Canada releases 2021 euthanasia report. More than 10,000 deaths representing 3.3% of all deaths
Canada releases 2021 euthanasia report. More than 10,000 deaths representing 3.3% of all deaths
“At least 1740 people died by euthanasia (2021) for loneliness and isolation”
Health Canada recently released the Third Annual Report on Medical Assistance in Dying in Canada (2021). The data is gathered from the reports submitted by the medical or nurse practitioners who carried out the euthanasia death.
Comparing the Third Annual report (2021) to the Second Annual Report (2020), the report states that there were: 10,064 assisted deaths in 2021 up from 7603 in 2020, 5661 in 2019, 4480 in 2018, 2838 in 2017 and 1018 in 2016.
The report indicates that the number of assisted deaths increased by 32.4% representing 3.3% of all deaths in 2021.
The report indicated that due to the passing of Bill C-7 in March 2021, 2.2% of the assisted deaths were people whose natural death was not reasonably foreseeable.
This is the first Health Canada MAiD report since the federal government expanded eligibility for euthanasia (MAiD) in March 2021 by passing Bill C-7.
The main reasons for requesting euthanasia were
- the loss of ability to engage in meaningful activities (86.3%),
- loss of ability to perform activities of daily living (83.4%), and
- inadequate control of pain, or concern about controlling pain (57.6%)
Many people with significant medical conditions also live with loneliness and isolation. Social isolation and loneliness require a compassionate caring community, not death by lethal injection.
We need a caring community, not a killing community.