Canada Delays Expansion of Assisted Suicide Program

Canada has decided to delay extending its assisted suicide program to individuals with mental illnesses due to a shortage of medical professionals, particularly psychiatrists, willing to assess patients before administering a lethal injection. The freeze, initially scheduled for March 17, 2022, has been postponed until 2027 to provide additional time for regional healthcare providers to better equip themselves for administering euthanasia to mentally ill individuals. The decision comes after the Superior Court of Quebec demanded that the government expand the eligibility criteria to include those suffering from 'grievous and irremediable' conditions, encompassing mental health issues such as depression. This move has sparked controversy, with members of the opposition Conservative Party accusing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government of promoting a 'culture of death.' Canada already has some of the most liberal laws regarding euthanasia and assisted suicide.