Alex Schadenberg – August 3, 2022
Health Canada recently released the Third Annual Report on Medical Assistance in Dying in Canada (2021). The data is gathered from the reports submitted by the medical or nurse practitioners who carried out the euthanasia death. There is no requirement that a third party or neutral person submit the reports to ensure their accuracy.
Comparing the Third Annual report (2021) to the Second Annual Report (2020), the report states that there were: 10,064 assisted deaths in 2021 up from 7603 in 2020, 5661 in 2019, 4480 in 2018, 2838 in 2017 and 1018 in 2016.
The report indicates that the number of assisted deaths increased by 32.4% representing 3.3% of all deaths in 2021.
When all data sources are considered, the total of number of euthanasia (MAiD) reported assisted deaths in Canada from legalization to December 31, 2021 is 31,664.
The report indicates that euthanasia represented 3.3% of all deaths, which was up from 2.5% in 2021. The data indicates a big difference in the percentage of euthanasia deaths between provinces. According to the data the percentage of all deaths that were euthanasia increased in all provinces notably:
- British Columbia: 4.8% in 2021 up from 3.8% in 2020,
- Quebec: 4.7% in 2021 up from 3.0% in 2020.
- Prince Edward Island 2.9% in 2021 up from 2.8% in 2020.
- Ontario: 2.7% in 2021 up from 2.1% in 2020.
- Newfoundland was the lowest with 1.2% in 2021 up from 0.9% in 2020.
The report indicated that due to the passing of Bill C-7 in March 2021, 2.2% of the assisted deaths were people whose natural death was not reasonably foreseeable.
This is the first Health Canada MAiD report since the federal government expanded eligibility for euthanasia (MAiD) in March 2021 by passing Bill C-7.