Canada is often the model for supporters of assisted suicide. In 2016, the country allowed assisted suicide (or Medical Aid in Dying – MAiD) for anyone with a terminal diagnosis. A recent article shares Tracey Thompson’s story which paints a different picture of the success of these laws.

Yet MAiD laws were updated in 2021 to allow for “people with intolerable and irreversible illness, disease or disability (called ‘Track Two’) to qualify—though without introducing substantial improvements to social assistance programs.”

Now those with any disability can apply for assisted suicide. For a country which boasts in universal healthcare, caring for people who are disabled or poor is not a priority.

Tracey Thompson feels that applying for MAiD is her only option. She has fought to raise enough money to survive and get the care she needs, but her future is bleak.

Instead of providing help for people with disabilities, Canada simply allowed for easier access to assisted suicide.

“Overall, more than 1.4 million Canadians with disabilities live in poverty according to a 2017 census—that’s roughly 1 in 25 Canadians. According to Dosani, MAiD [assisted suicide] becomes ‘the only option left to many people.’”

Advocates of assisted suicide boast that a person should have the right to choose to die if they desire. But what about a person who wants to live? Are they given the same rights to choose to live? Tracey feels she does not have the support she needs to live.

Without sufficient support for people like Tracey, Canada demonstrates they are willing to help people with disabilities die. The answer is not to speed up death, but to provide people who are struggling with all the care and help they need to live comfortably and as long as possible.