KERA's Think 5% of Canadians now choose euthanasia
Aug 27, 2025
Elaina Plott Calabro, a staff writer at The Atlantic and author of "Canada Is Killing Itself," dives into the complexities of Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID) in Canada. She reveals startling statistics showing one in 20 deaths is now due to euthanasia, surpassing deaths from Alzheimer's and diabetes. The discussion highlights the unexpected acceptance of MAID, the emotional experiences of medical professionals, and the controversial expansion of euthanasia laws to include individuals with mental health issues, raising profound ethical questions.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Right-To-Die Framed As A Door To Expansion
- Canada treated medical assistance in dying as a legal right, which made limiting access politically and legally difficult.
- The 2016 law built in studies and language that effectively encouraged future expansions of eligibility.
Euthanasia Versus Self-Administration
- Canada legalized clinician-administered euthanasia, unlike US states where patients self-administer lethal medication.
- Framing MAID as a constitutional right made exclusions feel arbitrary to advocates and harder to maintain.
Why Patients Prefer A Clinician Doing It
- Many Canadians choose clinician-administered injections because frailty prevents self-administration.
- Clinicians report patients often feel ambivalent: not ready to die but not ready to keep living.