Alberta Proposes New Limits on Medically Assisted Dying

Thu Mar 19 2026 03:29:48 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

In a significant legislative move, Alberta has introduced a bill to restrict medically assisted dying solely to end-of-life scenarios, marking a departure from Canada's broader access established in 2021.

Alberta has proposed a bill to limit medically assisted dying, also known as MAID, to exclusively end-of-life situations. This proposal comes as part of a broader ongoing conversation about regulations surrounding assisted dying in Canada, which has legalized the practice since 2016. Premier Danielle Smith asserts that the new legislation aims to protect vulnerable individuals from premature death, especially those struggling with mental health issues.

Alberta has proposed a bill that would limit the use of medically assisted dying - also known as voluntary euthanasia - in the Canadian province solely to end-of-life circumstances.

In 2021, Canada expanded access to medically assisted dying, known domestically by the acronym Maid, to people with serious, incurable illnesses or disabilities, even if their death is not reasonably foreseeable.

Canada is also due to expand access next year to people whose only medical condition is mental illness, though that has twice been delayed.

Alberta is the first jurisdiction in Canada to independently propose limits to the practice.

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said during a news conference on Wednesday that Maid should only be an option for those with no hope of recovery.

This legislation strengthens safeguards and restores clear limits on eligibility to protect vulnerable Albertans facing mental illness or living with disabilities, she said. Those struggling with severe mental health challenges need treatment, compassion and support, not a path to end their life at what may be their lowest moment.

The proposed bill seeks to prohibit doctors from unilaterally raising Maid with patients and banning its public advertising in healthcare facilities. It would also enshrine conscience protections for healthcare professionals and institutions.

While polls indicate there is broad support in Canada for medically assisted dying, there has also been widespread debate about the programme's expansion and concerns over whether appropriate safeguards are in place.

Canada first legalized euthanasia in 2016 for people with terminal illnesses before expanding it to people with serious and chronic physical conditions, following a court case in the province of Quebec.

In 2024, the vast majority – around 96% - had a death deemed reasonably foreseeable, due to severe medical conditions such as cancer.

In a small minority of assisted-death cases, patients may not have been terminally ill, but sought to end their lives due to a long and complicated illness that had significantly impacted their quality of life.

Moira Wilson, president of Inclusion Canada, welcomed the proposed legislation in Alberta and urged other provinces to follow suit, stating, It demonstrates that governments can strengthen laws and better protect people whose lives are not nearing an end. Wilson further emphasized the necessity for the federal government to review Canada's Maid law to ensure consistent protections for individuals with disabilities across the nation.

While the proposed legislation has garnered support, critics like Helen Long of Dying with Dignity Canada have voiced concerns that it limits patient autonomy and creates barriers for those wishing to exercise their choices.