Newly released statistics from the B.C. government reveal an increasing number of people choosing medically-assisted deaths, a majority having cancer.According to the Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) Statistical Report 2023, MAiD recipients numbered 2,767 in 2023, up 9% from 2,515 in 2022.Those choosing MAiD in 2023 included 1,346 males and 1,421 females. The average age of a man receiving MAiD was 77 while the average woman was a year older.Percentages by age ranges in years follow.18-45: 1.2%46-55: 3.1%56-64: 8.8%65-70: 11.9%71-75: 15.1%76-80: 16.3%81-85: 14.1%86-90: 14.1%91+: 15.5%Recipients had the following conditions.Cancer: 57.2%Cardiovascular condition: 20.0%Neruological condition: 14.6%Organ failure: 7.4%Respiratory disease: 12.7%Other condition / co-morbidity : 32.9%The report also documented the types of cancer suffered by 1,584 MAiD recipients.Breast: 7.9%Colorectal: 10.5%Hematologic: 7.3%Lung: 18.5%Ovarian: 3.7%Pancreas: 8.8%Prostate: 8.6%Other cancer: 38.2%Cardiovascular conditions of 554 people were also documented.Atrial fibrillation: 28.2%Congestive heart failure: 53.8%Vasculopathy: 14.4%Other cardiovascular condition: 36.5%.The 404 people with neurological conditions suffered as follows.Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: 16.3%Dementia: 21.8%Multiple Sclerosis: 5.9%Parkinson's Disease: 22.5%Other neurological condition: 39.9%Of 302 people with respiratory diseases, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease was most common (75.6%), followed by pulmonary fibrosis (15.9%) and other respiratory diseases (13.6%).The 205 people with organ failure who received MAiD primarily had kidney problems (81.0%), followed by liver (18.0%) and other organ issues (6.3%).Frailty (60.5%) was the primary category among other conditions or comorbidities, followed by chronic pain (24.8%), diabetes (9.8%), and autoimmune conditions (2.4%). Also 52.1% were listed under "other comorbidities." These included mental disorders that weren't neurocognitive or neurodevelopmental conditions.Most of the time a physician administered MAiD (2,280 / 82.4%), but a nurse practitioner did 487 times (17.6%). Most of the doctors were family physicians.Locations where MAiD was administered varied greatly.Private residence: 40.2%Hospital (excluding palliative care beds): 26.9%Hospice: 12.9%Palliative care facility: 8.9%Community care facility: 4.6%Residential care facility: 3.1%Medical clinic or ambulance: 0.8%Other location: 2.6%.By health authority, these numbered 589 in Fraser Health, 635 in Interior Health, 866 in Island Health, 125 in Northern Health, and 552 in Vancouver Coastal Health.In a blog post, Alex Schadenberg of the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition found the high numbers and wide variety of conditions "concerning.""Canada's MAiD law does not require that a person be terminally ill. Diabetes, frailty chronic pain and autoimmune conditions are usually chronic and not terminal conditions," he said.
Newly released statistics from the B.C. government reveal an increasing number of people choosing medically-assisted deaths, a majority having cancer.According to the Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) Statistical Report 2023, MAiD recipients numbered 2,767 in 2023, up 9% from 2,515 in 2022.Those choosing MAiD in 2023 included 1,346 males and 1,421 females. The average age of a man receiving MAiD was 77 while the average woman was a year older.Percentages by age ranges in years follow.18-45: 1.2%46-55: 3.1%56-64: 8.8%65-70: 11.9%71-75: 15.1%76-80: 16.3%81-85: 14.1%86-90: 14.1%91+: 15.5%Recipients had the following conditions.Cancer: 57.2%Cardiovascular condition: 20.0%Neruological condition: 14.6%Organ failure: 7.4%Respiratory disease: 12.7%Other condition / co-morbidity : 32.9%The report also documented the types of cancer suffered by 1,584 MAiD recipients.Breast: 7.9%Colorectal: 10.5%Hematologic: 7.3%Lung: 18.5%Ovarian: 3.7%Pancreas: 8.8%Prostate: 8.6%Other cancer: 38.2%Cardiovascular conditions of 554 people were also documented.Atrial fibrillation: 28.2%Congestive heart failure: 53.8%Vasculopathy: 14.4%Other cardiovascular condition: 36.5%.The 404 people with neurological conditions suffered as follows.Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: 16.3%Dementia: 21.8%Multiple Sclerosis: 5.9%Parkinson's Disease: 22.5%Other neurological condition: 39.9%Of 302 people with respiratory diseases, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease was most common (75.6%), followed by pulmonary fibrosis (15.9%) and other respiratory diseases (13.6%).The 205 people with organ failure who received MAiD primarily had kidney problems (81.0%), followed by liver (18.0%) and other organ issues (6.3%).Frailty (60.5%) was the primary category among other conditions or comorbidities, followed by chronic pain (24.8%), diabetes (9.8%), and autoimmune conditions (2.4%). Also 52.1% were listed under "other comorbidities." These included mental disorders that weren't neurocognitive or neurodevelopmental conditions.Most of the time a physician administered MAiD (2,280 / 82.4%), but a nurse practitioner did 487 times (17.6%). Most of the doctors were family physicians.Locations where MAiD was administered varied greatly.Private residence: 40.2%Hospital (excluding palliative care beds): 26.9%Hospice: 12.9%Palliative care facility: 8.9%Community care facility: 4.6%Residential care facility: 3.1%Medical clinic or ambulance: 0.8%Other location: 2.6%.By health authority, these numbered 589 in Fraser Health, 635 in Interior Health, 866 in Island Health, 125 in Northern Health, and 552 in Vancouver Coastal Health.In a blog post, Alex Schadenberg of the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition found the high numbers and wide variety of conditions "concerning.""Canada's MAiD law does not require that a person be terminally ill. Diabetes, frailty chronic pain and autoimmune conditions are usually chronic and not terminal conditions," he said.
