Amid global distractions such as the Olympics, US elections, and current conflicts, the issue of assisted dying has quietly entered the political forefront in the United Kingdom. Lord Falconer, former Lord Chancellor and long-time advocate for the legalisation of assisted dying, believes that Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s tenure presents a unique opportunity to change the law. The composition of the present House of Commons is vastly different from that of 2015 when the last vote against legalising assisted dying occurred, thus creating a potential turning point.
However, it is crucial to consider the Canadian experience when thinking about legalising euthanasia in the UK and the US. Canada’s rapid expansion of its “medical assistance in dying” (MAiD) scheme since its legalisation in 2016 should serve as a cautionary tale. In just seven years, the number of MAiD deaths rose from 1,018 in 2016 to 13,241 in 2022. This startling increase signals MAiD as the fastest-growing assisted-dying programme globally.
Notably, assisted deaths now account for approximately 4% of Canada’s total deaths, becoming the fifth largest cause of death. Moreover, patients can opt for MAiD even without a terminal illness and without having access to potentially life-saving treatments. These cases have sparked concerns about the potential misuse of the MAiD system, emphasizing the need for thorough consideration before introducing similar laws elsewhere.