MAID in Canada continues to evolve and spark difficult conversations. In this episode of the Crip Trip Podcast, Daniel and Fred take a closer look at Medical Assistance in Dying and how it has changed over time. From policy shifts to real-world impact, this episode explores the complexities, ethical questions and lived realities surrounding assisted dying in Canada. How did we get here, and where is it headed next?
Daniel and Fred speak with Tanya (Director, Health Technology & Policy Unit at the University of Alberta) and Christina (PhD student and social worker) about Canada’s MAID system including a Health Canada- commissioned review they worked on and balancing autonomy with strong, clearer safeguards.
They trace the evolution of MAID through key rulings and laws—Carter v. Canada, Bills C-14 and C-7, and the delayed expansion to sole mental illness until March 2027—then present findings from interviews with 86 stakeholders and 34 family members across Canada. The research highlights inconsistent interpretations of “reasonably foreseeable death,” wide variation in “independent assessments,” and concerns about limited psychosocial supports, insufficient discussion of alternatives, and family exclusion. The episode concludes with a central tension: how to balance patient autonomy with clearer safeguards, especially as expansion looms amid psychiatrist shortages and gaps in continuity of care nationwide today.
This podcast theme was chosen in dedication of Brian McPherson, featured in Crip Trip, Season 2.
Watch the video version of this episode now on YouTube
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