Canadian doctors offer to euthanise priest with broken hip

A Catholic priest in Canada says hospital staff suggested assisted suicide as an option while he was recovering from a broken hip, despite him making clear he opposes euthanasia.

Father Larry Holland, 79, suffered the injury after a fall on Christmas Day and has been receiving ongoing treatment at Vancouver General Hospital.

Although he is not terminally ill, Holland said both a doctor and later a nurse raised the possibility of Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) if his condition deteriorated.

“I was very shocked,” Holland said, adding that some conversations should never be raised with vulnerable patients. Vancouver Coastal Health defended the practice, saying staff may discuss MAiD based on clinical judgment if properly trained.

The incident has sparked criticism from church figures, with Father Larry Lynn describing it as a disturbing example of Canada’s euthanasia system. Canada’s MAiD programme remains highly controversial, with reports showing 16,499 people died through euthanasia in 2025 alone.

A 79-year-old Catholic priest, Fr. Larry Holland, who is recovering from a hip fracture at Vancouver General Hospital in Canada, said he was offered Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) twice by hospital staff, even though he made clear he is a Catholic priest and morally opposed… pic.twitter.com/28vyD0rM06

— Sachin Jose (@Sachinettiyil) May 2, 2026