Half of Non-Terminally Ill Canadians Seeking Euthanasia Cited ‘Loneliness’ as a Factor: Gov’t Data

An empty hospital bed is shown in a file photo. Bret Kavanaugh/Unsplash

Nearly half of non-terminally ill Canadians seeking euthanasia last year cited loneliness as a factor in their decision to end their lives, according to data published by Health Canada.

The fifth annual report on medical assistance in dying (MAID) in Canada shows that 15,343 individuals received the procedure in 2023. Of those, 14,721 were eligible under “Track 1,” where death from a serious illness, disease, or disability, was considered “reasonably foreseeable,” while 622 were in “Track 2,” facing non-imminent death.

When asked about their source of suffering, 47.1 percent of Track 2 MAID recipients—about 300 people—cited “isolation or loneliness” as a contributing factor. In contrast, 21.1 percent of Track 1 recipients, or about 3,100 individuals, reported the same.

“Social isolation and loneliness are shown to have a serious impact on physical and mental health, quality of life, and longevity,” stated the report published on Dec. 11. To assess potential social isolation, data on MAID recipients’ living environments was collected.

The report found that 35.7 percent of Track 2 recipients lived alone, compared to 30.2 percent of Track 1 recipients. Track 2 recipients were also less likely (32.8 percent) to live with partners, children, or parents, while 45.9 percent of Track 1 recipients resided with family.

All MAID recipients, both tracks, cited other reasons for their decision, with the most common being “loss of ability to engage in meaningful activities,” “loss of ability to perform activities of daily living,” and “loss of dignity.”

The median age of Track 1 recipients was 77.7 years, with 59.7 percent over age 75. Cancer was the most common underlying condition, cited in 64.1 percent of cases, according to the report.

Track 2 recipients had a slightly younger median age of 75, with 50.2 percent over 75. For this group, long-term chronic illness was a major factor, causing ongoing suffering but not making death reasonably foreseeable. Neurological conditions and “other” conditions, such as diabetes, frailty, autoimmune disorders, and chronic pain, were the most frequently cited underlying medical conditions.

Growth in MAID Uptake

Data from the Health Canada report suggest that Canada’s euthanasia provisions are rapidly catching up to, and may surpass, those of the Netherlands, the first country to legalize the procedure, in 2001. In 2023, the Netherlands reported 9,068 cases of euthanasia, accounting for 5.4 percent of all deaths that year, just ahead of Canada’s 4.7 percent.

Canada’s rapid growth rate for euthanasia uptake far outpaces that of the Netherlands. While it took two decades for the Dutch assisted death program to reach 5 percent of total deaths, Canada neared this mark within seven years. The report noted that Canada’s MAID provisions had an average growth rate of approximately 31 percent between 2019 and 2022. Although the growth rate slowed in 2023, it still rose by 15.8 percent compared to the previous year.

Few MAID requests were declined in Canada, according to the report. Of the 19,660 requests Health Canada received last year, 4,317 were not administered. This included 2,906 individuals who died before the procedure, 915 who were deemed ineligible, and 496 who withdrew their requests.

This year’s report is the first to count “verbal” requests for MAID as official. In previous years, individuals seeking MAID were required to submit a form for Health Canada to officially record the request for a premature death.

“Under the amended MAID monitoring regulations, reporting requirements may be triggered by any intentional and deliberate request for MAID (verbal or in writing), including those received by preliminary assessors. This approach is expected to better capture more subtle demonstrations of interest in MAID,” the report said.