Health
Alberta Moves to Restrict Medically Assisted Dying to End-of-Life Cases
Alberta has proposed new legislation to limit the use of medically assisted dying (MAID) strictly to patients at the end of life, marking the first time a Canadian province has independently sought to impose such restrictions.
Currently, Canada allows medically assisted dying for individuals with serious, incurable illnesses or disabilities, even if their death is not reasonably foreseeable. Federal law is also set to expand MAID eligibility next year to include those whose sole medical condition is mental illness, though implementation has already been delayed twice.
Speaking at a news conference on Wednesday, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith emphasized that assisted dying should be reserved for those with no hope of recovery. “This legislation strengthens safeguards and restores clear limits on eligibility to protect vulnerable Albertans facing mental illness or living with disabilities,” she said. “Those struggling with severe mental health challenges need treatment, compassion and support, not a path to end their life at what may be their lowest moment.”
The proposed bill would prohibit doctors from initiating MAID discussions with patients and ban public advertising of the service in healthcare facilities. It would also formalize conscience protections for healthcare professionals and institutions.
Supporters of the legislation include Moira Wilson, president of Inclusion Canada, who said it “demonstrates that governments can strengthen laws and better protect people whose lives are not nearing an end,” and Mara Grunau, CEO of the Canadian Mental Health Association’s Alberta division, who highlighted the importance of recovery from mental illness.
However, opponents, including Helen Long, CEO of Dying with Dignity Canada, argue the proposal undermines patient autonomy. Long described the legislation as “a direct attempt to circumvent the constitutional criminal law authority” and warned it could create additional barriers for suffering individuals wishing to exercise choice.
Medically assisted deaths currently account for roughly 5% of deaths in Canada, with the majority involving patients whose death was reasonably foreseeable. Alberta’s proposed law aims to ensure that vulnerable groups, particularly those with mental illnesses or disabilities, are offered support and care rather than premature death.
Canada is among a handful of countries that have introduced assisted dying laws in the past decade, including Australia, New Zealand, Spain, and Austria.
A 22-year-old Nigerian international student, Rodiyat Alabede, has died after donating plasma at a clinic in Winnipeg, prompting an investigation by Health Canada.
According to a report by The New York Times, the federal health agency confirmed it is examining the deaths of two plasma donors at for-profit clinics in Winnipeg following fatal adverse reactions recorded in October 2025 and January 2026.
The clinics involved are operated by Grifols, a Spanish healthcare company that runs 17 plasma donation centres across Canada, including two in Winnipeg. Health Canada said it received mandatory reports from the facilities and subsequently sent inspectors to both locations to investigate the incidents.
Friends of the late student identified one of the deceased as Alabede, whose parents are from Nigeria and Ivory Coast. She was studying to become a social worker and was said to be active in the Muslim Nigerian community in Winnipeg.
The identity of the second donor has not been disclosed due to privacy laws.
Executive Director of the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Manitoba, Stephanie Holfeld, said Alabede became unresponsive during the plasma donation procedure and died shortly afterwards. However, she noted that the death has not yet been formally linked to the donation process as investigations are still ongoing.
“She had a motherly side to her, she was protective and sweet. She never gave up, even when things got difficult for her,” a friend, Chioma Ijoma, said in tribute.
In a statement, Grifols expressed condolences to the families of the deceased donors but stated that there was currently no evidence linking the deaths directly to plasma donation.
The company added that donors undergo extensive health screening before being approved and confirmed that both incidents were reported within the required 72-hour window. It also said an internal investigation had been launched.
Plasma donation involves drawing blood from a donor, separating the plasma, and returning the red blood cells to the body. The practice is common in Canada and the United States, where many students and low-income earners donate plasma to supplement their income.
Grifols advertises that regular donors can earn up to 6,000 Canadian dollars annually, equivalent to about $4,400 or roughly ₦7.2 million.
The Near Foundation in conjunction with Nizamiye Hospital has successfully restored sight to no fewer than 68 patients in Gombe State. The cataract outreach programme held at the General Hospital Deba in Deba Local Government Area was part of these organisations efforts to improve access to quality eye care services in underserved communities.
In addition to the surgeries, 50 patients received corrective eye glasses, while 200 others were treated with medicated eye drops for various eye conditions. Medical experts involved in the programme said the initiative was aimed at reducing cases of preventable blindness and improving the overall wellbeing of residents.
Beneficiaries expressed appreciation to the organizers, noting that the free surgeries and treatments have brought relief, especially for those who could not afford the cost of eye care. Health officials also used the opportunity to sensitize the public on the importance of regular eye checks and early treatment to prevent complications.
The outreach underscores growing collaboration between healthcare organizations and non-governmental bodies to expand medical services to rural communities.
For residents in remote parts of Adamawa State, where the nearest health facility can mean hours of walking through flooded paths or insecure terrain, access to basic care has long been a matter of survival rather than convenience. For years, thousands have struggled to access routine immunisation, antenatal care, mental health support and treatment for chronic illnesses, with women, children, displaced families and persons living with disabilities bearing the brunt of these barriers.
Now, a targeted mobile outreach initiative is rewriting that story. Between September and December 2025, the Adamawa State Government, through its Ministry of Health and State Primary Health Care Development Agency, deployed 10 mobile clinics to underserved communities across 10 local government areas. With technical backing from the World Health Organization and funding from the United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund, the initiative delivered more than 410 outreach visits, reaching over 350,500 people.
The services provided were wide-ranging, from antenatal and postnatal care to routine immunization, outpatient consultations, nutrition screening, reproductive health services and disease surveillance. Crucially, the outreach also prioritized mental health and support for survivors of gender-based violence.
For 22-year-old Musa Ali from Mafiya village in Song Local Government Area, the intervention was life-changing. For years, he endured frequent seizures without diagnosis or treatment, unable to afford transport to the nearest health facility located seven kilometers away. During a mobile clinic visit, health workers diagnosed him with epilepsy, commenced treatment and trained his family on seizure management. Within weeks, his condition improved significantly. He regained strength, resumed daily activities and, perhaps most importantly, helped reduce stigma in his community as others began seeking help for similar symptoms.
By the end of 2025, more than 172,000 people had received mental health and psychosocial support through the mobile outreach. This included over 3,600 people living with epilepsy, nearly 1,900 battling depression and hundreds facing substance use disorders or psychosis. Additionally, 812 survivors of gender-based violence accessed confidential clinical care and referral services.
Health officials say the integrated model, which brings together nurses, community health workers, counsellors, mental health focal persons and gender-based violence officers, ensures multiple needs are addressed in a single visit, especially in communities reached only intermittently. The initiative has not only expanded access to care but also strengthened trust in the health system, improving referrals and continuity of care in vulnerable communities.
As insecurity and climate-related challenges continue to disrupt traditional service delivery, Adamawa’s mobile clinic model is emerging as a powerful example of how proactive investment, strategic partnerships and last-mile healthcare delivery can move Nigeria closer to universal health coverage. For communities once cut off from essential services, healthcare is no longer a distant promise, it is now arriving at their doorstep.