In Canada, 39-year-old April Hubbard, a performance artist, has been approved for Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID), despite not being terminally ill. Born with spina bifida and later diagnosed with spine tumors, she endures severe, chronic pain. After years of opioid treatment, she applied for assisted death, qualifying seven months later. MAID, which allows individuals with severe medical conditions to end their lives, was introduced in 2016. Initially limited to the terminally ill, it was expanded in 2021 to include those with irremediable conditions, like April’s, who are not necessarily dying.

While April’s decision is supported by safeguards, critics worry that MAID’s scope has expanded too far. Some argue that it is becoming easier to end one’s life than to receive proper care. In 2023, nearly 15,000 Canadians chose assisted dying. Canada’s system has been compared to the Netherlands and Belgium and raises concerns about the broader implications of such laws, especially for people with disabilities, like Andrew Gurza, who fears MAID is becoming a default option. This debate has also sparked discussions in the UK as they consider similar legislation.