Euthanasia for mental illness already taking place in Canada, psychiatrist testifies

OTTAWA (LifeSiteNews) — A Canadian psychiatrist told MPs that he personally saw patients with mental illness offered state-sanctioned Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) in violation of the country’s current euthanasia laws.

MAiD for those with mental illness is not allowed under Canada’s euthanasia rules. However, according to psychiatrist Dr. John Maher of Barrie, Ontario, individuals have tried to circumvent the law. 

During a recent Special Joint Committee meeting on MAiD, Conservative MP Andrew Lawton asked Maher about people with mental health issues as “already qualifying people in the eyes of some assessors and practitioners for MAID.” He said to him, “You’re describing criminal misconduct, are you not?”

In reply, Maher said, “I absolutely am.”

“I had a patient with schizophrenia who was approved for MAID on the basis of a skin condition that a dermatologist said could be treated with a cream and a sore ankle following not cooperating with physiotherapy after a broken ankle,” Maher said.

He then said he had a “fierce argument with the MAID provider who said that was sufficient.”

“My patient had schizophrenia and was psychotic and delusional at the time. That is what’s happening,” he said.

Maher then dropped a bombshell, saying that he and “other colleagues are experiencing” cases of individuals being offered MAiD who aren’t legally eligible.

“People are clearly getting MAID for reasons that are frankly illegal,” he told Lawton and the committee.

Maher, who is a specialist in severe mental illness and is also the editor-in-chief of the Journal of Ethics in Mental Health, noted that if the Liberal government goes ahead and allows the deadly practice for those with mental illness, it will spread what is known as the “Werther Effect.” This means that publicized suicide cases could potentially motivate others to seek assisted suicide.

According to Maher, in nations such as Switzerland that legalized euthanasia, the number of requests has “risen much faster after it was legalized.”

As reported by LifeSiteNews, Maher has also warned MPs that a planned expansion of euthanasia to those with mental illness will lead the nation into a “suicide contagion” that could spiral out of control and prompt people to “doctor-shop until dead.”

Last month, the Canadian government created the Special Joint Parliamentary Committee for MAiD. It is filled with euthanasia backers, but Lawton is one of the few pro-life members of the committee.

The committee will determine whether Canada should expand assisted suicide to those with mental illness, but a few Members of Parliament on the committee promise to advocate for life.

The expansion of euthanasia for the mentally ill is slated to become law in 2027 as a consequence of the passage of Bill C-7.

As reported by LifeSiteNews, Canada’s Catholic bishops have said they “support” Bill C-218, which is a bill that would stop the planned expansion of assisted suicide.

Recently, another psychiatrist, Dr. Mona Gupta, told the committee that those with eating disorders or depression should be allowed to die by assisted suicide.