In its brief to the Special Joint Committee on Medical Assistance in Dying, the BC Humanist Association is calling on Senators and Members of Parliament to end the categorical exclusion of people with mental disorders from MAID eligibility.
The BCHA has long advocated for the right to die with dignity. We believe that any framework must be rooted in compassion, evidence, and individual autonomy. Safeguards should ensure that decisions are free, voluntary, and informed but should not make access unjustly difficult. When it comes to the eligibility of persons whose sole underlying medical condition is a mental disorder, we believe the committee should consider the following:
- Rights-Based Parity: There is no legal or human rights justification for the categorical exclusion of individuals suffering from mental disorders from MAID eligibility.
- Secular Governance: Public policy must be insulated from religious dogma. We are deeply concerned by the concerted efforts by religious organizations to stall legislative progress and obstruct access to care.
A compassionate society is one that respects the individual’s right to define the limits of their own suffering. To deny MAID to those with mental disorders is to tell them that their pain is less real, or their autonomy less valid, than those with physical ailments. The BCHA calls on the government to reject the pressure of religious lobbyists and uphold the secular, rights-based values that define modern Canada.
The BCHA is currently an intervenor in a case at the BC Supreme Court challenging policies that allow Catholic hospitals in the province to deny patients access to MAID. A decision in that case is expected in the coming months.
Support our efforts to protect your right to healthcare free from religious influence.