The Senate voted to give the Canadian government 18 months to expand access to medical assistance in dying (MAiD) to people suffering solely from mental illnesses. On Tuesday, senators voted 57-21 to amend Bill C-7, which prohibits MAiD for people whose sole medical condition is a mental illness. The amendment would allow people suffering from mental illness to access medical assistance to end their lives.. The amendment sets a “sunset” time limit, which will repeal the mental illness exclusion clause 18 months after receiving Royal Assent for Bill C-7. Proponents said the intention was to give the federal government, along with provinces, territories, and medical associations, time to come up with appropriate guidelines and safeguards. Sen. Denise Batters, who voted against the amendment, said one of the basic criteria to access assisted suicide is that “one’s condition or illness must be irremediable,” but the introduction of a sunset clause would mean …