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Canadian Prime Minister Seeks to Legalize Physician-Assisted Suicide Canadian Prime Minister Seeks to Legalize Physician-Assisted Suicide
(about 1 hour later)
OTTAWA — The government of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau introduced legislation on Thursday to legalize physician-assisted death for Canadians with serious medical conditions. OTTAWA — The government of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau introduced legislation on Thursday to legalize physician-assisted suicide for Canadians with serious medical conditions.
The Supreme Court of Canada overturned a criminal ban against assisted suicide in February 2015, giving the previous government led by Stephen Harper one year to introduce a new law. But his Conservative Party strongly opposed assisted death and did little to deal with the looming legal void. The proposed law limits physician-assisted suicides to Canadians and residents, who are eligible to participate in the national health care system, preventing a surge in medical tourism among the dying from other countries. Assisted suicide is legal in only a few American states, including Oregon and Vermont.
Under Canada’s proposed law, people who want to die will be able to either commit suicide with medication provided by their doctors or have the doctors administer the dose. Family members will be allowed to assist patients with their death.
It is likely the legislation will pass, given the Liberal Party’s strong majority in the House of Commons. However, the government has promised to further study the issue after the legislation is passed and may make changes to the system.
“For some, medical assistance in dying will be troubling,” said Jody Wilson-Raybould, the justice minister, at a news conference on Thursday. “For others, this legislation will not go far enough.”
The bill would restrict assisted deaths to adults and would not, in the current version, allow people to request assisted death before they develop a serious or terminal medical condition.
Doctors will not be required to help people die, but they must refer patients to another physician if they have an objection to participating
Deaths will only be permitted following assessments by two independent physicians.
If the bill passes, Canada will join a group of countries that permit some form of assisted suicide including Belgium, Netherlands, Switzerland and Germany.
The Supreme Court of Canada overturned a criminal ban against assisted suicide in February 2015, giving the previous government led by Stephen Harper one year to introduce a new law. But his Conservative Party strongly opposed assisted death and did little to deal with the issue.
After Mr. Trudeau and his Liberal Party came into power in the fall, the Supreme Court extended its deadline until June.After Mr. Trudeau and his Liberal Party came into power in the fall, the Supreme Court extended its deadline until June.
Criminal law is a federal matter in Canada. But when it became apparent that the Conservative government was not acting on the court’s ruling, Quebec used its powers over health care to introduce a provincial assisted-dying system late last year. Since the Supreme Court ruling, judges in other parts of Canada have also given individual patients permission for assisted deaths. Criminal law is a federal matter in Canada. But when it became apparent that the Conservative government was not acting on the court’s ruling, Quebec used its powers over health care to introduce a system for assisted dying in that province late last year. Judges in other parts of Canada have also given individual patients permission for assisted deaths.
Last year, the court concluded that it was unconstitutional to deny the option of assisted death to consenting adults who had “a grievous and irremediable medical condition” that has brought on “suffering that is intolerable.” The court’s unanimous decision was a reversal of its 1993 ruling upholding the ban on assisted deaths. Last year, the Supreme Court concluded that it was unconstitutional to deny the option of assisted death to consenting adults who had “a grievous and irremediable medical condition” that has brought on “suffering that is intolerable.” The court’s unanimous decision was a reversal of its 1993 ruling upholding the ban on assisted deaths.
Mr. Harper’s government, backed by some religious leaders, vigorously challenged any attempts to legalize assisted dying. But Mr. Trudeau had a very different position. The prime minister said early in 2015, while he was still in opposition, that his support for doctor-aided deaths had been informed by the final days leading up to the death of his father, former Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau. The former leader died in 2000 after declining aggressive treatments for prostate cancer and Parkinson’s disease. Mr. Harper’s government, backed by some religious leaders, vigorously challenged any attempts to legalize assisted dying. But Mr. Trudeau had a very different position. Mr. Trudeau said early in 2015, while he was still in opposition, that his support for doctor-aided deaths had been informed by the final days leading up to the death of his father, former Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau. The former leader died in 2000 after declining aggressive treatments for prostate cancer and Parkinson’s disease.
It is likely that the new legislation will pass, given the Liberal Party’s strong majority in the House of Commons. But in an unusual step, the party will not require its members to support the bill. A few Liberal members of Parliament have said that it conflicts with their religious beliefs. Although the bill is expected to pass, Mr. Trudeau’s party will not require its members to support the legislation. A few Liberal members of Parliament have said that it conflicts with their religious beliefs.
What may be difficult, however, is approving the legislation by June 6, the date on which the current criminal prohibition expires.What may be difficult, however, is approving the legislation by June 6, the date on which the current criminal prohibition expires.
Rona Ambrose, the acting Conservative leader and former health minister, emphasized this week that her party hopes that the legislation can be scrutinized before any Parliamentary vote.Rona Ambrose, the acting Conservative leader and former health minister, emphasized this week that her party hopes that the legislation can be scrutinized before any Parliamentary vote.