U.S. Fosters Medically Assisted Suicide

What’s happening: Legislators in 19 U.S. states are considering legalizing or expanding medically assisted suicide.

A catch-all solution: Assisted suicide is often portrayed as a method of helping the terminally ill end their suffering, but countries that implement it have quickly expanded its use.

• Canada: Canada’s medical assistance in dying (MAID) program is the fifth highest cause of death in the country. Veterans were offered MAID by doctors; one, a Paralympian, was merely trying to get a ramp installed in her house. Another woman was offered MAID after admitting to suicidal thoughts. In one case, an autistic man was euthanized over hearing loss.

• Netherlands: The Dutch commonly euthanize people with autism, and individuals as young as 16 are permitted to end their lives without parental consent. Doctors can practice assisted suicide on dementia patients without fear of prosecution, even if the patient did not consent.

No oversight: The Canadian government admitted that veterans should never have been offered MAID. In 2022, Europe’s highest court found that Belgium did not properly review a depressed woman’s case before approving her suicide — though the court said Belgium’s decision did not violate human rights.

It’s cheaper: Defenders of euthanasia argue its economics; by eliminating the sick and elderly, society can save cash spent on pensions and healthcare.

Why it matters: The increasing legalization could pressure vulnerable populations to end their own lives to decrease societal strain. Nonetheless, many U.S. politicians want to emulate Europe’s and Canada’s policies.