Canadians Divided on Medical Professionals' Right to Opt Out of MAID
OTTAWA — A recent national survey has revealed a sharp division among Canadians regarding whether healthcare providers should have the ability to refuse participation in medical assistance in dying (MAID) based on moral or faith-based objections. The poll, conducted by Research Co. and released on Thursday, shows the country almost evenly split on this ethically charged issue.
Poll Results Show Narrow Margin
According to the survey findings, 41% of respondents believe that doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals should be permitted to opt out of providing care related to medically-assisted suicide when it conflicts with their personal moral or religious beliefs. This represents a 5% increase from a similar poll conducted in 2022, indicating a gradual shift in public opinion.
In contrast, 42% of those polled stated that there should be no exemptions for healthcare workers based on moral or faith-based grounds, while 17% remained uncertain. The results highlight the complex ethical landscape surrounding end-of-life care in Canada as the government prepares to expand MAID eligibility criteria next year.
Regional and Demographic Variations
The poll uncovered significant regional differences in attitudes across the country. Opposition to faith-based or moral exemptions was strongest in Alberta, where 47% of respondents rejected such opt-outs, followed by Atlantic Canada at 45%, Quebec at 44%, and Ontario and British Columbia tied at 41%. Saskatchewan and Manitoba showed the lowest opposition at 36%.
Demographic factors also influenced responses, with older Canadians expressing stronger opposition to exemptions. Among those aged 55 and over, 45% opposed moral or faith-based opt-outs, compared to 42% of those aged 35-54 and 39% of younger adults aged 18-34.
Broader Context of Conscientious Objection
The survey also examined public opinion on healthcare providers' right to refuse care in other sensitive areas. When asked about moral or faith-based objections to abortion, 38% of respondents supported exemptions for medical professionals, while 48% opposed them, with 14% unsure.
The division became more pronounced regarding care for members of the LGBTQ2+ community, with only 30% supporting exemptions for providers with moral or religious objections, compared to 57% who opposed such opt-outs. Again, 14% of respondents were uncertain.
Expanding MAID Framework Raises Concerns
These poll results emerge as Canada prepares to significantly broaden its medically-assisted dying framework. Starting March 17, 2027, eligibility criteria will expand to include individuals whose sole underlying medical condition is mental illness. This change has prompted warnings from numerous advocacy groups about potential risks to vulnerable populations.
Krista Carr, CEO of Inclusion Canada, expressed serious concerns about the expansion, telling media last month that the revised framework could endanger Canadians living in difficult circumstances. "When you examine track two MAID patients—those whose death is not a foreseeable outcome of their condition—you see disproportionately women, people from low socioeconomic backgrounds, and over 50% reporting feeling like a burden to their family," Carr explained.
She added, "We were told we were fear-mongering, that this would never happen, and that our medical system has sufficient safeguards. That's simply untrue—there's no meaningful oversight for any of this."
MAID's Growing Impact on Canadian Mortality
While Statistics Canada does not include medical assistance in dying in its annual list of common causes of death, government figures reveal that 16,499 Canadians died via MAID in 2024 alone. This makes medically-assisted suicide the country's fourth most common cause of death that year, ranking between accidents (20,260 deaths) and strokes (13,725 deaths).
The poll results and upcoming policy changes underscore the ongoing national conversation about balancing individual rights, medical ethics, and end-of-life care options in Canada's healthcare system.
