The External Panel on Options for a Legislative Response to Carter v. Canada (euthanasia and assisted-suicide) has announced that it is suspending direct consultations during the election period and that it will resume direct consultations, as soon as practical, following the election on October 19th, 2015. The Panel has also announced its intention to continue a passive approach to consultation during the election period. This means that the web site (www.ep-ce.ca) will continue to receive submissions and the on-line consultation tool will be available.
The Panel will consider all materials and submissions received, but will not respond to these during the federal election period. The Panel is therefore suspending direct consultation until after the elections.
We strongly encourage you to contact the Panel and to share your point of view (http://www.ep-ce.ca). Living with Dignity and the Physicians’ Alliance against Euthanasia remain totally opposed to euthanasia and assisted suicide.
Here are some suggestions for talking points for your submission to the Panel:
- We must respect life. We need to give people options for life rather than the choice of death.
- We must improve suicide prevention programmes, for everyone, at any time.
- We must ensure the wording is clear. For example, don’t use euphemisms such as “medical aid in dying” instead of “euthanasia”.
- We must protect vulnerable individuals (and we could all become vulnerable).
- Assisted suicide and euthanasia are not medical acts, and should never been seen as such.
- Assisted suicide and euthanasia are incompatible with palliative care.
- We must protect medical all health workers’ freedom of conscience.
- No law allowing assisted suicide or euthanasia can protect everyone in all situations, even if strong safeguards are established.
To formally submit your point of view, use the Panel document upload page: http://ep-ce.ca/en/document-submission/
Thank you for all your efforts on this important topic.