Mature minors
With the appropriate safeguards in place, mature minors should be allowed the right to choose MAID.
Canada’s law on medical assistance in dying (MAID) requires that applicants must be 18 years of age or older. In many jurisdictions across Canada, mature minors already have the right to make important decisions regarding their health care. This includes the right to consent to or refuse lifesaving medical treatment. With special eligibility criteria in place, and appropriate safeguards, Dying With Dignity Canada believes mature minors should be allowed the right to choose MAID.
According to a 2023 Ipsos poll, 71% of people across Canada support the ability for mature minors to request and be considered for MAID, if all other criteria are met under the law.
Advocacy Toolkit and Action Guide
We have developed an easy-to-use toolkit to help you effectively communicate with your elected representatives, and advocate for the issues most important to you.
Petition 441-01537: Response by the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
The Government of Canada has no intention of creating exemptions to criminal offences to permit MAID for babies.
Dr. David Amies: Is it right to forbid mature minors access to assisted dying?
Dr. David Amies examines the Council of Canadian Academies’ report on the possible implications of extending assisted dying access to mature minors.
Mature minors and MAID: A deep dive into the issues of the Parliamentary Review
As part of our mission to educate and share knowledge, we are examining each issue of the Parliamentary Review in a series of blog posts. In this blog post, we discuss mature minors and MAID.
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