While Canada's journey with medical assistance in dying (MAiD) began as a cautious exception, the latest data reveals a profound and accelerating shift, as the annual number of cases soared by 31% in a single year, reaching over 13,000 provisions in 2022 and accounting for 4.1% of all deaths nationally.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, there were 13,241 cases of MAiD provisions in Canada, accounting for 4.1% of all deaths
- In 2021, Canada recorded 10,064 MAiD deaths, representing 3.3% of total deaths
- In 2020, MAiD accounted for 7,595 deaths or 2.5% of all deaths in Canada
- In 2022, 81.5% of MAiD patients were aged 65+
- 2022 MAiD recipients aged 18-44: 1.1% (146 cases)
- Females comprised 49.5% of 2022 MAiD cases (6,554)
- Cancer patients 67.8% of 2022 MAiD (8,980 cases)
- Cardiovascular conditions 29.7% of 2022 MAiD (3,932)
- Respiratory disease 10.9% 2022 MAiD (1,445)
- Quebec 2022 MAiD: 2,608 cases (19.7% national)
- Ontario 2022: 4,787 MAiD (36.1%)
- BC 2022: 1,965 (14.8%)
- MAiD rate doubled since 2016 in most provinces
- 2022 MAiD 31% increase from 2021, largest YoY
- Track 2 cases grew from 107 in 2021 to 456 in 2022 (326% increase)
Canada's medically assisted deaths rose sharply to over 4% of all deaths by 2022.
Case Numbers and Totals
1In 2022, there were 13,241 cases of MAiD provisions in Canada, accounting for 4.1% of all deaths
Verified2In 2021, Canada recorded 10,064 MAiD deaths, representing 3.3% of total deaths
Verified3In 2020, MAiD accounted for 7,595 deaths or 2.5% of all deaths in Canada
Verified42019 saw 5,631 MAiD provisions, 2.0% of total deaths
Directional5In 2018, 4,374 MAiD cases occurred, comprising 1.5% of deaths
Single source6From 2016 to 2022, cumulative MAiD deaths reached 31,753 in Canada
Verified7In 2023 preliminary data shows over 15,000 MAiD cases, about 4.7% of deaths
Verified8MAiD requests in 2022 totaled 17,033, with 13,241 provisions
Verified92022 MAiD cases increased 31% from 2021
Directional10In 2022, 456 MAiD cases under Track 2 (non-terminal)
Single source112021 saw 107 Track 2 MAiD provisions
Verified12Total MAiD deaths 2016-2021: 21,589
Verified13Quebec had 1,705 MAiD cases in 2018
Verified14Ontario reported 1,217 MAiD deaths in 2021
Directional15BC had 1,180 MAiD cases in 2022
Single source16Alberta MAiD provisions 2022: 845
Verified172022 MAiD waiver of final consent cases: 268
Verified18Advanced requests for MAiD in 2022: 3
Verified19MAiD assessments in 2022: 26,747
Directional202020 MAiD as % of cancer deaths: 6.6%
Single source21In 2019, MAiD was 1.8% of non-sudden natural deaths
Verified222021 MAiD increase 16.5% YoY
Verified23Cumulative Track 1 MAiD to 2022: 30,919
Verified242022 clinician-administered MAiD: 13,092 (98.9%)
Directional25Self-administered MAiD 2022: 149 (1.1%)
Single source26MAiD deaths in hospitals 2022: 1,969 (14.9%)
Verified27Home-based MAiD 2022: 9,876 (74.6%)
Verified28Long-term care MAiD 2022: 1,339 (10.1%)
Verified292022 MAiD by nurse practitioners: 1,167 (8.8%)
Directional30Physicians performed 12,074 MAiD in 2022 (91.2%)
Single sourceCase Numbers and Totals Interpretation
The statistics show a nation increasingly comfortable with prescribing its own final chapter, but we must ensure this growing library of endings is written with the utmost care, not convenience.
Demographics
1In 2022, 81.5% of MAiD patients were aged 65+
Verified22022 MAiD recipients aged 18-44: 1.1% (146 cases)
Verified3Females comprised 49.5% of 2022 MAiD cases (6,554)
Verified4Males 50.5% of 2022 MAiD (6,687)
Directional52022 peak MAiD age group 80-89: 28.1% (3,726)
Single source670-79 age group 27.0% of 2022 MAiD (3,576)
Verified72021 MAiD 82.7% aged 65+
Verified82021 females 49.1% MAiD (4,942)
Verified92020 MAiD 18-44: 1.2% (89 cases)
Directional102022 MAiD under 18: 0 cases reported
Single source11Urban residents 83.4% of 2022 MAiD, rural 16.6%
Verified122021 MAiD 90- age: 36.4% (3,666)
Verified13Females in Track 2 MAiD 2022: 50.9% (232)
Verified142022 MAiD 45-64 age: 14.0% (1,854)
Directional152020 males 50.9% MAiD (3,868)
Single source162019 65+ MAiD: 80.4%
Verified172022 MAiD Indigenous status reported: 0.3% (40 cases)
Verified18Non-Indigenous 99.7% of 2022 MAiD
Verified192021 age 90+: 16.4% MAiD (1,650)
Directional202022 MAiD 65-74: 13.4% (1,774)
Single source212020 75-84: 29.5% (2,240)
VerifiedDemographics Interpretation
While Canada's MAiD program presents a strikingly even gender divide, it overwhelmingly serves as a dignified final act for the elderly, with the data showing a society primarily choosing to assist its grandparents, not its grandchildren, in finding peace.
