Canada has ruled out extending its euthanasia law to people whose only medical condition is a mental illness.

The Canadian government announced on Wednesday an indefinite suspension of plans to expand its medical assistance in dying (MAID) program to individuals whose sole underlying condition is a mental illness. Justice Minister Sean Fraser confirmed the decision, which effectively halts a previously scheduled expansion of the policy.

This move marks a definitive exclusion of mental health as a standalone criterion for accessing euthanasia services in Canada. The policy shift represents a significant pause in the country's legislative trajectory regarding the eligibility requirements for assisted dying, ensuring that mental health conditions alone will not qualify patients for the program.