‘Holds Autonomy As The Highest Virtue’: Christian Physician Reacts As Canada Erodes Limits On Assisted Suicide For Teens

Canada is loosening prohibitions on assisted suicide, even for children, driving concern that the rapidly secularizing nation no longer cares about the innate value of human beings.

Although medical assistance in dying has been available in Canada for the past six years, the nation’s parliament considered amendments to the criminal code last year that would expand the availability of the practice. Among other changes, a citizen possessing only a “mental illness” can now request euthanasia beginning next spring, whereas the practice was originally limited to people with serious physical illnesses or disabilities. “You do not need to have a fatal or terminal condition to be eligible for medical assistance in dying,” according to a webpage published by the government of Canada.