Canada's federal government announced Wednesday that it will introduce legislation to permanently block access to physician-assisted death for people whose only medical condition is mental illness.
The move represents an effort by the ruling Liberal party to resolve an intensifying debate over who qualifies for medical assistance in dying (Maid). Under current Canadian rules, people with mental illness as their sole underlying condition have been barred from accessing Maid. That prohibition was scheduled to expire in March, creating pressure on lawmakers to decide whether to expand the program.
The government's decision to maintain the indefinite ban addresses a fundamental conflict within Parliament. Some lawmakers have pushed to allow the expansion, while others have resisted permitting euthanasia access based solely on psychiatric conditions. By advancing legislation now, the Liberals aim to settle the question before the March deadline.
The announcement does not clarify whether people with mental illness alongside other medical conditions will retain access to Maid, nor does the source material specify the timeline for passing the proposed legislation or detail arguments from lawmakers on either side of the debate.