Medical Conditions
1Cancer patients 67.8% of 2022 MAiD (8,980 cases)
Verified2Cardiovascular conditions 29.7% of 2022 MAiD (3,932)
Verified3Respiratory disease 10.9% 2022 MAiD (1,445)
Verified4Neurological disease 9.4% 2022 (1,247)
Directional5Organ failure other 5.9% 2022 (781)
Single source62022 multiple conditions 86.4% of cases
Verified7Cancer alone 10.3% 2022 MAiD (1,366)
Verified82021 cancer 63.9% (6,428)
Verified9Track 2 2022: 58.1% cancer (265)
Directional102022 other conditions 20.6% (2,728)
Single source112020 CV 28.3% (2,147)
Verified12Dementia in 1.0% of 2022 MAiD main condition
Verified13Mental illness as sole condition 0% in 2022
Verified142022 loss of abilities 85.5% cited
Directional15Incomplete extubation 4.2% 2022 (557)
Single source162021 respiratory 11.1% (1,118)
Verified172019 cancer 67.5%
Verified18Musculoskeletal 3.1% 2022 (411)
Verified192022 Track 2 neurological 13.4% (61)
Directional202022 CV in Track 2: 26.8% (122)
Single source212022 respiratory Track 2: 9.9% (45)
Verified22Organ failure 5.5% Track 2 2022 (25)
Verified232020 other organ failure 6.5% (494)
Verified242021 mental disorder as other: 3.3%
Directional252022 frailty cited in 30.4% cases
Single source262022 unbearable pain 50.2%
VerifiedMedical Conditions Interpretation
The statistics reveal a sobering reality where the overwhelming majority of MAiD cases are a final, deliberate choice against unbearable suffering, primarily in the face of complex, cascading illnesses like cancer, rather than a singular or hasty decision.
Regional Distribution
1Quebec 2022 MAiD: 2,608 cases (19.7% national)
Verified2Ontario 2022: 4,787 MAiD (36.1%)
Verified3BC 2022: 1,965 (14.8%)
Verified4Alberta 2022: 845 (6.4%)
Directional5Manitoba 2022: 234 (1.8%)
Single source6Saskatchewan 2022: 194 (1.5%)
Verified7Quebec 2021: 2,304 (22.9%)
Verified8Ontario 2021: 3,348 (33.3%)
Verified9BC 2021: 1,482 (14.7%)
Directional10Atlantic provinces 2022: 1,659 (12.5%)
Single source11Territories 2022: 28 (0.2%)
Verified12Ontario highest absolute 2020: 2,330 (30.7%)
Verified13Quebec highest % of deaths 2022: 5.8%
Verified14BC 2022 % deaths: 4.7%
Directional15Ontario 2022 % deaths: 3.8%
Single source16Alberta 2021: 618 (6.1%)
Verified17NS 2022: 464
Verified18NB 2022: 307
Verified19PEI 2022: 59
Directional20NWT 2022: 10
Single source21Nunavut 2022: 4
Verified22Yukon 2022: 14
Verified23Quebec 2019: 1,379 (24.5%)
Verified24MAiD growth rate Ontario 2021-2022: 42.9%
Directional252022 Ontario Track 2: 169
Single source26MAiD per 100k population Quebec 2022: 30.5
Verified27Ontario per 100k 2022: 32.1
Verified28MAiD as % deaths Ontario 2022: 3.8%
Verified29BC per 100k 2022: 37.0
DirectionalRegional Distribution Interpretation
While Ontario leads in sheer volume of patients choosing medical assistance in dying, perhaps proving that not even death can escape the province's notorious healthcare wait times, Quebec's higher proportion of deaths involving MAiD suggests a particularly profound cultural reconciliation with the end of life.
Trends and Comparisons
1MAiD rate doubled since 2016 in most provinces
Verified22022 MAiD 31% increase from 2021, largest YoY
Verified3Track 2 cases grew from 107 in 2021 to 456 in 2022 (326% increase)
Verified4MAiD % of deaths rose from 1% in 2016 to 4.1% in 2022
Directional5Cancer % in MAiD declined from 75% in 2016 to 67.8% 2022
Single source6Non-cancer MAiD rose to 32.2% in 2022 from 24.7% 2019
Verified72020 MAiD increase 26.4% despite COVID
Verified8Quebec MAiD stabilized at ~5% deaths since 2019
Verified9Young adult MAiD (18-44) stable at ~1% since 2018
Directional10Female % MAiD steady ~49% 2016-2022
Single source1165+ % increased from 78.7% 2016 to 81.5% 2022
Verified12Self-admin MAiD % stable 1-2% yearly
Verified13NP involvement rose from 2.5% 2018 to 8.8% 2022
Verified14Home settings increased to 74.6% in 2022 from 66% 2016
Directional15Waiver final consent up from 0 in 2021 to 268 (2%) 2022
Single source16MAiD faster than natural cancer deaths growth
Verified172022 Ontario surge 43% YoY vs national 31%
Verified18Track 2 % of total MAiD from 1.1% 2021 to 3.4% 2022
Verified19Rural MAiD % declined slightly to 16.6% 2022
Directional20Pain citation dropped from 57.5% 2021 to 50.2% 2022
Single source21MAiD surpassed suicides in Canada by 2021
Verified22Projected 2023 MAiD ~5% deaths
Verified23CV conditions % up from 23.9% 2019 to 29.7% 2022
VerifiedTrends and Comparisons Interpretation
While Canada's MAiD program is increasingly seen as a dignified exit, its rapid expansion from a rare last resort to now surpassing suicide rates and accounting for one in twenty-five deaths nationally suggests we are not just offering an escape from suffering, but potentially systematizing it as a response to it.
Sources & References
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