Canadian doctors confront the “neutrality” and “fairness” myths
Since legalization of euthanasia in Canada (euphemistically labelled “Medical Assistance in Dying” / MAID), there has been significant domestic push-back from both doctor and patient-based sources in which our Alliance has played an active part, both here and abroad.
Obviously, for those on both sides of this issue, international opinion is a very important part of the struggle, because that opinion will ultimately decide whether history records the Canadian legalization as a progressive milestone, or repudiates it as a dangerous, but only marginal and temporary attack upon the enduring humanitarian principles laid forth upon the ideological ashes of World War II, with the creation of the World Medical Association (1947). Continue reading editorial…
Make euthanasia unimaginable.
Sincerely,
Catherine Ferrier
President
Alliance news
- There is still room to register for the Physicians’ Alliance against Euthanasia 2nd bilingual medical conference, Improving Care 2019, which will take place in Montreal on Saturday, April 6th, 2019.
Physicians, allied-health professionals and anyone with an interest in the conference topics are welcome.
Please send in your questions in advance to: info@collectifmedecins.org, for the panel discussion.
More details available at: www.collectifmedecins.org - Our lawyer, Me Michel Racicot, who represents the Physicians’ Alliance against Euthanasia and Living with Dignity in the Gladu-Truchon case, presented his argument in court in February 27, 2019. The hearings concluded on February 28.
Doctor’s voices
- Interview with Dr. Ramona Coelho and Larry Worthen about the battle for freedom of conscience in Ontario.
- More than 1000 doctors have signed a letter opposing alleged attempts by the Royal College of Physicians to become “neutral” on “assisted dying”.
Call to action
The Physicians’ Alliance against Euthanasia is looking for volunteers to translate texts from English to French. You need not be a professional translator but should have excellent written French and some experience with translation. If you’d like to give some time to support our work, please write to us at info@collectifmedecins.org.
In the news
- Montreal man Michel Cadotte guilty of manslaughter in death of ailing wife: jury. By Morgan Lowrie, The Canadian Press.
- Article in French: Meurtre par compassion: Michel Cadotte déclaré coupable d’homicide involontaire
The French term for manslaughter, « homicide involontaire », brings to light the true nature of this verdict. There is no doubt that Mr. Cadotte was in great distress when he suffocated his wife, Jocelyne Lizotte, but does it follow that the act was involuntary? - Emotional testimony at the sentencing hearing from Jocelyne Lizotte’s children
- Canada’s new attorney general puts euthanasia expansion on ice
- New Medical Ethics Manual in The Us: Doctors Still Opposed to Assisted Suicide and Euthanasia, Medical Press, American College of Physicians (15/01/2019) – Annals of Internal Medicine: American College of Physicians Ethics Manual: Seventh Edition.
- Unsurprisingly, the UK’s Royal College of Physicians has adopted a neutral stance on euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide after a poll in which only 19% of its members voted.
If you have an article, letter or interview relevant to our work published in any media, please let us know at info@collectifmedecins.org.
From the trenches
- There is no neutral stance on the ethics of euthanasia: A response to Drs Buchman and Blackmer, by Margaret Somerville
- Controversy dogs ‘assisted dying’ poll of UK doctors by Michael Cook
- How Should Organized Medicine Respond to Physician-Assisted Death?
- A friendship beyond death (available in French only: Une amitié au-delà de la mort)
- Barbara Kay : The euthanasia slippery slope is here
- If assisted dying is legalised, who gets to decide whose life is worth living?
Resources
New online discussion forum on euthanasia: http://www.euthanasiediscussion.net/
Events:
- Physicians’ Alliance against Euthanasia – 2nd bilingual medical conference, Improving Care 2019, Montreal, Saturday, April 6th, 2019.
Physicians, allied-health professionals and anyone with an interest in the conference topics are all welcome.
Please send in your questions in advance to: info@collectifmedecins.org, for the panel discussion.
More details available online. - You are cordially invited to a free public lecture, which will be held on Saturday, April 6, 2019, at 3:30 p.m. at the Holiday Inn Downtown Montreal, 999 St-Urbain, Montréal, QC H2Z 0B4.
Dr. Stephen Liben will reflect on The Future of Palliative Care?
Dr. Liben is a Professor in the Faculty of Medicine of McGill University and has been the Director of the Montreal Children’s Hospital Paediatric Palliative Care Program since 1995. He has co-developed and teaches a mindful medical practice course to medical students as part of his work in McGill’s Programs in Whole Person Care.
This lecture is offered by the Physicians’ Alliance against euthanasia, and is the closing event of our second medical conference, Improving Care 2019, which will be held the same day.
In the literature
Clinical Medicine Insights: Oncology (Feb. 2019). Access to Palliative Care for Cancer Patients Living in a Northern and Rural Environment in Ontario, Canada: The Effects of Geographic Region and Rurality on End-of-Life Care in a Population-Based Decedent Cancer Cohort. M. S., Caswell, J. M., Santi, S. A., Ballantyne, B., Meigs, M. L., Knight, A., et al.
If you come across articles that could be of interest to colleagues in the Alliance please send the reference to info@collectifmedecins.org.
SUPPORT OUR EFFORTS so that we can continue to speak on your behalf:
Increase our media impact:
- Invite your entourage to become a supporter of the Physicians’ Alliance >>
- Invite your entourage to follow us on Twitter >>
- Invite your entourage to like our Facebook page >>
- Invite your entourage to subscribe to our Youtube channel >>