About us
For true solidarity
For the protection of vulnerable persons
For quality end of life care for all
The Physicians’ Alliance against Euthanasia was founded in 2012 by 24 Quebec doctors, in response to the report of the Quebec government’s Select Committee on Dying with Dignity, which recommended legalization of euthanasia in Quebec, redefining it as health care to escape the Canadian Criminal code prohibition of causing the death of any person, even with his or her consent.
The question of euthanasia matters to all physicians, regardless of their specialty or area of practice. We are asking you to join an alliance of Quebec physicians against euthanasia and assisted suicide.
We are physicians who see any law allowing doctors to intentionally end the life of their patients as contrary to the goals of medicine and the good of our patients, especially the most vulnerable and those who cannot speak for themselves.
MISSION
The Alliance seeks to ensure the availability of quality medical care and respectful decision-making for vulnerable patients in all care settings :
- Acute care hospitals, including intensive care;
- Palliative care centres and units;
- Long-term care institutions;
- The home and community.
The Alliance is especially concerned about ensuring the security of all patients who are at risk of pressure to end their lives prematurely through euthanasia or assisted suicide, and protecting the professional integrity of all health care workers.
VISION
The Physicians’ Alliance against Euthanasia is an alliance of physicians who share a common vision of medical care for all vulnerable patients – especially the elderly and persons with a disability or a chronic or terminal illness – centred on medical excellence, respect for the person and wisdom in shared decision-making.
OBJECTIVES
- To promote excellence in the medical care of all vulnerable patients – especially the elderly and persons with a disability or a chronic or terminal illness – with particular attention to:
a) Controlling pain and other symptoms adequately;
b) Improving communication between patients (and their families) and health care providers;
c) Improving decision-making as the end of life approaches, to ensure patient well-being and comfort while avoiding unnecessary and burdensome investigations and treatment.
- To educate physicians, other health professionals, community leaders, and the public in view of excellence in medical care.
- a) Resist the expansion and promotion of euthanasia and assisted suicide; work to limit the scope and reduce their impact.
b) Support physicians who object to euthanasia and assisted suicide and whose practice is affected by their legalization.
Members
All physicians may be members of the Alliance, including residents and retired physicians. Other health professionals and all citizens are invited to support the Alliance by signing our Declaration. The Alliance has no political or religious affiliation.
Board of Directors
President
Dre Catherine Ferrier
Dr. Catherine Ferrier is a family physician and holds a Certificate of Special Competence in Care of the Elderly from the College of Family Physicians of Canada. She has worked for 40 years in the Division of Geriatric Medicine of the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC), where she sees patients suffering from ailments related to aging, especially neurocognitive disorders, as well as specializing in assessment of decision-making capacity. She is Assistant Professor in the Department of Family Medicine at McGill University.
Vice-president
Dr Nicholas Newman
Dr Nicholas Newman was born in England, raised in Canada and studied medicine in Manitoba and orthopaedic surgery at McGill, followed by a fellowship in Exeter, England. He is a fellow of the Royal College and associate clinical professor at the Université de Montréal. He is on his way to retirement after almost 40 years of practice at Hôtel Dieu de Montréal and the Centre hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal. He is married and the father of four, with a growing number of grandchildren. Repairing broken bones in the frail and elderly has made him acutely aware of the need for good medical care in the last years of life.
Vice-président
Dr Teresa Romanczyk
Dr. Teresa Romanczyk received her medical degree from Université de Montréal in 2014 and went on to specialize in family medicine at Université Laval, graduating in 2016. She practices emergency medicine at Centre hospitalier du Grand Portage in Rivière-du-Loup, where she lives with her husband and children. Dr. Romanczyk also serves on her facility’s trauma committee and collaborates with Université Laval to train the next generation of physicians as an affiliated clinical instructor. The protection of life and freedom of conscience for all healthcare professionals are two fundamental values on which her practice is based.