Canada: ministrul Justiției suspendă pe termen nelimitat extinderea eutanasiei pentru persoanele cu boli mintale

Canada has paused plans to allow assisted suicide for individuals with mental health conditions as their sole ailment, citing a lack of consensus on eligibility criteria. The federal government announced the indefinite suspension of the program, originally set to expand in March 2027. Justice Minister Sean Fraser acknowledged the absence of agreement within the medical community regarding the irreversibility of certain mental illnesses. Advocates argue that individuals with severe mental health issues deserve the same rights as those with physical ailments. The decision has been met with disappointment from organizations like Dying with Dignity Canada, and legal challenges are ongoing regarding access to assisted death for those with mental health conditions. The government also plans to introduce legislation allowing patients with progressive, incurable diseases to consent to assisted death before their condition deteriorates.