In Canada, the push for assisted suicide has escalated dramatically. What began as a limited option for the gravely ill at life’s end has become a routine choice for many—so much so that the Canadian health system is struggling to keep up. Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD), first legalized in 2016, now accounts for one in 20 deaths in Canada—surpassing deaths by Alzheimer’s and diabetes combined. Physicians are joining the MAiD workforce; some have even left other specialties to offer euthanasia full-time.
Proponents once claimed MAiD would give individuals autonomy and reduce suffering. But in practice, it threatens so much more. MAiD is changing the character of medicine: the role of the doctor fundamentally changes when the goal shifts from preserving life to ending it. Meanwhile, safeguards meant to protect the vulnerable are weak in many cases.
One danger is the translation of a so-called “right to die” into a de facto “duty to die.” People often feel pressure—internal or external—not to be a burden on family or society. When society suggests that certain lives are less worth living, those with disabilities or chronic illness may feel their lives lack dignity. Regulatory oversight has also faltered. In Ontario alone, reports show hundreds of compliance violations: cases where patients weren’t able to consent, errors in medicine dispensing, or legal waiting periods ignored. Despite these grave errors—law enforcement is seldom involved.
The scope of MAiD continues to expand. What started with terminal physical illness has moved toward encompassing serious medical conditions, mental health struggles, and even recommendations for minors. This widening definition carries serious ethical concerns.
Assisted suicide is not merely a medical service—it is a practice that undermines the moral foundations of healthcare, corrodes trust, and jeopardizes the dignity of human life. If Canada is now the world’s fastest-growing regime of legalized death, its greatest tragedy may be losing sight of life’s inherent value. For Christians and all who believe in the sanctity of life, courage is needed—not just in resisting this culture of death, but in showing by word and deed the worth of how we live—and how we die.
Did you know that Phyllis Schlafly wrote much on the topic of euthanasia? Her 70 plus years in American politics led her to cover so many topics, and we have compiled a few of her favorites together in a book call Phyllis Schlafly Speaks: Her Favorite Speeches. I would love to send you a free copy of this book! Just call 314-721-1213 or email info@phyllisschlafly.com, and we will send you a free book. Again that’s PhyllisSchlafly.com. Thank you, and join us again for the Phyllis Schlafly Report.
This post originally appeared at https://phyllisschlafly.com/family/sanctity-of-life/canadas-demand-for-death-explodes/