When Savannah Meadows had lunch last October with her mother, Sharon Turcott, Meadows was 'all smiles,' the mother told CBS News. 'Maybe she's turned a corner,' Turcott recalled thinking about her daughter, who had been struggling with serious mental illness. However, this moment of hope turned tragic when the next morning, Turcott received a scheduled email from Savannah indicating that she had taken her own life, highlighting the critical need for mental health support.
Meadows had been seeking medically assisted death in Canada, where laws changed in 2016 to allow this option. The law's expansion to include those suffering solely from mental illness was delayed until March 2023. The delay in legal options directly impacted Meadows' decision. Her mother noted, 'She did not want to die by suicide. She did not want to die alone,' indicating that the choice for MAID was out of desperation.
The history of Canada’s MAID law shows an evolving landscape regarding end-of-life decisions. Originally enacted for individuals with foreseeable death, the law expanded over the years to include those with grievous medical conditions, although a year-long moratorium was imposed on eligibility for mental illness. This complexity in eligibility demonstrates the ongoing debate within society on how to handle mental health issues and the right to choose one's end-of-life options.
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