As Canada’s Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) landscape evolves at a staggering pace, with provisions jumping over 31% in a single year to account for more than 1 in 25 of all deaths nationally, understanding the profound personal stories and complex statistics behind this choice has never been more critical.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, Canada recorded 13,241 cases of MAiD provisions, marking a 31.3% increase from the 10,064 cases in 2021
- From 2016 to 2022, the cumulative total of MAiD deaths in Canada exceeded 40,000, with 37,369 reported up to 2022
- MAiD accounted for 4.1% of all deaths in Canada in 2022, up from 3.3% in 2021
- In 2022, Ontario reported 4,875 MAiD provisions, the highest among provinces
- British Columbia had 1,896 MAiD deaths in 2022, accounting for 14.3% of national total
- Quebec recorded 2,464 MAiD provisions in 2022, representing 18.6% of Canada's total
- In 2022, 65% of MAiD recipients were male, compared to 35% female nationally
- The average age of MAiD recipients in 2022 was 77 years, with 83% aged 65 or older
- 12.6% of 2022 MAiD cases involved patients under 65, totaling 1,670 cases
- Cancer was the underlying medical condition in 67.0% of 2022 MAiD cases, totaling 8,875 provisions
- Cardiovascular conditions affected 29.6% of MAiD recipients in 2022 as a contributing factor
- Respiratory diseases were cited in 18.2% of 2022 MAiD cases
- 97.0% of 2022 MAiD cases involved at least two independent witnesses for consent
- Final consent was confirmed in 99.7% of clinician-administered MAiD cases in 2022
- 39.5% of 2022 MAiD recipients received palliative care consultations prior to provision
Canada's medically assisted deaths rose sharply to over four percent of all deaths in 2022.
Demographic Statistics
- In 2022, 65% of MAiD recipients were male, compared to 35% female nationally
- The average age of MAiD recipients in 2022 was 77 years, with 83% aged 65 or older
- 12.6% of 2022 MAiD cases involved patients under 65, totaling 1,670 cases
- Among non-elderly (under 65) MAiD recipients in 2022, 67.1% were male
- In 2022, 2.5% of MAiD recipients identified as Indigenous
- 17.0% of 2022 MAiD patients had no religious affiliation
- Patients aged 90+ accounted for 17.8% of MAiD provisions in 2022
- In 2022, 1.2% of MAiD recipients were veterans, totaling 159 cases
- Urban residents comprised 82.4% of 2022 MAiD recipients
- In 2022, males aged 75-84 comprised 22.1% of all MAiD recipients nationally
- Females aged 85+ made up 10.2% of 2022 MAiD cases
- 4.1% of 2022 MAiD recipients were aged 18-44, totaling 543 cases
- Among 45-64 age group, 58.3% of 2022 MAiD cases were male
- 0.6% of 2022 MAiD patients identified as LGBTQ2+
- 62.8% of 2022 recipients had some religious affiliation
- Patients aged 65-74 accounted for 28.4% of 2022 MAiD provisions
- Rural MAiD recipients were 17.6% of total in 2022
- 0.4% of 2022 MAiD cases involved homeless individuals
- Average age for males receiving MAiD in 2022 was 76.8 years
Demographic Statistics Interpretation
While the data paints a picture of MAiD primarily serving an older, urban, and religiously affiliated male population, the presence of younger, rural, and vulnerable recipients reminds us that the need for this final choice cuts across many of society’s neat demographic lines.
Medical Conditions
- Cancer was the underlying medical condition in 67.0% of 2022 MAiD cases, totaling 8,875 provisions
- Cardiovascular conditions affected 29.6% of MAiD recipients in 2022 as a contributing factor
- Respiratory diseases were cited in 18.2% of 2022 MAiD cases
- Neurological conditions present in 14.7% of 2022 MAiD provisions
- In 2022, 5.1% of MAiD cases involved patients with no functional impairments reported
- Moderate to severe loss of ability to perform activities of daily living was reported in 96.6% of 2022 cases
- 86.5% of 2022 MAiD recipients experienced severe or intolerable pain
- Loss of ability to engage in meaningful activities cited in 90.9% of 2022 MAiD cases
- Inadequate control of pain or symptoms was a reason in 60.3% of cases in 2022
- 81.1% of 2022 MAiD recipients rated their health as poor or fair before death
- Organ failure (non-cardio/respiratory) in 11.3% of 2022 MAiD cases
- Infectious diseases contributed to 2.4% of 2022 MAiD provisions
- 84.2% of recipients reported moderate-severe functional decline in 2022
- Complete loss of ability to perform ADLs in 47.6% of 2022 cases
- 92.3% cited loss of capacity to engage in activities as a main reason in 2022
- Fear of future suffering was a concern for 65.7% in 2022
- 33.1% had concerns about financial burden on family in 2022 MAiD cases
- Being a burden on family/family caregivers cited by 64.8% in 2022
- Decreased function/quality of life primary reason in 85.4% of 2022 cases
- 70.2% rated health as poor in 2022 pre-MAiD assessments
Medical Conditions Interpretation
The statistics paint a stark portrait of a compassionate system being used overwhelmingly by those truly besieged, where the decision for MAiD is not a casual exit but a final, dignified retreat from a life thoroughly eroded by unrelenting disease, profound suffering, and the crushing loss of one's very self.
