7 October 2026
Canada to indefinitely bar mental illness as sole reason for access to euthanasia

Legislation is an effort by ruling Liberals to address growing clash over who has access to doctor-assisted death Canada’s federal government said Wednesday it would advance legislation to prevent people whose sole health condition is mental illness from accessing euthanasia, an effort by the ruling Liberal party to address a clash in the country over who has access to physician-assisted death. Under the current rules, people whose sole underlying medical condition is a mental illness have been barred from accessing medical assistance in dying (Maid) to end their lives. But that ban – due to be lifted in March – has divided lawmakers over whether to permit this expansion of the Maid program. In Canada, Crisis Services Canada can be contacted at any time on 1. 833.
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