Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has declared laws enabling assisted suicide “abhorrent” and warned of profound moral consequences should such practices become more widespread across the United States.
Speaking at a Senate hearing on President Donald Trump’s 2027 budget request, Kennedy pointed to Canada as an example of troubling trends tied to legalized assisted dying.
“To me, I think those laws are abhorrent,” Kennedy said. “And we just see in Canada today, I think the number one cause of death is assisted suicide.”
Kennedy argued that such policies disproportionately affect vulnerable populations, including people with disabilities and those facing personal struggles.
“It targets people with disabilities and people who are struggling in their lives,” he stated.
Kennedy was responding to a question from Senator James Lankford, R-Okla., on the topic of medical assistance in dying (MAID), which is legal in Canada and has been expanded in recent years to include a broader range of individuals.
Kennedy framed the issue as a moral one, warning that widespread acceptance of assisted suicide could undermine societal values.
“I don’t think we can be a moral society, we can’t be a moral society around the globe, if that becomes institutionalized throughout our society,” he added.
Kennedy did not outline specific policy proposals but expressed willingness to collaborate with lawmakers and advocates who oppose assisted suicide.
“So, I am happy to work with you in whatever way we can,” he said.
Debates over assisted suicide and physician-assisted death continue in the United States, where state laws vary widely: California, Oregon, and Washington permit certain forms of medical aid in dying under strict conditions, while other states prohibit the practice entirely.
