Manitobans face assisted dying denials at five times the national average

Marion Penner, a 94-year-old woman with chronic health issues, has applied for medically assisted dying (MAID) after being bedridden since a fall in December. Despite a physician’s assessment that her conditions were serious and incurable, she was informed by hospital staff that she did not qualify for MAID due to being “too healthy.” Manitoba has a notably high MAID denial rate of 32% in 2024, significantly above the national average of 6%. Penner’s family expresses frustration over the healthcare system’s handling of her case and the challenges in accessing appropriate medical assessments for MAID.

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