Bill Detail

Bill C-314 aimed to amend the Criminal Code of Canada to exclude mental disorders as a qualifying condition for medical assistance in dying (MAID). The bill's sponsors argued that while mental health support for Canadians is a priority, MAID should not be seen as a solution for those with mental disorders. Instead, they emphasized the importance of suicide prevention counselling for vulnerable individuals struggling with mental health issues.

Ultimately, the bill proposed that a mental disorder, in itself, would not be considered a 'grievous and irremediable medical condition' that would allow someone to access MAID. This proposed change was intended to prevent the normalization of assisted dying as a response to mental health challenges, focusing instead on providing comprehensive mental health care and suicide prevention resources.