Canadian Undergraduate Perspectives on Medical Assistance in Dying for Mental Illness: Does Psychiatric Illness Type, Age, and Exposure to Information Influence Acceptance of MAiD?
Open accessAbstract
Background and ObjectivesIn 2027, Canadians whose only medical condition is an untreatable mental illness and who otherwise meet all eligibility criteria will be able to request Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD). This study investigates the attitudes of undergraduate students towards widening the scope of MAiD for physical illness for certain psychiatric conditions. We were interested in understanding if age, information, and type of mental illness influenced undergraduates' acceptance or rejection of MAiD for mental illness (MAiD-MI).Method413 undergraduate students participated in this study which examined the factors that correlate with the acceptance or rejection of MAiD-MI. Four scenarios were presented in which age (older or younger) and illness type (depression or schizophrenia) were manipulated. Demographic questions and measures assessing personality, religion, and attitudes towards euthanasia were administered. Questions assessing participants' general understanding of MAiD and their life experiences with death and suicide were also asked.ResultsMost of the participants accepted MAiD-MI for both depression and schizophrenia. As hypothesized, support for MAiD-MI was higher for patients with schizophrenia than for depression. Also as hypothesized, support was higher for older patients than for younger patients. Variables such as religion, personality and political affiliation were also associated with acceptance or rejection of MAiD-MI. Finally, consistent with our hypotheses, participants' understanding of MAiD and experiences with death and suicide was predictive of support for MAiD-MI.
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A subsequent national comparison across multiple universities reaffirmed the trend of increasing acceptance, suggesting that younger generations hold more permissive views toward MAiD MD-SUMC.
“A subsequent national comparison across multiple universities reaffirmed this trend, suggesting that younger generations hold more permissive views toward MAiD MD-SUMC.”
From Medical Assistance in Dying for the Sole Underlying Condition of Mental Disorder (MAiD MD-SUMC): an analysis and qualitative evidence synthesis (2026) · cites this paper as [54]
The Abstract’s Results (page not supplied) say that most surveyed undergraduates accepted MAiD for mental illness, supporting the claim’s point about acceptance among students. The Method > Participants section describes students receiving credit in introductory psychology classes, not a national comparison across universities, and the paper does not compare generations or establish an increasing trend. Its age comparison concerns the patients in the scenarios, not the ages of people expressing views. (LLM, conf=0.84)
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“52 These findings highlight that, for many families, MAiD is viewed not as a rejection of life but as an extension of patient-centred decision-making at the end of life.”
- Authors
- Harper, L., Tomaras, C. A., Powell, R. A., Reddon, J. R., & Hawrelak, E.
- Affiliations
- MacEwan University (CA)
- University of Alberta (CA)
- University of Saskatchewan (CA)
- Corresponding author
- Harper, Lori
- Venue
- American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine®
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2024-05-02
- Volume
- 42
- Issue
- 7
- Pages
- 678-687
- ISSN
- 1049-9091 (ISSN-L)
- 1938-2715
- PMC
- PMC12008472
- OpenAlex
- W4396592576
- Cited by
- 3
- References
- 44
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 1
- FWCI
- 1.24
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine® (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Palliative and Oncologic Care
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Palliative Care and End-of-Life Issues
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Ethics and bioethics in healthcare
- Keywords
- medical assistance in dying, mental illness, attitudes toward euthanasia, depression, schizophrenia, age differences, information exposure, personality, political affiliation, undergraduate students
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Adult, Age Factors, Attitude to Death, Mental Disorders, Canada, Female, Humans, Male, Schizophrenia, Students, Suicide, Assisted, Young Adult
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