A Blatant Situation — New leaks on Canada's failing MAID safeguards

Leaked documents reveal a 'grossly inadequate' oversight system

Internal documents obtained by the CBC News reveal that Canada's safeguards for its assisted dying program, known as Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID), are "grossly inadequate." The documents show that the program has been plagued by problems since its inception in 2016, including a lack of oversight, inadequate training for assessors, and a failure to track data on who is receiving MAID and why.

One of the most concerning findings in the documents is that the number of MAID deaths is rising rapidly. In 2016, there were just over 1,000 MAID deaths in Canada. By 2021, that number had risen to over 10,000. This increase is likely due to a number of factors, including the aging population and the increasing acceptance of MAID as a legitimate end-of-life option.

A lack of oversight

The documents also reveal that there is a lack of oversight of the MAID program. The program is currently overseen by Health Canada, but the department has limited resources and expertise to do the job effectively. As a result, there have been a number of cases of MAID being provided to people who do not meet the eligibility criteria.

For example, in one case, a woman with a psychiatric disability was approved for MAID even though she did not have a terminal illness. In another case, a man with dementia was approved for MAID even though he did not understand what he was consenting to.

Inadequate training for assessors

The documents also show that there is a lack of training for assessors who determine whether or not someone is eligible for MAID. Assessors are required to have specialized training in end-of-life care, but many of them do not have this training. As a result, there have been a number of cases of assessors making incorrect decisions about who is eligible for MAID.

For example, in one case, an assessor approved a woman for MAID even though she had not been diagnosed with a terminal illness. In another case, an assessor approved a man for MAID even though he was not suffering from unbearable pain.

A failure to track data

The documents also reveal that there is a failure to track data on who is receiving MAID and why. This makes it difficult to assess the effectiveness of the program and to identify any potential problems.

For example, the government does not know how many people have been approved for MAID but have not yet received it. The government also does not know how many people have been denied MAID and why.

Conclusion

The leaked documents paint a disturbing picture of a MAID program that is in need of urgent reform. The program is plagued by a lack of oversight, inadequate training for assessors, and a failure to track data. As a result, there have been a number of cases of MAID being provided to people who do not meet the eligibility criteria. The government needs to take immediate action to address these problems and to ensure that the MAID program is safe and effective.