Serious concerns have been raised about the implementation of Canada’s Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) legislation after a 61-year-old depressed but otherwise healthy man was euthanised in the province of British Columbia.
Alan Nichols, a former school janitor who lived alone and struggled with depression, was admitted to Chilliwack General Hospital, BC, in June after he was found dehydrated and malnourished. He was assessed for MAiD eligibility and in late July received a lethal injection.
His family said that he was not eligible for MAiD and that they begged him not to go through with the procedure.
“I didn’t think he had a sound mind at all”, Gary Nichols, the man’s brother, told CTV News.
“He didn’t have a life-threatening disease. He was capable of getting around. He was capable of doing almost anything that you had to do to survive”.
Nichols’ family said they were told about his plan to receive MAiD just four days before he was euthanised.
“I was appalled by all of it and I said we want this stopped, this can’t happen. Our family doesn’t agree with this,” Nichols’ sister-in-law, Trish Nichols, told reporters.
“(The doctor) said, ‘Well, you can’t stop this. Alan is the only person who can stop this.”
Read more at BioEdge…