There has been a huge increase in the use of euthanasia in Quebec since its inception in December 2015, even as campaigners seek to broaden the law to allow more categories of people access to assisted suicide and euthanasia, including those suffering from dementia.

New figures reveal that Quebec doctors euthanised 638 people between June 10, 2016, and June 9, 2017—a huge pro rata increase on the 167 people who were killed in the first six months after the law went into effect in December 2015. At the same time, Veronique Hivon of the Parti Quebecois said “a lot of people” approach her about modifying the law to allow those with degenerative illnesses such as Alzheimer’s to be euthanized at the request of family members.  “According to the evidence, the numbers confirm that the law is responding to a need of people at the end of their life, who are suffering and who want access to this option,” Hivon said in an interview. “There is a very clear desire within the population to debate expanding the legislation. We need this debate to happen.” Quebec Health Minister Gaetan Barrette is putting together a committee of experts to look into expanding the law to have it apply to people who are deemed “legally and clinically unfit” to give consent to the procedure.