Alberta introduces bill to prohibit assisted suicide for minors & the mentally ill
The proposed “Safeguards for Last Resort Termination of Life Act” intends to ensure that assisted suicide is not utilized as a substitute for adequate care.
Author: Cosmin Dzsurdzsa
Alberta is taking a stand against the worrying expansion of assisted suicide across Canada, tabling new legislation to stop the practice from being used on minors, people with mental health issues as their sole underlying condition and those whose deaths are not foreseeable.
The proposed “Safeguards for Last Resort Termination of Life Act” intends to ensure that assisted suicide is not utilized as a substitute for adequate care and support for mental health or disabilities.
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If passed, the legislation would explicitly prohibit assisted suicide, also referred to as medical assistance in dying (MAID), when mental illness is the sole underlying condition for the request.
“This legislation strengthens safeguards and restores clear limits on eligibility to protect vulnerable Albertans facing mental illness or living with disabilities,” said Alberta Premier Danielle Smith in a press release on the announcement.
“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. In Alberta, a patient whose sole underlying condition is mental illness will not be eligible for MAID.”
The bill aims to reinforce protections for vulnerable Albertans by mandating that assisted suicide is only considered when all other treatment and care options have been exhausted.
In a press release, the provincial government emphasized its responsibility to provide health care and support the well-being of its citizens, noting the irreversible nature of the decision to access assisted suicide.
The legislation would limit assisted suicide eligibility to only those whose natural death is reasonably foreseeable, effectively prohibiting what is currently known as Track 2 assisted suicide. It would also prohibit assisted suicide for anyone under the age of 18 in Alberta.
“We have a responsibility to protect vulnerable Albertans. This legislation will ensure that proper protections and oversight are in place and MAID only remains as an option of last resort,” said Alberta’s Minister of Justice, Mickey Amery.
In terms of provider freedom, the bill would allow both physicians and healthcare facilities to refuse to assess for or provide assisted suicide. Furthermore, it would prohibit physicians from referring individuals for assisted suicide outside of the province. Healthcare professionals would also be restricted from initiating conversations about assisted suicide with a patient.
To enhance accountability, the proposed act would require assisted suicide providers to meet specific education and training standards and introduce sanctions for assessors and providers who fail to comply with the law.
The move comes amid increasing rates of assisted suicide deaths in Canada, which has seen the fastest growth globally. Since the introduction of Track 2 assisted suicide in 2021, the number of deaths under this category nationally has risen by 226 per cent. In Alberta specifically, Track 2 assisted suicide deaths increased by 136 per cent between 2021 and 2025.
Canada reached three per cent of total deaths being attributed to assisted suicide just five years after legalization, a milestone that took countries like Belgium and the Netherlands over 20 years to reach.
The new legislation follows an engagement process conducted by the Alberta government in late 2024, which included consultations with academics, healthcare professionals, regulatory bodies, and various organizations involved in assisted suicide, health care, disability, and mental health.
An online public survey was also available for Albertans to share their views on assisted suicide oversight and processes.
this bill needs to be passed ....
So happy someone has some common sense and courage to introduce this bill
As a commissioner for the NCI I’m thrilled to see this effort