“Things are what they are”, runs traditional wisdom. True or false. Right or wrong.
But that was yesterday. Now, apparently, things are whatever you would like them to be:
- Jean Truchon and Nicole Gladu, for instance, believe that they should have access to euthanasia because of their disabilities, even though they are in no way near the “end of life” as stipulated by the law.
- The euthanasia lobby agreed enthusiastically with this claim, and provided the financial and legal resources required to mount a challenge to existing law.
- The Honorable Christine Baudouin, justice of the Superior Court of Quebec, also agreed that the disabled condition of M. Truchon and Mme. Gladu justifies having them euthanized. She handed down her judgment to that effect on September 11, 2019, effectively invalidating current law, unless an appeal were made to the Supreme Court of Canada within 30 days. The deadline has come and gone with no action from the Attorney General of Canada or of Quebec.
- Prime Minister Trudeau is of the same mind, as are the NDP and the Bloc Québécois, according to statements made during the recent campaign.
- Finally, the media, not all, but in the large majority, also support the claims of Mr. Truchon and Ms. Gladu, and loudly proclaim the righteousness of euthanizing people who are disabled and not dying.
Make euthanasia unimaginable.
Sincerely,
Catherine Ferrier
President
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Important news update:
World Medical Association Reaffirms Opposition To Euthanasia And Physician-Assisted Suicide: After an extensive worldwide consultation over a period of several years, the World Medical Association (WMA) reaffirmed on Saturday, October 26, at its Annual Assembly in Tbilisi, Georgia, its opposition to euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide.
In the news:
In spite of a request signed by more than 60 organizations supporting individuals with disabilities and another signed by 260 doctors outlining the significant potential harm to vulnerable groups the Attorney General did not appeal the latest medical assistance in dying decision of the Quebec Superior Court (in the Truchon & Gladu case) before the deadline of October 18th, 2019. We are disappointed by this inaction as there are numerous valid and compelling arguments for supporting the appeal, some of which have been eloquently presented by Graham Hughes in his article in The Conversation, meriting reflection.
Also, as evidenced in the the debate preceding the recent Federal Election, none of the party leaders except Andrew sheer were even willing to consider an appeal.
Abrahamic religions: no to euthanasia, assisted suicide, yes to palliative care: Representatives of the Abrahamic monotheistic religions condemn euthanasia and assisted suicide, and encourage palliative care everywhere and for everyone
Medical commentaries:
- Ensuring a safe society for all: Dr. Ewan Goligher poses a few thought-provoking questions: “How then might general social acceptance and approval for euthanasia of persons with disabilities influence their sense of personal value? What does social approval for this act say about us and our values and attitudes toward those with disabilities?
Do we view those with disabilities as merely expendable, free to have their lives ended if they so choose without protest on our part? By comparison, would we protest if a healthy young woman sought to end her life because of persistent bullying on social media?”
- Response letter from the President of the Canadian Society of Palliative Care Physicians (CSPCP) regarding the article Canadian Guideline for Parkinson Disease (CMAJ) and providing clarification about Palliative Care & MAiD:
The CSPCP recommends that the authors clarify the important distinction between palliative care and MAiD in their Guideline.We encourage any doctors working in fields related to Parkinson’s Disease to write to the CMAJ or Parkinson Canada to express their support of the views upheld by the Canadian Society of Palliative Care Physicians for the clear delineation of MAID from palliative care.
Legal commentary:
- Article in French : Aide médicale à mourir: est-ce ainsi qu’on meurt au Québec?
Disability perspectives:
Toujours Vivant-Not Dead Yet:
Doctor’s voices:
- Radio interview (CJOB Winnipeg)_with Dr. Ewan Goligher, Assistant professor at the Toronto General Hospital, on the latest decision of the Quebec Superior Court in the Truchon & Gladu case. (Please note that the latter half of the interview has some especially pertinent remarks that are worth listening to).
Across the border:
Americans are also concerned about the devastating implications end-of life laws present to individuals with disabilities.
- The Danger of Assisted Suicide Laws (PDF) (DOC)
- Commentaries on the danger of assisted-suicide laws:
Other news:
- Opinion: Federal leaders still don’t seem to understand the attorney general’s role
- A radical change in the law for people with disabilities (Un changement radical du droit pour les personnes handicapées) : The author points that in the future, it will be dangerous for people with severe disabilities to experience periods of darkness and discouragement, as is sometimes natural, because they may then be inclined to request the author points out. He states that as a severely disabled person, he feel betrayed and abandoned by the governments of Canada and Quebec. Their decision not to appeal the first instance judgment declaring their law on medical assistance to die (MA) unconstitutional is unjustifiable given the fundamental issue at stake, which is the right to life.”
- Disabled voters feel excluded from the election campaign (Article in French: Des électeurs handicapés se sentent exclus de la campagne électorale)
“Many advocacy groups fear that medical assistance in dying will devalue the lives of people with disabilities and put them at increased risk.»
- Palliative care researcher inducted into Canadian Medical Hall of Fame – Distinguished Professor Dr. Harvey Max Chochinov [MD/83, PhD/98], a leader in palliative care research, has been selected for induction into the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame (CMHF).
Events:
- Maison Marie-Pagé welcomes Dr. Patrick Vinay in the Salle François-Bourgeois at Collège Clarétain, Victoriaville on Monday, November 4 at 7 p.m.
- The Centre of Continuing Education of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences of Sherbrooke University is offering an online learning module on the appropriate use of opioids in the treatment of acute pain and chronic non-cancerous pain (Utilisation judicieuse des opioïdes dans le traitement de la douleur aiguë et de la douleur chronique non cancéreuse). 22 October to 18 December, 2019. Registration is free for all medical residents of Quebec.
Resource:
“À tire-d’ailes : témoignages de reconnaissance aux Maisons de soins palliatifs du Québec (2019 by Dr. Patrick Vinay.
In the literature:
Intensive Care Medicine, 2019, Volume 45, Number 9, Page 1309. Death by organ donation: euthanizing patients for their organs gains frightening traction. E. Wesley Ely
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VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!
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.