A 26-year-old Ontario man has died through Canada’s Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID) program, reigniting debate over how far the nation’s euthanasia laws have expanded. Kiano Vafaeian, who struggled with Type 1 diabetes and recurring depression, was euthanized in British Columbia on December 30, 2025. His parents now say the system that was meant to safeguard vulnerable people instead facilitated the death of a young man whose mental health challenges were cyclical and treatable. They describe seasons of hope followed by winter decline, during which he repeatedly fixated on MAID as an option.

Originally legalized in 2016 for patients with “grievous and irremediable” conditions, Canada’s euthanasia law was broadened in 2021 to include individuals whose natural death is not reasonably foreseeable. According to his family, Vafaeian was initially approved, then later rejected after public scrutiny, before ultimately seeking out another physician who authorized the procedure under Track 2 criteria. His parents say they were not informed of the final approval and only learned of his death days afterward. They now question whether the safeguards truly protect those battling depression and despair rather than terminal illness.

SOURCE: PM