to be eligible for maid, applicants must be eligible for health services funded by the federal government, be at least 18 years old, be deemed mentally competent and able to make health care decisions for themselves, and have a grievous and irremediable medical condition. although the condition does not need to be fatal to qualify for maid, patients must be in “an advanced state of decline that cannot be reversed,” and “experience unbearable physical or mental suffering from [the] illness, disease, disability or state of decline.”
mental illness is not considered an eligible medical condition for maid at this time. this ban is in effect until march 17, 2023, as governing bodies determine how maid can be provided to applicants.
visitors to canada are generally not eligible to receive maid. instead, the practice is reserved for permanent residents who qualify and contribute to the health care system. this is in
contrast to switzerland, where the right-to-die movement also extends to non-citizens.
deep concerns of maid still remain
although right-to-die legislation has gained traction in the west in recent years, concerns about the practice remains.
chief among the concerns is that maid will be disproportionally applicable to individuals from lower socio-economic backgrounds, who previously may have had unequal access to medical treatments, physical and mental support, and who may be unable to cover significant costs associated with long-term or palliative care.
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