Euthanasia: A Gesture of False Compassion

 
The human tragedy of euthanasia and medical assistance in dying (MAiD) continues to rage in our Western society, particularly in Canada, where this ideology of dying according to one's own will was enshrined in the country's law in June 2026. In fact, the increase in the number of deaths through MAiD has been such that Canada has now surpassed all other countries in this regard. Canada also wants to include MAiD for cases of mental illness; this bill will come into force in March 2027, unless there is an intervention that I would call miraculous. 
 
According to statistics, in 2024, medical assistance in dying was responsible for 16,499 deaths in Canada, representing a 6.9% increase compared with 2023. Assisted dying, which is legal only in 13 U.S. states and the District of Columbia, has been responsible for the deaths of more than 14,400 Americans since 1997 and has increased by nearly 1,000% over the past decade. European countries are also experiencing a rise in assisted suicide. For example, suicide rates among people aged 85 and older in Switzerland have quadrupled over the past 25 years and have doubled among those aged 65 to 84. Now, in France, assisted dying was legalized in July 2026. In short, it is a suicidal scourge that has been socially normalized. 
 
A throwaway culture 
It is elderly and sick people who are most often at risk of being subjected to the dictates of this deadly ideology. Indeed, the median age of people choosing medical assistance in dying is 78 in Canada. Traditionally, our seniors have always been regarded as an immense gift to society, but too often today we see that the culture emphasizes personal fulfillment, which can lead to neglecting those who are no longer considered necessary or productive. People with illnesses, and seniors, may therefore feel lonely, abandoned, and isolated from their own families and communities. As a society, we have lost respect and love for our aging population. The days when children grew up with their grandparents in the family home have unfortunately disappeared. Retirement residences and nursing homes are now the norm. 
 
Indeed, I worked in nursing homes, and I often witnessed the loneliness of those who were left to fend for themselves, and it reminded me of my mother. She suffered from several illnesses, including cancer and diabetes. I had put my own life on hold for ten years to be her primary caregiver. I did it out of love for my mother and in obedience to the Church's teaching to care for one's neighbor. If my mother had been a victim of euthanasia, I would not have grown in my own faith and compassion for others, and I would not have the unforgettable memories of her inner beauty and her faith in God. In truth, while I was helping her physically and emotionally, she was helping me spiritually through her example of perseverance and strength of soul, inspired by faith. I thank God that I was able to accompany my mother during her final years. Every moment shared is an opportunity to create lasting memories with loved ones. I hope that my experience will encourage others to care for the elderly with love, so that they do not fall into despair. 
 
Unfortunately, in our throwaway culture, many sick and elderly people never receive this kind of support. Instead, they feel isolated and abandoned, which worsens their spiritual, mental, and physical suffering. Feelings of rejection often lead to depression, which can undermine the motivation and strength to care for oneself, thereby affecting overall health and the will to live. Indeed, the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) in the United States reports that loneliness and social isolation can increase the risk of anxiety, depression, dementia, diabetes, heart disease, self-harm, stroke, and suicidal thoughts. Furthermore, according to the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), in its 6th Annual Report on Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID), not only does loneliness play a negative role, but the notion of being a burden also comes into play: “The perception of being a burden to others is a common feeling among people with serious illnesses. This perception is explained as arising from the recipient’s sense of dependence and the resulting frustration and worry, which can then lead to negative feelings of guilt about being responsible for the caregiver’s difficulties.” Can we be surprised that these vulnerable people choose assisted suicide? 
 
Rather than responding to this suffering with compassionate care, today's culture promotes euthanasia and assisted dying as the ultimate solution. The constant rhetoric about "dying with dignity" and the "choice of one's death" masks the reality: feeling unwanted and being perceived as a burden are often the real reasons why people choose assisted suicide. 
 
Euthanasia in Canada 
A striking example of the extent of this ideology's mindset is the case of British Columbia, Canada: the campaign in favor of medical assistance in dying ultimately prevailed. On June 23, 2025, in Vancouver, the government's Vancouver Coastal Health Authority ordered that a euthanasia facility be opened and fully operational on the campus of St. Paul's Hospital, a hospital administered by Catholics. Furthermore, MAiD rooms are in the same buildings that house two palliative care hospices. These Catholic institutions are operated by Providence Health Care under the auspices of the Archdiocese of Vancouver. Abortion and euthanasia had long been prohibited there, but because of this government decree, the archdiocese was unable to prevent this new development. In short, this is the legal response to persistent activism in favor of death on demand. It is a tragic situation when a Catholic hospital's commitment to defending life is overturned by a legal ideology favorable to euthanasia. The Church can do nothing, unless they close the hospital, which raises an entirely different debate. This is just one example among hundreds in Canada demonstrating the grip that MAiD has on my country.  
 
Spiritual Care and Accompaniment 
I can't help thinking that the apparent loss of faith, hope, and trust in God over the years, in a secularized society like ours in North America and Europe, has inexorably led to this materialistic view of ending one's life on one's own terms and of minimizing the importance of family ties. 
 
If we want to combat this calamity of loneliness and the desire for a premature death, we must offer hope through the support of family and community members, especially religious organizations and pastoral volunteers. Put yourself in the place of an elderly or sick person and show them love through benevolent actions. Offer to spend time with an elderly friend or neighbor, or with a stranger in a nursing home, even if only for an hour or two each week. Give them spiritual support, such as praying with them or discussing God’s love, or simply listening to them. Show them that they are loved and needed, and not a burden to be discarded or whose death should be hastened. This attention has the dual benefit of giving hope to vulnerable people and carrying out one of the corporal works of mercy prescribed by the Church. After all, human beings are made of both body and soul, and the soul needs nourishment just as much as the body.  
 
The Church’s Position 
The rhetoric in favor of euthanasia, disguised as a dignified right, spreads a false impression of freedom and autonomy. People are led to believe that they are the masters of their own lives, which can be brought to an end according to their desires. This way of thinking leaves no room for God, hope, or trust in Divine Providence in the face of illness and suffering. 
 
The Catholic Church has always had a pro-life doctrine from the beginning of Christianity. According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, euthanasia is morally unacceptable and goes against God’s fifth commandment not to kill. Indeed, the Canadian bishops unite in one voice to say “no” to MAID and euthanasia, without exceptions. The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) even formally and publicly declared its disagreement with the Canadian government’s Bill aimed at expanding assisted dying to people suffering from mental illness, in an open letter:  “Consistent with our strong objection to euthanasia/assisted suicide, we implore the federal government to heed the concerns voiced by many mental health experts, mental health and disability advocacy groups, communities, families, and individuals and to repeal entirely or permanently suspend the expansion of ‘MAiD’ to persons whose sole medical condition is a mental illness.” 
 
 
Final Reflection 
In closing, we must all do our part as Christians and informed citizens to support our vulnerable people and publicly declare our opposition to euthanasia, assisted suicide, and medical assistance in dying. Society and governments must stop opposing divine law and granting themselves the right to manage the mortality of human beings. It is up to God to decide when our life is over. Let us be content to take care of our bodies and souls and leave the rest to God. 
                                                                                                                                 
Marie Brousseau    

Website: mariebrousseau.com