National Statistics
- In 2022, Canada recorded 13,241 cases of MAiD provisions, marking a 31.3% increase from the 10,064 cases in 2021
- From 2016 to 2022, the cumulative total of MAiD deaths in Canada exceeded 40,000, with 37,369 reported up to 2022
- MAiD accounted for 4.1% of all deaths in Canada in 2022, up from 3.3% in 2021
- In 2022, 86.4% of MAiD cases involved clinician-administered provisions, while 13.6% were self-administered
- The national MAiD request rate per 100,000 population was 42.1 in 2022, compared to 36.5 in 2021
- Between 2016 and 2022, MAiD provisions grew at an average annual rate of 36.9%
- In 2022, 93.5% of MAiD recipients had a physician as the most responsible practitioner
- Canada's MAiD cases represented 1.51% of total deaths in 2016, rising to 4.1% by 2022
- 2022 saw 461 MAiD cases where the practitioner was unsure of the patient's residence province/territory
- National waiver of final consent requests totaled 524 in 2022, up from 330 in 2021
National Statistics Interpretation
While Canada's embrace of medical assistance in dying is accelerating at a pace that would make a runaway sled blush—now constituting over 4% of all deaths—its implementation remains overwhelmingly clinical, deliberate, and doctor-led, even as the system grapples with the profound logistics of such a deeply personal choice.
Procedural Aspects
- 97.0% of 2022 MAiD cases involved at least two independent witnesses for consent
- Final consent was confirmed in 99.7% of clinician-administered MAiD cases in 2022
- 39.5% of 2022 MAiD recipients received palliative care consultations prior to provision
- In 2022, 13,706 written requests for MAiD were received, leading to 13,241 provisions
- Track 2 eligibility (non-terminal) accounted for 5.5% of 2022 MAiD cases, totaling 717
- 1.9% of 2022 MAiD assessments resulted in referrals to palliative care only
- Practitioner hesitation due to mental illness concerns affected 35.6% of 2022 cases
- 82.7% of 2022 MAiD recipients had their request explicitly discussed with family
- In 2022, 0.3% of MAiD provisions were withdrawn by patients immediately before administration
- 67.2% of 2022 MAiD practitioners were family physicians
- Nurse practitioners handled 12.8% of 2022 MAiD cases as most responsible
- 87.3% of 2022 cases had two independent medical assessments
- Self-administered MAiD success rate was 95.2% in 2022
- 24.7% of 2022 written requests were not followed by an assessment
- Palliative care offered but refused in 27.5% of 2022 cases
- 3.2% of 2022 assessments led to treatment offered instead of MAiD
- Family present at time of MAiD in 70.1% of 2022 clinician-administered cases
- 2022 saw 1,802 self-administered MAiD kits issued nationally
- Complications occurred in 4.5% of 2022 clinician-administered provisions
Procedural Aspects Interpretation
In the intricate and rigorously safeguarded landscape of Canada's assisted dying program, the overwhelming majority of cases demonstrate a high degree of procedural diligence and family involvement, yet the data also reveals poignant complexities, such as frequent palliative care refusals and practitioner hesitations, underscoring that behind each of the 13,241 provisions lies a deeply personal and meticulously reviewed narrative.
Provincial Statistics
- In 2022, Ontario reported 4,875 MAiD provisions, the highest among provinces
- British Columbia had 1,896 MAiD deaths in 2022, accounting for 14.3% of national total
- Quebec recorded 2,464 MAiD provisions in 2022, representing 18.6% of Canada's total
- Alberta's MAiD cases reached 1,028 in 2022, a 28% increase from 2021
- In 2022, Manitoba reported 267 MAiD provisions, up 25.3% from prior year
- Saskatchewan had 197 MAiD deaths in 2022, comprising 5.2% of provincial deaths
- Nova Scotia recorded 286 MAiD provisions in 2022
- New Brunswick reported 194 MAiD cases in 2022, a 32% rise
- Newfoundland and Labrador had 118 MAiD provisions in 2022
- Prince Edward Island saw 32 MAiD deaths in 2022
- Ontario's 2022 MAiD provisions totaled 4,875, up 25% from 2021's 3,898
- Quebec's MAiD rate per 100,000 was 27.5 in 2022, highest nationally
- BC reported 1,896 MAiD cases in 2022, 4.7% of all provincial deaths
- Alberta's 1,028 MAiD provisions in 2022 marked a 28.4% increase year-over-year
- Manitoba's 267 cases in 2022 represented 3.8% of total deaths there
- Saskatchewan's 197 MAiD deaths in 2022 were 2.9% of provincial deaths
- Nova Scotia's 286 provisions in 2022 showed 4.2% of deaths
- New Brunswick's 194 cases in 2022 up 32.1% from 147 in 2021
- Newfoundland's 118 MAiD provisions in 2022, 3.1% of deaths
- PEI's 32 cases in 2022, highest ever for the province
Provincial Statistics Interpretation
While Ontario may hold the numerical crown for MAiD provisions, it's Quebec wearing the per capita tiara, illustrating that this profound choice is not a regional trend but a deeply personal calculus growing in acceptance, albeit at varying paces, across the entire Canadian landscape.
Sources & References
- Reference 1HEALTH-INFOBASEhealth-infobase.canada.caVisit source
- Reference 2CANADAcanada.caVisit source
- Reference 3ONTARIOontario.caVisit source
- Reference 4GOVwww2.gov.bc.caVisit source
- Reference 5INSPQinspq.qc.caVisit source
- Reference 6OPENopen.alberta.caVisit source
- Reference 7GOVgov.mb.caVisit source
- Reference 8SASKATCHEWANsaskatchewan.caVisit source
- Reference 9NOVASCOTIAnovascotia.caVisit source
- Reference 10GNBwww2.gnb.caVisit source
- Reference 11GOVgov.nl.caVisit source
- Reference 12PRINCEEDWARDISLANDprinceedwardisland.caVisit source