The debate on euthanasia and assisted suicide has been raging in Quebec and Canada for several years. The Physicians’ Alliance against Euthanasia opposes the legalization of such acts under any name whatsoever. We object to our profession being assigned the role of judges of eligibility for death or of technicians to administer it. We intend to bring to light the serious dangers inherent in such a law. If members of the medical profession remain silent, this will be interpreted as acceptance of euthanasia as an option in end of life care.
You are probably aware of the disturbing events that have occurred in recent months:
Legislation passed in Quebec
Quebec adopted an Act respecting end-of-life care in June 2014. The law allows “medical aid in dying,” a euphemism for euthanasia. Unless we succeed in stopping it, the law will come into force in December 2015. It could open the door to the legalization of euthanasia and assisted suicide in other provinces and at the federal level. This law presents euthanasia as a form of health care, an aberrant concept that exists nowhere else in the world.
Bills proposed at the federal level
Two bills (C-581 and C-582) were presented to the Canadian Parliament in March 2014 aiming to decriminalize euthanasia and assisted suicide. Although these bills have little chance of passing a second reading, their filing has rekindled the debate at the national level.
Carter Case
The Supreme Court of Canada will hear the Carter case in mid-October 2014. The decision of the Court could alter the prohibition and illegality of assisted suicide in Canada, which was confirmed by the same court more than 20 years ago in the Sue Rodriguez case.
Legal battle
The Physicians’ Alliance against Euthanasia challenges the Act respecting end-of-life care and seeks to have all the provisions in the Act that deal with “medical aid in dying” declared invalid. Our case will be heard before the entry into force of the law.
We are also interveners in the Carter case.
In the Media
Much of the media covers the subject of euthanasia and assisted suicide in a biased and sensationalist manner. From reading the newspaper and watching the news, one could easily believe that there is a consensus in favour of legalizing these acts in Canada. This could not be farther from the truth. We hear daily from many citizens who are deeply disturbed by the possibility of doctors being able to legally inflict death on their patients.