Physicians’ Alliance against Euthanasia
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.


Board of directors

Dr. Catherine Ferrier

President

Dr. Ferrier studied medicine and completed her residency in family medicine at McGill University. She works in the Geriatric Outpatient Clinic at the McGill University Health Centre. She also has experience working as a family physician in Ville St-Pierre. In her current position she sees patients suffering from a variety of ailments related to aging, especially dementia. She is the director of the Competency Assessment Clinic. She is an Assistant Professor of Family Medicine at McGill University and is involved in clinical teaching for medical students. Dr. Ferrier has a longstanding interest in bioethics, especially in the protection of vulnerable older patients. Since 2000 she directs a discussion group on bioethics for health professionals.

Dr. Nicholas Newman

Vice-president

Dr Nicholas Newman was born in England, raised in Canada and studied medicine in Manitoba, orthopaedic surgery at McGill with a fellowship in Exeter, England. As a fellow of the Royal college and associate clinical professor, he has practised at Hôtel Dieu de Montréal, now part of the CHUM, for almost 30 years. Married and the father of four, he has recently and happily received the title of grandfather. 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.

Dr. Teresa Romanczyk

Following a doctorate in medicine at the University of Montreal (completed in 2014), Dr. Teresa Romanczyk pursued her specialization in family medicine at Laval University. Following her graduation in 2016, she returned to her childhood region to begin her practice. She began her career in Rimouski, in the Lower St. Lawrence, taking care of patients at the Clinique médicale du Phare. She quickly added hospitalization and emergency medicine to her practice.

More recently, since 2020, Dr. Romanczyk has been concentrating solely on Emergency Medicine, mainly at the Rimouski Regional Hospital. Dr. Romanczyk is a member of the trauma committee at her facility and also collaborates with Laval University to train the next generation of physicians as an affiliated clinical instructor.

‘Protection of life’ and ‘freedom of conscience for all health professionals’ are two fundamental values on which her practice is based.


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.


Mission

The Alliance seeks to ensure the availability of quality medical care and respectful decision-making for vulnerable patients in all care settings:

  1. Acute care hospitals, including intensive care;
  2. Palliative care centres and units;
  3. Long-term care institutions;
  4. 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.


Objectives

  1. 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:
    1. Controlling pain and other symptoms adequately;
    2. Improving communication between patients (and their families) and health care providers;
    3. Improving decision-making as the end of life approaches, to ensure patient well-being and comfort while avoiding unnecessary and burdensome investigations and treatment.
  2. To educate physicians, other health professionals, community leaders, and the public in view of excellence in medical care.
  3. 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.