Thank God He Lived: Always, Do No Harm.

Authors

Neil Seeman

Published in

Healthcare quarterly (Toronto, Ont.). Volume 29. Issue 2. Pages 14-16.

Abstract

This paper critiques an expansion of Medical Assistance in Dying for psychiatric illnesses in Canada, utilizing Orlando Da Silva's memoir, Thank God I Failed, as a central case study. It argues that severe depression impairs cognitive autonomy, making consent impossible and exposing patients to structural coercion within an underfunded healthcare system. By analyzing the intersection of physical and mental suffering, the text challenges health system utilitarianism and the artificial segregation of pain. Ultimately, it calls for rigorous evidentiary standards in healthcare policy, emphasizing the system's fundamental obligation to protect vulnerable patients and prioritize comprehensive care over expedited assisted death.

PMID:
42669636
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 31 Aug 2026.

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