A man in his late 40s from Ontario, Canada, who had a history of mental illness, underwent euthanasia under the Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID) program, after program assessors concluded that his physical decline was most reasonably attributed to post COVID-19 “vaccination syndrome” that developed after he received three COVID shots. The term remains controversial, as Canada’s current vaccine reporting system for adverse events does not recognize “post-vaccine syndrome.”
Several specialists who were consulted prior to his death could not reach a consensus on a diagnosis. During discussions by the 16-member MAID death review committee about the man’s eligibility, questions were raised about whether his condition met the criteria for being considered “irremediable,” meaning hopeless and incurable.1
Man’s Health Declined After Three Doses of COVID Shots
Referred to as “Mr. A” for anonymity, the man endured “suffering and functional decline” after receiving three doses of a COVID shot. He also battled depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and personality disorders. While managing his physical symptoms, he was hospitalized twice, including one involuntary admission due to suicidal thoughts.2
According to the report, “Amongst his multiple specialists, no unifying diagnosis was confirmed.” However, his MAID assessors stated that “the most reasonable diagnosis for Mr. A’s clinical presentation (severe functional decline) was a post-vaccine syndrome, in keeping with chronic fatigue syndrome.”3
The post-mortem revealed no “pathological findings” that could determine an underlying physiological diagnosis, although few pathological profiles have been developed to identify evidence of vaccine-induced physiological damage.4 5
Review Panel Questioned Eligibility of Mr. A Due to Mental Illness and Unrecognized Condition
Assisted suicide became legal in Canada in 2016, but initially it only applied to adults with incurable physical illnesses. This changed in March 2021 after a Quebec court ruled that excluding people with mental illnesses was unconstitutional.6
Some members of the MAID death review panel questioned whether Mr. A’s mental illness should disqualify him, especially since it involved a condition that is not widely recognized in medicine. Mr. A’s case falls under “track two” of the assisted suicide program, which allows people whose deaths are not expected soon but who suffer from unbearable conditions, to apply for assisted death.7
Recently, a group of disability rights organizations filed a legal challenge against the federal government in Ontario’s Superior Court, arguing that track two leads to premature deaths. The group argued that track two represents an “abandonment” of the individuals they advocate for.
Track two allows those with intolerable conditions to seek assisted death even if their natural deaths are not foreseeable, while track one only accepts applications from patients whose deaths are expected soon.8
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1 Kirkey S. Ontario man granted euthanasia for controversial ‘post COVID-19 vaccination syndrome’. National Post Oct. 24, 2024.
2 Ibid.
3 Ibid.
4 Ibid.
5 Liu J, Wang J, Xu Ju et al. Comprehensive investigations revealed consistent pathophysiolocial alterations after vaccination with COVID-19 vaccines. Cell Discovery 2021; 7(99).
6 Quinn P. COVID “vaccination syndrome” victim received assisted suicide. True North Oct, 27, 2024.
7 Ibid.
8 Ibid.