Canada reported 16,499 euthanasia deaths in 2024, according to Health Canada’s Sixth Annual Report on Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID). The figure represents roughly one in 20 deaths nationwide. The data also shows a 6.9% increase from 2023, following earlier sharp rises in previous years. Minister of Health Marjorie Michel said, “I am pleased to share Health Canada’s Sixth Annual Report on Medical Assistance in Dying,” adding that the system “protects those who are vulnerable, while supporting freedom of choice and personal autonomy.”
The report indicates that 23% of applicants cited “isolation or loneliness,” and medical practitioners reported that half felt like a “perceived burden on family, friends, or caregivers.” Critics, including activist Amanda Achtman, say “MAID continues to represent a significant death toll.” Disability advocates also raised concerns, referencing cases such as Roger Foley, who said caregivers suggested MAID as an option, stating, “I’m fighting to my last breath.” Others, including Lisa Carr and Sandra Parda of the Life Institute, warned that disabled citizens feel “frightened and threatened.”