Posted on Apr 14, 2016
Canadian Prime Minister Seeks to Legalize Physician-Assisted Suicide
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I think it were possible DR. Death Jack Kevorkian would be laughing for his grave now that the Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced that he is seeking legislation permitting Physician-Assisted suicide in Canada. His goal is to have the legislation passed by June.
While the Supreme Court of Canada opened the door to physician-assisted suicide there is resistance with in Canada among people of faith and those who have seen what happened when this door was opened in the Netherlands.
"OTTAWA — The government of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau introduced legislation on Thursday to legalize physician-assisted suicide for Canadians with serious medical conditions.
The proposed law limits physician-assisted suicides to Canadians and residents, who are eligible to participate in the national health care system, preventing a surge in medical tourism among the dying from other countries. Assisted suicide is legal in only a few American states, including Oregon and Vermont.
Under Canada’s proposed law, people who want to die will be able to either commit suicide with medication provided by their doctors or have the doctors administer the dose. Family members will be allowed to assist patients with their death.
It is likely the legislation will pass, given the Liberal Party’s strong majority in the House of Commons. However, the government has promised to further study the issue after the legislation is passed and may make changes to the system.
“For some, medical assistance in dying will be troubling,” said Jody Wilson-Raybould, the justice minister, at a news conference on Thursday. “For others, this legislation will not go far enough.”
The bill would restrict assisted deaths to adults and would not, in the current version, allow people to request assisted death before they develop a serious or terminal medical condition.
Doctors will not be required to help people die, but they must refer patients to another physician if they have an objection to participating
Deaths will only be permitted following assessments by two independent physicians.
If the bill passes, Canada will join a group of countries that permit some form of assisted suicide including Belgium, Netherlands, Switzerland and Germany.
The Supreme Court of Canada overturned a criminal ban against assisted suicide in February 2015, giving the previous government led by Stephen Harper one year to introduce a new law. But his Conservative Party strongly opposed assisted death and did little to deal with the issue.
After Mr. Trudeau and his Liberal Party came into power in the fall, the Supreme Court extended its deadline until June.
Criminal law is a federal matter in Canada. But when it became apparent that the Conservative government was not acting on the court’s ruling, Quebec used its powers over health care to introduce a system for assisted dying in that province late last year. Judges in other parts of Canada have also given individual patients permission for assisted deaths.
Last year, the Supreme Court concluded that it was unconstitutional to deny the option of assisted death to consenting adults who had “a grievous and irremediable medical condition” that has brought on “suffering that is intolerable.” The court’s unanimous decision was a reversal of its 1993 ruling upholding the ban on assisted deaths.
Mr. Harper’s government, backed by some religious leaders, vigorously challenged any attempts to legalize assisted dying. But Mr. Trudeau had a very different position. Mr. Trudeau said early in 2015, while he was still in opposition, that his support for doctor-aided deaths had been informed by the final days leading up to the death of his father, former Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau. The former leader died in 2000 after declining aggressive treatments for prostate cancer and Parkinson’s disease.
Although the bill is expected to pass, Mr. Trudeau’s party will not require its members to support the legislation. A few Liberal members of Parliament have said that it conflicts with their religious beliefs.
What may be difficult, however, is approving the legislation by June 6, the date on which the current criminal prohibition expires.
Rona Ambrose, the acting Conservative leader and former health minister, emphasized this week that her party hopes that the legislation can be scrutinized before any Parliamentary vote."
While the Supreme Court of Canada opened the door to physician-assisted suicide there is resistance with in Canada among people of faith and those who have seen what happened when this door was opened in the Netherlands.
"OTTAWA — The government of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau introduced legislation on Thursday to legalize physician-assisted suicide for Canadians with serious medical conditions.
The proposed law limits physician-assisted suicides to Canadians and residents, who are eligible to participate in the national health care system, preventing a surge in medical tourism among the dying from other countries. Assisted suicide is legal in only a few American states, including Oregon and Vermont.
Under Canada’s proposed law, people who want to die will be able to either commit suicide with medication provided by their doctors or have the doctors administer the dose. Family members will be allowed to assist patients with their death.
It is likely the legislation will pass, given the Liberal Party’s strong majority in the House of Commons. However, the government has promised to further study the issue after the legislation is passed and may make changes to the system.
“For some, medical assistance in dying will be troubling,” said Jody Wilson-Raybould, the justice minister, at a news conference on Thursday. “For others, this legislation will not go far enough.”
The bill would restrict assisted deaths to adults and would not, in the current version, allow people to request assisted death before they develop a serious or terminal medical condition.
Doctors will not be required to help people die, but they must refer patients to another physician if they have an objection to participating
Deaths will only be permitted following assessments by two independent physicians.
If the bill passes, Canada will join a group of countries that permit some form of assisted suicide including Belgium, Netherlands, Switzerland and Germany.
The Supreme Court of Canada overturned a criminal ban against assisted suicide in February 2015, giving the previous government led by Stephen Harper one year to introduce a new law. But his Conservative Party strongly opposed assisted death and did little to deal with the issue.
