What is MAiD and why does it concern mental health?

Medical assistance in dying, also known as the MAiD or bill C-314 act is a federal law allowing eligible adults to request medical assistance with assisted euthanasia. According to the government of Canada, currently this includes those who have irremediable or grievous medical conditions, those that create unbearable physical and mental suffering and cannot be reversed. As of February 29th 2024, mental illness alone is not an admissible condition for MAiD, however currently it is being considered as a potential addition to the bill as of March 17th 2027 according to Health Canada (https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/health-services-benefits/medical-assistance-dying.html) NMHIN believes that extra scrutiny and research should be done before mental illness can be considered as a sole condition for MAiD, as it has a wide variety of extenuating circumstances that could affect judgement such as financial issues, class and rights issues, lack of proper access to mental health care and other potential issues that would arise if this addendum to the bill were allowed to be passed. Timeline of MAiD: February 10th 2023 – First reading, Sitting 158. Bill passes first reading. Thursday March 16th, 2023 – Placed on Order of Precedence on Wednesday May 17th 2023, first chamber sitting of second reading, speeches are given Thursday October 5th 2023 second chamber sitting of second reading given Wednesday October 18th 2023, Bill is negatived, thereby defeating it. The vote was 150 yeas to 167 nays, with 4 paired members. Information gathered from:https://www.parl.ca/legisinfo/en/bill/44-1/c-314?view=progress#bill-profile-tabs