{"id":2522007,"date":"2025-12-17T07:56:00","date_gmt":"2025-12-17T12:56:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/state-sanctioned-suicide-is-the-4th-leading-cause-of-death-in-canada\/"},"modified":"2025-12-17T08:02:25","modified_gmt":"2025-12-17T13:02:25","slug":"state-sanctioned-suicide-is-the-4th-leading-cause-of-death-in-canada","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/state-sanctioned-suicide-is-the-4th-leading-cause-of-death-in-canada\/","title":{"rendered":"State-Sanctioned Suicide Is The 4th Leading Cause Of Death In Canada"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fstate-sanctioned-suicide-is-the-4th-leading-cause-of-death-in-canada%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2522007&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The Canadian government&#8217;s Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID) program saw a rise in deaths in 2024, with over 16,000 people undergoing euthanasia, making it the country&#8217;s fourth leading cause of death. nearly 75% of applicants were approved, adn though the government suggests the death toll may be stabilizing, long-term trends remain unclear. Since its legalization in 2016, the program has expanded considerably, loosening restrictions and now including patients without terminal illnesses but with grievous medical conditions. Concerns have been raised about the inclusion of vulnerable individuals, such as those suffering from mental illness, isolation, or non-terminal diseases. <\/p>\n<p>Canada serves as a warning to other countries as euthanasia normalization grows. In the U.S., euthanasia legalization efforts are gaining momentum, with several states considering or adopting laws despite opposition from disability rights groups and some medical associations. The American Medical Association officially opposes euthanasia but faces increasing pressure to adopt a neutral stance. Critics warn of ethical conflicts for physicians tasked with both saving and ending lives, cautioning that Canada&#8217;s experiences highlight potential dangers if euthanasia expands unchecked in the U.S.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<div>\n<p>Canada&rsquo;s government-run euthanasia program increased its death toll again last year, taking more than 16,000 lives, and placing medically assisted suicide as the <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/AlexanderRaikin\/status\/1994516441308320073\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">fourth leading cause<\/a> of death in the country.<\/p>\n<p>According to an annual <a href=\"https:\/\/www.canada.ca\/en\/health-canada\/services\/publications\/health-system-services\/annual-report-medical-assistance-dying-2024.html#a3\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">report<\/a> published by the Canadian government, 16,499 people were killed through the Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID) program in 2024, increasing 6.9 percent from the previous year. Close to 75 percent of the 22,535 people who applied for the program were approved.<\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/poor-americans-hurt-the-most-by-inflation-in-2021-and-2022-fed-report-says\/\" title=\"Poor Americans Hurt the Most by Inflation in 2021 and 2022, Fed Report Says\">report authors stated<\/a> that the number of deaths is possibly stabilizing, while admitting that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.canada.ca\/en\/health-canada\/services\/publications\/health-system-services\/annual-report-medical-assistance-dying-2024.html#a3\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">&ldquo;long-term trends&rdquo;<\/a> have not yet been identified. Based on 2023 numbers, an estimated 1 in 20 deaths are government-directed.<\/p>\n<h2>Expanding the Death Program<\/h2>\n<p>The horrors of government-funded murder should not be understated. Canada&rsquo;s program has grown every year since it began, as restrictions continue to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.canada.ca\/en\/department-justice\/news\/2023\/03\/eligibility-for-medical-assistance-in-dying-for-persons-suffering-solely-from-mental-illness-extended-to-march-17-2024.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">loosen<\/a>, despite reports of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ap.org\/news-highlights\/spotlights\/2024\/private-forums-show-canadian-doctors-struggle-with-euthanizing-vulnerable-patients\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">corrupt and coercive<\/a> practices. Developed countries view Canada as a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/articles\/c0j1z14p57po\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">&ldquo;cautionary tale&rdquo;<\/a> where government killing has become an expansive and accepted norm.<\/p>\n<p>First legalized in 2016, the country&rsquo;s assisted-suicide law has had <a href=\"https:\/\/www.canada.ca\/en\/department-justice\/news\/2023\/03\/eligibility-for-medical-assistance-in-dying-for-persons-suffering-solely-from-mental-illness-extended-to-march-17-2024.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">multiple revisions<\/a>, expanding beyond patients with terminal diagnoses.<\/p>\n<p>Candidates in MAID are organized within two categories, or &ldquo;tracks.&rdquo; Applicants are placed in Track 1 if they have a terminal diagnosis or &ldquo;reasonably foreseeable death,&rdquo; while Track 2 is reserved for those who have no terminal diagnosis but are living with a &ldquo;grievous and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/indiana-state-senate-passes-abortion-ban-first-since-dobbs-decision\/\" title=\"Indiana State Senate Passes Abortion Ban, First Since \u2018Dobbs\u2019 Decision\">irremediable medical condition<\/a>.&rdquo; The majority of those killed through Track 2 were women, with an average age of 75.9 years, while men held a slight majority in Track 1, averaging an age of 78.<\/p>\n<p>The government offers <a href=\"https:\/\/www.canada.ca\/en\/health-canada\/services\/publications\/health-system-services\/annual-report-medical-assistance-dying-2024.html#a3\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">&ldquo;broad categories<\/a> &hellip; to practitioners for MAID reporting purposes,&rdquo; to include cancer, neurological conditions, and &ldquo;other.&rdquo; The &ldquo;other&rdquo; category encompasses some highly treatable diseases, such as diabetes and chronic mental disorders. Hearing and visual issues are included as possible selections.<\/p>\n<p>Even more striking, more than four percent of MAID applicants who were killed had neither a terminal diagnosis nor &ldquo;reasonably foreseeable death.