False Claim: Canada Is Considering Euthanasia for Disabled or “Unwanted” Infants

Alex Schadenberg of the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition recently claimed that Canada is moving toward euthanasia for disabled or “unwanted” infants. That is simply not true. The discussion Schadenberg was pointing to was limited to extremely rare and tragic cases involving infants with conditions incompatible with life—situations where survival is not possible, and death is expected in the near term.

It’s also critical to be clear about terminology. This is not MAiD. Medical Assistance in Dying, as defined in Canadian law, requires informed consent from the person receiving it. Infants cannot provide consent, which means MAiD does not apply in these situations—full stop. Conflating this discussion with MAiD is either a misunderstanding or a deliberate attempt to mislead.

The phrase “conditions incompatible with life” refers to severe medical conditions where an infant cannot survive, even with intensive medical intervention. These are not cases of disability. They are cases where death is unavoidable, often accompanied by significant suffering despite maximal care.

What has been raised in limited academic and ethical discussions is how best to respond in those rare circumstances—particularly when aggressive interventions may prolong suffering without changing the outcome. That is a fundamentally different conversation than what is being portrayed. It is about end-of-life care in the face of inevitable death, not about ending the lives of disabled or “unwanted” children.

Blurring these distinctions creates a narrative that is both inaccurate and harmful. It replaces a difficult, nuanced medical and ethical discussion with something far more alarming, but far less true.

For a more detailed breakdown, you can read our full article here:
https://maidincanada.substack.com/p/conditions-incompatible-with-life