Canada delays expanding medical assistance in dying to include mental illness, but it's still a policy built on quicksand

The planned expansion of Canada's medical assistance in dying (MAID) law to include people with mental illnesses whose death is not imminent has been delayed, but not cancelled. (Shutterstock)

The federal government admitted Thursday it needs more time before expanding Canada’s controversial medical assistance in dying (MAID) policy to include mentally ill people.

Although the government had recently announced its intention to proceed with expanding MAID for those with long-term mental health disorders by next March, Justice Minister David Lametti said he had heard from medical experts that the health-care system wasn’t prepared to deal with patients who want to end their lives for mental health reasons. He did not commit to a new deadline.