Is Canada choosing assisted death over disabled lives?

Quick Overview

The federal government's expansion of Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID) to include people with non-coercive disabilities and chronic illnesses, coupled with cuts to public services and the military's focus on disability, is criticized for creating a system where life for disabled Canadians is made unnecessarily difficult and leads to accelerated expansion of MAID eligibility.

Key Points: The federal government has been quiet about the expansion of MAID to include people suffering from non-coercive disabilities and chronic illnesses, which is referred to as Track 2. In 2021, MAID practice expanded to include anyone suffering from grievous and irredeemable conditions, not just those whose death was deemed reasonably foreseeable. The expansion is particularly concerning because federal cuts to public services (like disability tax credits) and the military's focus on disability rehabilitation force people into scenarios where MAID seems like the only viable option. Megan Linton, a PhD candidate, notes that many people with disabilities who have been living with their conditions for years (like her uncle who got a terminal diagnosis in 2016) find it difficult to access support without navigating complex bureaucracy. Linton argues that the existing medical system actively works against the well-being of disabled people by prioritizing austerity and not adequately supporting them, leading to a culture where assisted death seems like a solution for systemic failure. The discussion highlights that the current system, rather than supporting disabled lives, accelerates the possibility of death by failing to invest in necessary supports and rehabilitation.

Context: This episode of "The Breach Show," hosted by Desmond Cole, features an interview with Megan Linton, an academic and creator/host of the documentary podcast "Invisible Institutions." The discussion centers on Canada's Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID) legislation, specifically the expansion of eligibility to individuals whose death is not reasonably foreseeable, and the concurrent failure of other social services, like disability benefits and military support systems, to adequately support disabled citizens.