Ethics challenge winner 2022/2023. A matter of life and death: the ethics of medical assistance in dying in the context of mental illness

Among the pressing questions facing physicians today are the ethical implications of medical assistance in dying (MAiD), and in particular, the question of whether MAiD should be available to people whose sole medical condition is a mental illness. This question comes into focus with the case of JD, a 35-year-old man with treatment-refractory depression recovering from an overdose. He believes that life is not worth living and has planned a further suicide attempt. He would like a painless death and has asked about MAiD, which has recently been permitted in his jurisdiction. However, he is not eligible.