Man With ‘Post-Vaccine Syndrome’ Granted Euthanasia: Ontario MAID Report

A nurse prepares a COVID-19 vaccine in Toronto on March 23, 2021. Cole Burston/Getty Images

A man in his 40s was euthanized after experiencing “post-vaccine syndrome,” following three shots of the COVID-19 vaccine, according to a joint report from the Ontario Solicitor General and Office of the Chief Coroner.

The case falls at the nexus of two controversial issues. One is the impacts of COVID-19 vaccines, with protests and pushback having rocked the nation since vaccine mandates began during the pandemic. Secondly, the administration of medical assistance in dying (MAID) for non-terminal patients has been an issue of debate by lawmakers since the federal government broadened eligibility for the procedure in 2021.

The man, who had a long history of mental illness, had an adverse reaction to the vaccine, said the report.

The reports, which were viewed by The Epoch Times, are part of an analysis by an Ontario MAID Death Review Committee (MDRC) made up of 16 professionals from various backgrounds, including law, medicine, social work, nursing, mental health, and disabilities.

The report’s authors looked at concerns related to this case. The goal of the reports was to identify any issues with the MAID assessment. No dates were given for the man’s diagnosis or euthanasia.

Case Study Concerns

The man, identified as Mr. A, suffered “functional decline,” after receiving three COVID-19 vaccine shots, according to the report.

Despite undergoing multiple expert consultations and clinical tests, there were no “determinate diagnostic results” for Mr. A, according to the report.

The man had a history of significant mental health issues, including trauma and depression, the report notes. He was admitted into hospital for intrusive thoughts of death at least twice, it said.

“The MAiD assessors opined that the most reasonable diagnosis for Mr. A’s clinical presentation (severe functional decline) was a post-vaccine syndrome, in keeping with chronic fatigue syndrome, also known as myalgic encephalomyelitis,” the report said.

The case was profiled in the report among “illustrative examples” of complex cases that presented “legislative and practice challenges” when being evaluated.

“Many complex chronic conditions are a combination of biological, psychological, and social factors,” the report said.

The report noted that psychiatric evaluations are useful in determining the reasons for the MAID request. Although psychiatrists had been involved in Mr. A’s treatments, the role of psychiatry in this man’s case was “potentially underutilized” when it came to assessing his MAID eligibility, the authors said.

The report noted there were no pathological findings in the post-mortem examination. The results confirmed “post-COVID-19 vaccination somatic system disorder with post-traumatic stress disorder and depressive disorder” were present in Mr. A.

Someone with a somatic disorder is so hyper focused on a physical symptom, such as pain, that it causes extreme distress and makes it difficult for that person to function.

Mr. A’s case was one of several that the MDRC assessed.

Another case connected to COVID-19 was a man in his 40s who was living with quadriplegia after a vehicle collision. The report says the pandemic may have contributed to the patient’s vulnerability due to social isolation.

Canada has one of the most liberal medically assisted death laws in the world. The government has also been working on extending eligibility for those suffering solely from a mental illness, though a decision on that has been delayed until March 2027.

MAID accounted for 4.1 percent of deaths in Canada in 2022.