Toronto Family Demands MAID Reform After Diabetic Son's Euthanasia
The Toronto-area family of a 26-year-old diabetic man who received medical assistance in dying late last year is calling for significant changes to Canada's MAID program. They allege that healthcare professionals failed to protect their son, Kiano Vafaeian, who was euthanized in British Columbia on December 30, 2025.
A Life Cut Short by Complex Health Struggles
Kiano Vafaeian was a cherished son and brother, deeply missed by his parents, Joseph and Margaret, and his sisters, Alexandra, Montana, Victoria, and Sabrina. His life was marked by severe health challenges from an early age. Diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at just four years old, his struggles intensified after a car crash at 17, which left him grappling with mental health issues.
In 2022, he lost vision in one eye due to diabetes complications, a turning point that his mother, Margaret Marsilla, says led him to become obsessed with MAID. He kept on emphasizing about how he could get approved, Marsilla told Fox News, expressing disbelief that a young man in his early twenties could be considered for the procedure due to diabetes or partial blindness.
A Tumultuous Journey Through the MAID Process
Vafaeian was initially approved for euthanasia in 2022 by a Toronto doctor, but his family launched a social media campaign to halt the procedure. Following public outcry, the doctor withdrew approval, which left Vafaeian angry with his family. However, his mood reportedly improved the following year, and he moved back in with his family.
Marsilla described a cyclical pattern: He tried his best when he was in one of those good highs of life, she said, noting that his focus on MAID would resurface during colder months. After being rejected by several Ontario doctors, Vafaeian turned to a physician in British Columbia who ultimately provided MAID.
Allegations of Coaching and Systemic Failures
Marsilla believes that the B.C. doctor coached her son to meet the criteria for MAID under Track 2, which applies to individuals not facing imminent death. We believe that she was coaching him on how to deteriorate his body and what she can possibly approve him for, Marsilla asserted, suggesting the approval was based on mental illness rather than terminal physical conditions.
The family was not notified of his death until days later, adding to their shock and grief. In a Facebook post, Marsilla wrote, Four years ago, here in Ontario, we were able to stop his euthanasia and get him some help. He was alive because people stepped in when he was vulnerable. She criticized the system for approving his death based on mental illness, calling it disgusting on every level.
Political and Medical Responses to the Case
Conservative MP Jamil Jivani echoed the family's concerns, stating on Facebook that Vafaeian was not terminally ill. He was not dying. He was a young man struggling with mental health issues. In contrast, the doctor who performed the euthanasia, Dr. Ellen Wiebe, defended the decision in a statement to Fox News, emphasizing that every patient she approves has unbearable suffering from a grievous and irremediable medical condition (not psychiatric) and consents fully informed about treatment options.
Calls for Policy Reforms and Enhanced Safeguards
Marsilla is advocating for the removal of Track 2 from MAID eligibility and the implementation of stronger safeguards. She argues that the current system allows approvals in as little as 90 days, which she questions for patient safety. Realistically, safeguards for patients would be reaching out to their family members, giving them a whole bunch of different treatment options, she said.
This case highlights ongoing debates about MAID in Canada, particularly concerning mental health and the protection of vulnerable individuals. The family's push for reform underscores the need for careful scrutiny and potential legislative adjustments to ensure the program aligns with ethical healthcare practices.
