MAiD now fourth leading cause of death in Canada – Quebec leads all provinces
By Guy Page
A European medical study praises Canadian harvesting of organ transplants from ‘medically assisted in death’ (MAiD) – AKA assisted suicide – corpses as ‘a valuable additional source’ of organs.
Liver transplants increased 22% in Canada due to MAiD organ availability, the October 26 Journal of Hepatology study, “Utilization of liver grafts obtained from donation after medical assistance in dying: A Canadian multicenter experience,” reports.
Supporters praise the practice as one dying person offering life to another. Critics warn that patients may be encouraged to choose MAiD due to the high value of their organs.
Vermont in 2013 passed a law, Act 39, allowing MAiD/assisted suicide. Two other states had passed similar laws by ballot initiative. Vermont’s legislature was the first to adopt MAiD/assisted suicide. The Legislature has since relaxed some of the medical involvement requirements enacted in 2013 for patient protections. It is not known whether organ harvesting from MAiD/assisted suicide occurs in Vermont.
The bi-annual report to the Vermont Legislature in January, 2024 states that from May 31, 2013, to June 30, 2023, there were 203 ‘reportable events’, with 75% due to cancer (153 cases) and 13% due to neurodegenerative conditions (26 cases). From July 1, 2021, to June 30, 2023, there were 85 total reportable events, with similar reasons given.
In Canada, MAiD is ranked as the sixth-leading cause of death, as of 2022, at 4.1%, according to Canadian government data. The highest rate by province, 6.6%, is in Quebec, Vermont’s neighbor to the north.
The Journal of Hepatology study concludes:
“Liver grafts from MAiD donors provide outcomes comparable to [traditional transplant sources] and increased Canadian DCD [donation after circulatory death] activity by 21.8%. These findings support MAiD as a valuable additional source of liver grafts, though larger studies are needed to validate long-term safety and efficacy.
‘Liver transplantation using grafts from donors following medical assistance in dying (MAiD) achieves satisfactory patient and graft survival, with complication rates comparable to those following conventional donation after circularly death. MAiD donation increased donation after circularly death liver transplant activity in Canada by 21.8% over 7 years. These findings support MAiD as a valuable additional source of grafts, while also honoring the wishes of patients who choose to donate their organs.”
However, “the study is being widely condemned by critics as a chilling step toward normalizing organ harvesting from the euthanized,” reports Slay news website reporter Frank Bergman.