD. The Guardian reported that MAiD eligibility required a terminal diagnosis, which isn't true.
Pain Misconception
Media often claims pain drives MAiD requests. Actually, loss of meaningful activities, daily living abilities, and dignity rank higher than pain control. Pain is actually the fourth most reported cause of suffering.
Social Reasons Confusion
Headlines report people asking for MAiD for isolation or homelessness. These aren't eligibility criteria. Asking for MAiD is very different from being found eligible for MAiD. Isolation or loneliness are not eligibility criteria.
Even reputable outlets misrepresent MAiD facts. Critical reading is essential when consuming news about Medical Assistance in Dying.
5. Where MAiD Can Happen
MAiD can occur almost anywhere meaningful to the individual—homes, hospitals, hospices, funeral homes, even city parks with proper planning. The only restriction: some religious healthcare facilities in certain provinces prohibit MAiD on their premises.
6. Privacy and Family Communication
No Disclosure Required
Individuals aren't obligated to tell family, friends, or even their family doctor about MAiD requests.
Assessor Support
MAiD assessors explore reasons for non-disclosure and offer support for difficult conversations when individuals are open.
Alternative Communication
Letters, videos, or voice messages can help share final thoughts with loved ones after death.

Excluding family doctors may hinder eligibility assessment due to insufficient medical history. Without adequate information, assessors must legally deny requests.
7. Political Reality: Not a Liberal Agenda
The Misconception
Conservative media frames MAiD as "Trudeau's regime." This narrative is completely inaccurate—the Supreme Court mandated legalization, not the Liberal Party.
The Truth
Any government in power would have been legally required to implement MAiD after the 2015 Carter decision. Conservatives couldn't make it illegal again—such restrictions would face constitutional challenges.
The Liberals have been cautious managers of MAiD, not champions. Their 2016 legislation was more restrictive than required, adding barriers like "reasonably foreseeable natural death"—which was later struck down as unconstitutional in the Truchon decision. The liberal government has also repeatedly delayed mental illness eligibility, which has now extended to March 2027. This exclusion is very likely unconstitutional.
8. Why People Choose MAiD
1
Loss of Meaningful Activities
The primary reason people request MAiD—inability to engage in what makes life worthwhile.
2
Loss of Daily Activities of Daily Living
Inability to bathe, eat, toilet, or move independently drives requests more than pain.
3
Loss of Dignity
Profound loss of autonomy and self-determination ranks higher than physical symptoms.
4
Inadequate Pain Control
While important, pain management ranks fourth—not first—among reasons for MAiD requests.
Better palliative care is essential but won't eliminate the need for MAiD as an option for people. Even with unlimited resources, some people reach unbearable suffering levels. MAiD empowers individuals to determine what level of intolerable suffering they are willing to endure.
9. MAiD Recipients and Palliative Care Access
75%
Received Palliative Care
MAiD recipients who both required and received palliative care in 2023.
58%
General Population
Canadians who died from any cause and received palliative care in 2021-2022.
0.6%
Unmet Need
MAiD recipients who required but couldn't access palliative care—far below average.
In 2016–2017, 52% of people who died in Canada received palliative care. By 2021–2022, that figure had increased to 58%.
It’s concerning but not surprising that half of people identified as palliative died within 22 days of that designation. For those in hospital, the timeframe was even shorter, at just 11 days. This indicates a significant gap in early access to palliative care, highlighting an area where we must improve.
MAiD recipients, however, have significantly better access to palliative care than the general population. In 2023, 75% of people who received MAiD both required and received palliative care, while only 2.8% who required it didn't receive it.
This is a significant higher than the general population who die from any cause in Canada.