&rdquo; Many suffered from isolation and felt a burden to their caregivers. The government has capitalized on these vulnerabilities and is seeking to expand its reach.<\/p>\n<p>Access for mental health patients with no other underlying disease is currently being considered for approval in 2027, and in the province of Quebec, an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.quebec.ca\/en\/health\/health-system-and-services\/end-of-life-care\/medical-aid-in-dying\/advance-request-medical-aid-dying\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">advance<\/a> request to enroll in MAID is now legal under certain conditions. This request could be granted at the onset of a disease, even if a person is unable to choose life-ending drugs due to mental or physical incapacities later on, leaving more vulnerable persons entrapped in the deadly system.<\/p>\n<h2>Spreading to the United States<\/h2>\n<p>Euthanasia advocates have gained increasing ground in the United States over the last few years. A <a href=\"https:\/\/aul.org\/physician-assisted-suicide\/?utm_source=google&amp;utm_medium=ppc&amp;utm_campaign=dobbs_education&amp;utm_id=Google+Ad+Grants+Campaign&amp;gad_source=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">majority of states<\/a> have now considered legalizing euthanasia, even as disability rights and elderly care proponents sound the alarm.<\/p>\n<p>Not long after the Canada report was published, Illinois became the 12th American state to legalize the deadly practice.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/deathwithdignity.org\/states\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Seven<\/a> more states are considering legalization this year, and two have <a href=\"https:\/\/deathwithdignity.org\/states\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">amendments<\/a> pending. Proponents have aggressively advocated for increased access through the removal of residency restrictions. Pro-euthanasia group Death with Dignity <a href=\"https:\/\/deathwithdignity.org\/campaign\/or-residency-petition-2022\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">petitions<\/a> states to end residency requirements and break &ldquo;one of the greatest barriers to a comfortable death: living in the wrong state.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The American Medical Association is officially opposed to euthanasia, but there is pressure every year to change this position to &ldquo;neutral,&rdquo; said Dr. Jane Orient, Association of American Physicians and Surgeons executive director.<\/p>\n<p>The AMA <a href=\"https:\/\/code-medical-ethics.ama-assn.org\/ethics-opinions\/physician-assisted-suicide\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">website<\/a> states that euthanasia is &ldquo;fundamentally incompatible with the physician&rsquo;s role as healer, would be difficult or impossible to control, and would pose serious societal risks,&rdquo; but follows this statement by expressing support for pro-euthanasia physicians as sharing a &ldquo;fundamental commitment to values of care, compassion, respect, and dignity.&rdquo; Although members have consistently voted against <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/assisted-suicide-group-teams-up-with-planned-parenthood-honcho\/\" title=\"... Group Teams Up With Planned Parenthood Honcho\">physician-assisted suicide<\/a>, physicians who support dealing death drugs to patients only &ldquo;diverge in drawing different moral conclusions&rdquo; than their pro-life peers, the AMA states. A &ldquo;neutral&rdquo; stance may not be explicit, but assisted suicide is clearly supported.<\/p>\n<p>At the state level, the Arizona Medical Association just adopted a neutral stance on euthanasia. &ldquo;Neutral about <em>murder<\/em>,&rdquo; Orient clarified. &ldquo;The doctors who advocate for it call it compassion, but ethical doctors are healers, not killers.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Canada&rsquo;s report is especially concerning regarding the definition of &ldquo;terminal illness,&rdquo; said Andy Schlafly, pro-life constitutional attorney. In the U.S., courts have determined that dementia or diminished cognitive function can be considered a terminal illness. With courts increasingly hostile to the protection of human life, advanced medical directives that place confidence in the system do not necessarily work, he said.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;It is a terrible conflict of interest to authorize a physician to choose between killing a patient and trying to save his life,&rdquo; Schlafly said. &ldquo;Improper considerations like economics or pressure by a family member can override the lifesaving goals that physicians traditionally had. Canada&rsquo;s latest report on its physician-assisted suicide program should serve as a chilling warning of where the U.S. is headed if we do not stop this here.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<hr>\n<p>      Ashley Bateman is a policy writer for The Heartland Institute. Her work has been featured in The Washington Times, The Daily Caller, The New York Post, The American Thinker, the Ascension Press blog, and numerous other publications. She previously worked as an adjunct scholar for The Lexington Institute and as editor, writer, and photographer for The Warner Weekly, a publication for the American military community in Bamberg, Germany. She and her <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >brilliant engineer\/scientist husband homeschool<\/a> their six children.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Canada&#8217;s euthanasia deaths rise to 16,499 in 2024<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":638,"featured_media":2522008,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/annabel-podevyn-fUBZHfDAVmc-unsplash.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[3957,35390,41296],"class_list":["post-2522007","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-canada","tag-mental-health","tag-suicide-prevention"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/annabel-podevyn-fUBZHfDAVmc-unsplash.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2522007","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/638"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2522007"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2522007\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2522011,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2522007\/revisions\/2522011"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2522008"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2522007"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2522007"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2522007"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}