The psychiatric industry is protecting their finances. Dead patients equals less money.
Sadly, that is true, and that is the problem of the field. I don't deny that mental illnesses don't exist, but the weaponization of psychiatry to infringe on the rights of individuals who have the capacity to make (rational) decisions on their own, and attempts to further monetize on those who otherwise do not wish to is predatory, unethical, and disgusting.
It is strange that even if they want to make money, they did not consider (another topic altogether) that perhaps even people who want to die, there could be a system where they go through assessors, counselors, and what not so they wouldn't lose as much revenue as they feared while still respecting a patient's wishes.
Yeah, it doesn't sound promising to people like us (not that I would likely be eligable anyway) but it doesn't surprise me at all. I just wonder how they'll assertain whether someone CAN get better. I'm imaging something like @noname223 posted yesterday- a set of conditions maybe over a period of time (therapy and meds I suppose) to see if they can change your mind... Unless of course, you've already gone through all that stuff and have two psychiatrists/ therapists willing to 'right you off' as it were.
I wonder if that is not the bigger issue here. How many medical 'proffesionals' do you suppose really want to throw in the towel- admit that their treatments don't work and (maybe) get a reputation for helping their patients kill themselves? Do you think they would see it as merciful successes or medical failures? I don't imagine people go into these proffesions contemplating helping someone to end their life- rather than save it. Still, perhaps as time goes on and attitudes change, the medical field will change also.
Yeah, most of these professionals want to save lives (pro-life by default), and also because they care about their career and reputation within their circles, community, and peers, they fear about the backlash, ostracization, and perhaps even civil consequences (including legal action) taken against them.
I do hope that with time, attitudes will change and the medical field also.
I don't see MAID passing for mental illness at this point. This attempted can kicking is not a good sign and it's at a bad time. For one thing, Canada's healthcare system is absolutely not ready to handle these types of requests (let alone more mundane requests). It's a mess to put it simply.
Another thing, if MAID for mental illness were made legal it would force Canadian society to look in the mirror at the absolute state of itself. Some of the people who would seek this out would otherwise not in a more healthy, let say, country. Canada is all smiles and passive aggression and minimal introspection.
Finally, Trudeau is going on year 8 as PM and his Liberals have a minority government. Minority governments in Canada usually have a 2 year lifespan. Those two factors combined means Trudeau will likely lose an election to Pierre Poilievre's Conservatives next year. He is a hard right social conservative (by Canadian standards). Let's just say, social conservatives generally don't respect bodily autonomy. This issue will die a quick death with any Conservative government. How ironic.
As an aside, even if MAID for mental illness became legal I would not seek it out in Canada. Just imagining the bureaucracy between you and your death bed does my head in. Double that for a non-citizen. Or they might just ban non-citizens to avoid the suicide tourism label. Who knows, but outlook not so good imo. Sorry...
As an US citizen who was hoping that MAID will become more accessible to non-Canadian citizens, based on what you described in your post, maybe it is better for those in the US to take matters into their own hands regarding their own existence... Also, if what you mentioned about the conservative government is true, then that could undo years of progress that got Maid to it's current state as it is now. Maybe other social issues and progressive policies (not related to CTB or medical assistance in dying) ends up getting rolled back or undone which makes the future Canada less appealing for those who currently live there.
I do hope whatever happens they don't outright ban assisted suicide for all, otherwise it will be just like most of the US states where assisted suicide (for anything, including terminal illnesses) is illegal, which would suck for many Canadian citizens.. In addition to that, yes the bureaucracy as well as the subjective tests (fails to meet the same standard of evidence as other medical fields that conduct objective tests), are a big problem too as there is no way for a patient to get recourse should there be a doctor that is very vehemently pro-life and refuses to be objective, impartial, and fair towards the patient during diagnosis. Of course, then to make matters worse, the public accepts these 'subjective tests' as a objective criteria and legitimate pretext to deny an patient with capacity their bodily autonomy and free will.
