In a troubling revelation, Canada’s latest government report on medical assistance in dying (MAiD) shows that nearly half of those who chose euthanasia last year, despite not being terminally ill, did so because of loneliness or social isolation.
The data, released by Health Canada on December 11 in its fifth annual MAiD report, revealed that 15,342 individuals received state-sanctioned euthanasia in 2023. Of these, 662 were classified under “Track 2,” meaning they were not in imminent danger of death. Among these non-terminal cases, a striking 47.1% listed “isolation or loneliness” as a reason for requesting death.
Reflecting on these findings, the report stated, “Social isolation and loneliness are shown to have a serious impact on physical and mental health, quality of life, and longevity.”
A Crisis of the Soul
The Catholic Church teaches that life is sacred from conception to natural death and that euthanasia gravely contradicts the dignity of the human person. Pope Francis has frequently spoken out against assisted suicide, calling it a “false compassion.”
“True compassion does not marginalize or eliminate those who suffer,” the Pope has said, “but takes care of them and lovingly accompanies them.”
For those in Track 2, the average age was 75, and more than a third lived alone. These figures echo the growing concern among Catholic leaders and pro-life advocates about the moral and societal implications of Canada’s permissive euthanasia laws.
The Expanding Reach of MAiD
Since the legalization of MAiD in 2016 under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Liberal government, the program has seen significant expansions. Initially restricted to terminally ill patients, it was extended in 2021 to include those with chronic illnesses and disabilities. The government has even considered expanding eligibility to those suffering solely from mental illness.
By 2023, euthanasia accounted for 1 in 20 deaths in Canada. Pro-life advocates warn that these policies disproportionately impact the vulnerable. “Canada’s MAiD program targets those who are already suffering — the lonely, the poor, and the marginalized,” said Alex Schadenberg, executive director of the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition.
A Call to Action
As Catholics, we are called to respond to this crisis with both prayer and action. The Church reminds us of the importance of accompanying those who are isolated. As St. Teresa of Calcutta famously said, “The most terrible poverty is loneliness and the feeling of being unloved.”
The alarming number of people turning to euthanasia underscores the need for a renewed commitment to building a culture of life. This includes advocating for palliative care and creating communities where the vulnerable feel supported and valued.
While Canada has recorded approximately 65,000 euthanasia deaths since 2016, the Church calls us to remember that every one of these lives mattered to God. The Lord commands us to “comfort all who mourn” (Isaiah 61:2) and to bring hope to those in despair.
Let us pray for those affected by this culture of death and work tirelessly to be witnesses to the sanctity of life in a world so desperately in need of Christ’s love.
