Medically assisted deaths in Canada reach a record high in 2023, about 1 in 20 deaths

Medically assisted death in Canadawhich is legal in this country in some circumstances, reached a record high last year, accounting for about 1 in 20 deaths, Government data shows.

According to the data, It was issued Wednesday by Health CanadaAbout 4.7% of Canadians who died in 2023 received MAID, or medical assistance in dying.

This represents a 15.8% increase compared to 2022, but the upward trend is slowing overall, according to the data. From 2019 to 2022, the average growth rate was 31%.

Health Canada defines MAID as “a health service that allows a qualified person to receive assistance from a physician to end their life.”

To be eligible, individuals must meet a list of criteria, including being at least 18 years old, mentally competent and having a “serious and irreversible medical condition.”

The majority of 2023 cases, about 96%, involved individuals who had one of these conditions and were assessed to have died naturally and were “reasonably expected.”

Of the 19,660 MAID applications received in 2023, about 15,343 people received it. Some died before receiving MAID (about 2,906 people); Others were deemed ineligible (915) and some withdrew their application (496).

The data was part of the country’s fifth annual report on medically assisted dying, which for the first time also looked at the racial, ethnic or cultural identity of MAID recipients. The report found that the majority of recipients identified as Caucasian or white (95.8%) and the second most identified as East Asian (1.8%).

Canada is among a few other countries, including Australia, Austria, New Zealand and Spain, that have assisted with death laws. In the United States, Assisted dying is legal In 10 states and the District of Columbia.

Earlier this month, The United Kingdom passed with the first vote In a bill allowing assisted dying for terminally ill patients.