Infant Euthanasia Push STUNS Canada

The Quebec College of Physicians’ push to classify euthanasia as “appropriate treatment” for severely ill infants has ignited outrage among defenders of life and traditional family values, raising alarms about the erosion of basic moral and constitutional principles.

Story Snapshot

The Quebec College of Physicians recommended euthanasia MAID for infants under one year with extreme, unrelievable suffering.
This marks a radical departure from previous Canadian policy—MAID was previously limited to consenting adults.
The proposal has drawn fierce criticism on ethical, legal, and disability rights grounds, with no current law allowing infant euthanasia.
Ongoing public debate highlights deep divisions over the value of life, parental rights, and the risk of government overreach.

Quebec College of Physicians’ Proposal: A New Frontier for Euthanasia

In December 2021, the Quebec College of Physicians issued a recommendation that euthanasia—rebranded as Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID)—should be considered for infants under one year old enduring “extreme suffering that cannot be soothed, coupled with a very dark prognosis.” This proposal, unprecedented in North America, advocated that under a strict protocol, doctors could end the lives of infants with severe malformations or syndromes eliminating any hope of relief or survival. The shift represents a significant expansion beyond Canada’s original MAID law, which required informed consent from competent adults.

The College’s recommendation quickly gained national and international attention by October 2022. Critics from advocacy, disability rights, and religious groups condemned the move, arguing it targets the most vulnerable—non-consenting infants—effectively opening the door to government-sanctioned termination of life for those unable to voice their own will. This radical policy draws direct parallels to controversial European practices like the Netherlands’ Groningen Protocol but stands apart in the Canadian context as the first such public advocacy for infant euthanasia.

Ethical, Legal, and Societal Backlash

Opposition to the College’s proposal has been swift and vocal. Disability rights advocates, religious leaders, and medical ethicists have united in warning that expanding euthanasia to infants crosses a moral line, undermining the inherent value of every human life. They point out that the policy endangers children unable to consent, erodes trust in the medical system, and risks a “slippery slope” where the lives of those with disabilities are increasingly devalued. The absence of any legislative action confirms the deep discomfort even among lawmakers, who have so far resisted advancing the proposal to law.

The proposal’s critics highlight that only a handful of countries—Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, and Colombia—allow euthanasia for minors, and even fewer for infants. Canada’s own MAID law has been under near-constant review, but prior expansions always centered on adult consent and autonomy. The Quebec College’s move to include infants represents a fundamental break with those principles, raising concerns about government and medical authority superseding traditional parental and constitutional rights.

Current Status, Ongoing Debate, and Broader Implications

As of 2025, no law exists permitting infant euthanasia in Canada; the Quebec College of Physicians’ recommendation remains a proposal. Public debate continues, reflecting the high stakes: Should government and medical elites have the power to decide whose lives are worth living? For many, this debate is about more than medical policy—it is about the sanctity of life, the rights of families, and the limits of state power. Short-term, the controversy has fueled polarization and scrutiny of Canada’s euthanasia regime. Long-term, it could influence global medical ethics, legislative trends, and the very definition of what care means for the most vulnerable.

Top Quebec doctor group claims euthanasia is 'appropriate treatment' for severely ill babies – LifeSite https://t.co/Iavv1pOOJx

— Claire St Martin (@ClaireStM1996) August 27, 2025

Experts warn that adopting such policies would require sweeping changes to legal and ethical frameworks, with consequences for the medical and palliative care sectors, as well as for society’s understanding of human dignity. The Canadian Society of Palliative Care Physicians and other professional bodies have rejected euthanasia for children, urging investment in true palliative care and robust safeguards. The debate remains a flashpoint in the battle over traditional values, family autonomy, and the defense of the most defenseless among us.