Canada (38.8 million) and the state of California (39.43 million) have similar population numbers, and both places adopted MAID near the same time in 2016. In Canada, MAID has changed over time, but in California its remained the same.
Depending on where you read, the number of people who have used MAID since it’s inception in Canada, is between 60,000 and 76,475. These numbers don’t include 2025.
In California that number is 5,423. Quite a difference.
In California the criteria for MAID is a terminal disease with death expected within a 6 month time frame.
In Canada the criteria is anything including a disability that is not curable and causes severe suffering. The option to allow MAID to those with a mental illness (including depression and PTSD) is scheduled for 2027.
In Canada, this is a large topic of conversation and MAID is positioned as a compassionate response to those who are suffering. I’ll share later. Here are the questions:
What is your view of MAID? What do you think God’s view of MAID is? Would you ever consider using MAID? Lastly, do you think MAID is ok under certain conditions and what are those conditions?
MAID should be known as Medically Assisted Death (MAD), because it is LUDICROUS. Absolutely insane. Premature death by choice = suicide.
God’s View of MAID:
Life is a gift given by God which should not be spurned. He gave the commandment “Thy shalt not kill” or if you prefer, “thy shall not commit murder” for a reason. Death by choice is Suicide, whether self inflicted or assisted. Either way you view it, it is the killing/murder of a child of God.
Would I consider Using MAID:
100% NO!!!
Is MAID Okay Under Certain Conditons:
Again, NO. Induced coma without life support until death perhaps. Never this.
For further religious views on suicide, check out this WIKI article.
Before I share my opinion, I want to speak to those people who are in chronic and horrible pain and are considering MAID as a solution. I don’t know what they are suffering. I haven’t been in their shoes. Some of them are Christians and others are not. I know that even those of faith have considered it because there doesn’t seem to be another way out of what they’re going through day by day. Every situation is different.
I don’t believe in MAID as a solution, but I do understand how some would consider it and follow through with it. I don’t believe God condones it either because MAID leaves Him out of the picture. I found it very surprising that Canada and California would have such a variation in numbers and protocol. I know that Canada has become a world leader in its eligibility criteria and application. Support for MAID and access to MAID is growing around the world. If its not legalized where you are, there’s a good chance it will be. The time to determine where you stand is now while you are healthy.
In particular, MAID for those with a mental disorder is frightening. The Netherlands, Belgium and Switzerland already offer it. In Canada; as it is in many countries, the population is aging, hospitals are crowded and support services are limited.
I found and kept a report I found on our Federal Gov’t website and was issued by the Office of the Parliamentary Budget Officer. The goal of the report was to estimate the cost of MAID and used past figures to arrive at its conclusion. It was produced in 2020.
“The Parliamentary Budget Officer (PBO) supports Parliament by providing economic and financial analysis for the purposes of raising the quality of parliamentary debate and promoting greater budget transparency and accountability. This report responds to a request from a Senator to estimate the financial cost of Bill C-7, which broadens eligibility for medical assistance in dying.”
The report compared the costs of supplying MAID in comparison to the cost of palliative care. Not surprisingly, MAID is very cost efficient for our gov’t. Frankly, I’m surprised that such a report exits. As more people accept MAID in favor of palliative care, that net cost figure (63 million) will increase.
With the growing inclusion of MAID as an alternative to natural death, I believe the time to determine your stance is now. If you or a loved one is suffering great pain and MAID is offered as a compassionate alternative, without that prior determination, what might you do.
When MAID was first introduced, long before 2020, I worked in a hospital and saw first hand the suffering of people. I quit in 2014. I just couldn’t handle it anymore. Nightmares. I started drinking heavily. I had dread, not anxiety, but dread, a very physical dread, about going to work. At the time MAID was announced I supported it, but only in the most dire circumstances. I felt dying with dignity (not what I was seeing in the hospital) was something everyone deserved. I felt that if we euthanize animals to prevent undue suffering, then humans should have the same compassion extended to them. I honestly didn’t think it was the slippery slope that it is today. Teens? Really? Yes. The physically disabled? Yup. The mentally ill? For sure. It doesn’t really matter to the govt. Canada is a world leader in organs for transplant, and that includes organs culled from abortion. I also used to be pro choice. Then, I returned to Christ. I would call myself an abolishonist now. The govt calls both MAID and abortion “healthcare”, pass these laws and make billions of dollars doing so. It just sickens me. This is why I pray “Lord? Do you see what they’re doing? Please come. Come soon. We need you!” And now, while everyone in Canada is busy hating Trump, hating Isreal, hating Russia, or whatever the fabricated crisis of the day and are spending all their time being keyboard warriors for whatever ideology or political platform, our Canadian govt is tabling a bill that will allow doctors to “euthanize” a new born if they decide the deformity or disability will impact that child’s quality of life, without parental consent or knowledge. It’s on the Canada.ca website under eugenics.
People are without hope when they choose MAID. We need to be the ones who offer hope..in Christ..but how do we do this? Can we come up with ideas that don’t involve social media?