1 out of every 20 Canadians who die do so by euthanasia

[FlyersFan]

This is social issue or medical issue ... not sure where to put it ...

One out of every 20 Canadians who die, do so by Euthanasia ... assisted suicide.   96% of those requesting death this way were those who were dying, a large percentage with cancer.  They wanted to go out dignified on their own terms and not painfully drag it out.  Canada is looking to expand it's euthanasia laws to include it being okay for people who are mentally ill.  Mental illness can make life unbearable for people.

My religion says this is morally wrong, that only God should be taking life.   I break with my church on this and say that we should be allowed to end our lives in a dignified and pain free way when life becomes unbearable.  And that includes people with mental illness who can't live with it.  Yes there is potential for abuse of this, but the compassion reality outweighs that.  No one should be forced to live while suffering intensely, and that does include suffering with mental illness if it's not treatable.   

I may end up being on the wrong end of this when I stand before God in judgement at the end of my life, but right now I think I"m right about it.   People should get the same compassionate end of life care that we give our beloved pets ... if they want it.  

This story is about Canada, but I wish it was more available for people here in the USA.   And yes, I'd be considering taking advantage of going out that way when the right time comes ... 

BBC News - 1/20 of Canadians Who Die Do So By Euthanasia

The rate of medical assistance in dying - also known as euthanasia - has grown in Canada for the fifth straight year, albeit at a slower pace.
 
The country released its fifth annual report since legalising assisted dying in 2016, which for the first time included data on the ethnicity of those seeking euthanasia.
 
Around 15,300 people underwent assisted dying last year, accounting for 4.7% of deaths in the country. Canada lawmakers are currently seeking to expand access to euthanasia to cover people with mental illnesses by 2027.
 
Canada is among a few countries that have introduced assisted dying laws in the past decade. Others include Australia, New Zealand, Spain, Austria.
 
The figures released on Wednesday by Health Canada show that the rate of assisted dying in Canada increased by nearly 16% in 2023. This number is a sharp drop from the average increase of 31% in previous years.
 
The report cautioned that it is too early to determine what caused the rate to slacken.
 
Nearly all of those who requested assisted dying - around 96% - had a foreseeable natural death. The remaining 4% were granted euthanasia due to having a long-term chronic illness and where a natural death was not imminent.
 
The average age of those seeking assisted dying was around 77 years old, with cancer being the most frequent underlying medical condition.

[UltraBudgie]

Isn't the tradition in America for doctors to merely over-prescribe opiates and let the problem take care of itself? When the effort-to-profit ratio get too high? That keeps the statistics clean.

Cynical, yes, but false?

[Maxmars]

I suppose it is wrong of me to consider 'self-directed euthanasia' as a form of suicide.

I understand the impulse for it, and offer no judgment.  The grief and pain of illness with no remedy can motivate people towards many terrible options. 
I wish no one would suffer so.

But along with the "Bill Burr-esque" attitude about abortion (that it is only the affected person's rightful choice) but it is still, nevertheless, killing a baby;
I find myself considering that this kind of 'end-of-life' "process" as solely the choice of the afflicted... is still suicide.  

Calling it "euthanasia" mischaracterizes the nature of the "personal choice."

Insofar as euthanasia, I had great reservations about doctors, courts, even family members exercising that option because it was not a "true choice" of the patient... thus there is a distinct possibility that it is murder... no matter how well-intentioned.

But when the choice is the patient's, it's still remains the intentional surrender of one's life... which sadly qualifies as a manner of suicide.

I kind of resent this propensity of media and activists to visit someone else's tragic fate to "exceptional social characterization and morality-play" for attention.

[ArMaP]

But along with the "Bill Burr-esque" attitude about abortion (that it is only the affected person's rightful choice) but it is still, nevertheless, killing a baby;
I find myself considering that this kind of 'end-of-life' "process" as solely the choice of the afflicted... is still suicide.  

What's the problem with assisted suicide?

If you need some special work done you contact a professional of that area, so why not do the same if you want to stop suffering and end you life in your own conditions?

[Maxmars]

What's the problem with assisted suicide?

I don't deny that it's a personal choice.
As such, I have no standing to judge.

When I say there's a problem in the idea, it is not any less personal.

I can't refuse the alarm I feel when I learn that 5% of any group of people will succumb to 'facilitated' despair.
But I suppose that's just me.

[Encia22]

Unfortunately, even without assistance, despair has and will always force people to take matters into their own hands, often with horrifying consequences. Worse of all is when unwitting bystanders are sucked into the same tragedy. 

Perhaps, a voluntary and controlled departure would have less collateral damage.

It's a delicate and difficult quagmire and probably boils down to very specific situations and circumstances, which can't be painted over with a broad legislative, moral or religious brush.

[Sirius]

Dark, difficult topic. 100% support this.  Never really got it until a recent experience and not sure why doctors are not leading the charge. 

The "civilized" world has forgotten or we purposefully don't talk about it.  There is no religious problem here other than fops that has never been around death. The maggots doesn't wait for you to be dead and your body doesn't go all at once.

This whole topic fills me with great anger