After Mr. Trudeau and his Liberal Party came into power in the fall, the Supreme Court extended its deadline until June.
Criminal law is a federal matter in Canada. But when it became apparent that the Conservative government was not acting on the court’s ruling, Quebec used its powers over health care to introduce a system for assisted dying in that province late last year. Judges in other parts of Canada have also given individual patients permission for assisted deaths.
Last year, the Supreme Court concluded that it was unconstitutional to deny the option of assisted death to consenting adults who had “a grievous and irremediable medical condition” that has brought on “suffering that is intolerable.” The court’s unanimous decision was a reversal of its 1993 ruling upholding the ban on assisted deaths.
Mr. Harper’s government, backed by some religious leaders, vigorously challenged any attempts to legalize assisted dying. But Mr. Trudeau had a very different position. Mr. Trudeau said early in 2015, while he was still in opposition, that his support for doctor-aided deaths had been informed by the final days leading up to the death of his father, former Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau. The former leader died in 2000 after declining aggressive treatments for prostate cancer and Parkinson’s disease.
Although the bill is expected to pass, Mr. Trudeau’s party will not require its members to support the legislation. A few Liberal members of Parliament have said that it conflicts with their religious beliefs.
What may be difficult, however, is approving the legislation by June 6, the date on which the current criminal prohibition expires.
Rona Ambrose, the acting Conservative leader and former health minister, emphasized this week that her party hopes that the legislation can be scrutinized before any Parliamentary vote."
Canadian Prime Minister Seeks to Legalize Physician-Assisted Suicide
Posted from nytimes.com
Canada
Suicide
Death
Faith
Edited 8 y ago
Posted 8 y ago
Responses: 4
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LTC Stephen F. I have no problem with this. If they would like a list of people who should have a consultation, I would be happy to provide them with my list.
From a human perspective, I have dealt with Alzheimer's disease in my family. It is a monster that kills a person twice. First it kills the soul, then it kills the body. That would be one instance where I think a person with that diagnosis who wants to save their family from dealing with that should have the option. Terminal Cancer where the body is rotting away, and the person and their family are suffering is another case. Now if you are talking about the Emo kid who couldn't handle a break up, tell that little bastard to get over him or her self.
From a human perspective, I have dealt with Alzheimer's disease in my family. It is a monster that kills a person twice. First it kills the soul, then it kills the body. That would be one instance where I think a person with that diagnosis who wants to save their family from dealing with that should have the option. Terminal Cancer where the body is rotting away, and the person and their family are suffering is another case. Now if you are talking about the Emo kid who couldn't handle a break up, tell that little bastard to get over him or her self.
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LTC Stephen F.
PO3 Steven Sherrill I voted up your response not because I agree with your response in total; but, I consider you to be a friend and you shared your point of view respectfully and eloquently.
My mom suffered from Alzheimer's disease before it was named since about 1980. I watched my dad take care of her through his Heart transplant operation and recovery in 1992, watched her realize she was loosing capability in the mid-1990s and watch her need to housed in a cipher-locked facility for those suffering from dementia but who her still mobile. I was with my mon when she died in her sleep on September 28, 2001. I sat with her for an hour or so until the nursing staff came. then I left for my pre-mobilization physical at Fort Belvoir.
I have seen suicides with chicken wire around the throat and gunshot deaths with pistols and shotguns in the mouth. On the other hand, after God told me each of my sons would have saving faith in Him my sons have gone through hell; one is serving 35 years for a crimes he did not commit; one had his wife desert him for another man; one tried to kill himself 4 times; and the youngest one who was dead in my arms is now 25 years old.
Illnesses can be painful - had torsion of the testicle as a teenager and shingles as a seasoned infantry Captain coupled with a prostate infection. I was a brand new Christina at that point and watched a tired youth pastor follow the biblical instruction to anoint the sick with oil and pray over them and trust God for the outcome. I was healed of Shingles an the prostate infection over the next couple days and began to recover from losing so much weight because I had previously been misdiagnosed by military doctors.
In 1991, God sovereignly brought my six-month old son back to life in my Arms even while I argued with God.
I saw God heal my wife of Lyme disease which is very painful after doctors had exhausted their treatment and insurance gave up on her. I have learned over the years that when we have a relationship with God and absolutely trust Him we can be surprised at what he will do.
My mom suffered from Alzheimer's disease before it was named since about 1980. I watched my dad take care of her through his Heart transplant operation and recovery in 1992, watched her realize she was loosing capability in the mid-1990s and watch her need to housed in a cipher-locked facility for those suffering from dementia but who her still mobile. I was with my mon when she died in her sleep on September 28, 2001. I sat with her for an hour or so until the nursing staff came. then I left for my pre-mobilization physical at Fort Belvoir.
I have seen suicides with chicken wire around the throat and gunshot deaths with pistols and shotguns in the mouth. On the other hand, after God told me each of my sons would have saving faith in Him my sons have gone through hell; one is serving 35 years for a crimes he did not commit; one had his wife desert him for another man; one tried to kill himself 4 times; and the youngest one who was dead in my arms is now 25 years old.
Illnesses can be painful - had torsion of the testicle as a teenager and shingles as a seasoned infantry Captain coupled with a prostate infection. I was a brand new Christina at that point and watched a tired youth pastor follow the biblical instruction to anoint the sick with oil and pray over them and trust God for the outcome. I was healed of Shingles an the prostate infection over the next couple days and began to recover from losing so much weight because I had previously been misdiagnosed by military doctors.
In 1991, God sovereignly brought my six-month old son back to life in my Arms even while I argued with God.
I saw God heal my wife of Lyme disease which is very painful after doctors had exhausted their treatment and insurance gave up on her. I have learned over the years that when we have a relationship with God and absolutely trust Him we can be surprised at what he will do.
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PO3 Steven Sherrill
LTC Stephen F. - You have been through a lot. I am sorry that you have had to deal with these horrible events. I am glad that you came through them. I have seen only one suicide. It was a young man who hanged himself in the barracks during "A" School. I think that we can agree that whether it is doctor assisted, or not it is tragic when one's life gets to a point that they want to end it all. Ironic thing is that while I have no sympathy for the person who feels overwhelmed by a breakeup, I feel nothing but sympathy for the 22 veterans a day who lose the battle to their demons. I know it is hypocritical. From a spiritual perspective, I can understand and respect why you and SMSgt Minister Gerald A. Thomas would oppose this. I respect that as your belief. I don't agree, but I respect your position.
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This is always a tense one. It's pretty easy to hold positions informed by theory-based moral principles (No, there's no direct prohibition against suicide in Christian theology nor any requirement that you stick out the final phases of a debilitating terminal illness), but the first time you watch someone die very slowly from an extraordinarily painful cancer or Lou Gehrig's Disease, that all turns to ashes.
I think Lewis' A Grief Observed adds a great deal to this conversation - "We were promised sufferings. They were part of the program. We were even told, 'Blessed are they that mourn,' and I accept it. I've got nothing that I hadn't bargained for. Of course it is different when the thing happens to oneself, not to others, and in reality, not imagination."
However, the Netherlands case is a significant argument for caution. Once you acknowledge that "terminal illness" is a bit of an arbitrary line and that there is little real difference between physical and mental anguish, the boundaries can rapidly expand to spouses of terminal patients, children with mental disorders and individuals with perfectly overcome-able physical handicaps. Suicide tourism becomes a thing and some very questionable instances become reality.
We've also seen instances where families, insurance companies and others have leaned on terminal patients to consider suicide as a cost-saving measure or to unburden their caregivers. In one instance, an employee of the great state of Oregon actually sent a letter to a Medicaid patient stating that the treatments for a particular disease were not covered, but their suicide was.). The right to die seems to morph into a duty to die and that's an enormous problem.
So the question becomes how do we protect the vulnerable while simultaneously not demanding enormous pointless suffering to satisfy our personal moral inclinations? I haven't figured that one out yet. Some places have looked at well-drafted legislation coupled with a requirement to undergo psychiatric evaluation.
I think Lewis' A Grief Observed adds a great deal to this conversation - "We were promised sufferings. They were part of the program. We were even told, 'Blessed are they that mourn,' and I accept it. I've got nothing that I hadn't bargained for. Of course it is different when the thing happens to oneself, not to others, and in reality, not imagination."
However, the Netherlands case is a significant argument for caution. Once you acknowledge that "terminal illness" is a bit of an arbitrary line and that there is little real difference between physical and mental anguish, the boundaries can rapidly expand to spouses of terminal patients, children with mental disorders and individuals with perfectly overcome-able physical handicaps. Suicide tourism becomes a thing and some very questionable instances become reality.
We've also seen instances where families, insurance companies and others have leaned on terminal patients to consider suicide as a cost-saving measure or to unburden their caregivers. In one instance, an employee of the great state of Oregon actually sent a letter to a Medicaid patient stating that the treatments for a particular disease were not covered, but their suicide was.). The right to die seems to morph into a duty to die and that's an enormous problem.
So the question becomes how do we protect the vulnerable while simultaneously not demanding enormous pointless suffering to satisfy our personal moral inclinations? I haven't figured that one out yet. Some places have looked at well-drafted legislation coupled with a requirement to undergo psychiatric evaluation.
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LTC Stephen F.
I certainly hope that neither an increase in socialism or national legalization of physician-assisted suicide will be coming to this nation LTC Thomas Tennant
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SGT Jeremiah B.
This is not socialism at all. If anything, it's the exact opposite. It's the government stepping out of the business of regulating a critical end of life decision by the private citizen that is faced with it. It's saying you have the right to choose how to end your life when faced with enormous suffering and your physician has the right (but not the obligation!) to facilitate that decision in a humane way.
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