Trudeau urged to soften the law
on medical assistance in dying
The Prime Minister said during the election campaign, particularly during the French leader debates, that he would comply with the decision of the Quebec Superior Court of last September.
OTTAWA - Just before announcing the composition of his new cabinet on Wednesday, Justin Trudeau is urged to call on the
new Justice Minister to promptly relax the Canadian law on medical assistance in dying .
The Prime Minister said during the election campaign, particularly during the French leader debates, that he would comply with the decision of the Quebec Superior Court of last September. This ruling invalidated the federal requirement that only persons close to a "reasonably foreseeable natural death" be able to obtain medical assistance in dying to put an end to their suffering.
Justice Christine Baudouin concluded that the federal and provincial criteria for access to medical assistance in dying were discriminatory. It granted the two governments six months - until March 2020 - to amend their respective laws. Prime Minister Trudeau later indicated that his government would not contest this decision in court, as the Quebec government did.
"Dying with Dignity Canada" is now asking Prime Minister Trudeau to mandate his next Minister of Justice to make this legislation a priority - and even to go further than the requirements set out by Justice Baudouin.
In addition to wanting to remove the "reasonably foreseeable natural death" requirement, the organization also wants a person no longer required to confirm consent just prior to the procedure. This requirement, according to the organization, has deprived medical assistance in dying of some already consenting individuals who had, however, lost the ability to validate this decision at the very end because their condition had deteriorated.
Note to readers: Corrected version. It must be read that governments have until March 2020, rather than early April 2020, to change their respective laws.
new Justice Minister to promptly relax the Canadian law on medical assistance in dying .
The Prime Minister said during the election campaign, particularly during the French leader debates, that he would comply with the decision of the Quebec Superior Court of last September. This ruling invalidated the federal requirement that only persons close to a "reasonably foreseeable natural death" be able to obtain medical assistance in dying to put an end to their suffering.
Justice Christine Baudouin concluded that the federal and provincial criteria for access to medical assistance in dying were discriminatory. It granted the two governments six months - until March 2020 - to amend their respective laws. Prime Minister Trudeau later indicated that his government would not contest this decision in court, as the Quebec government did.
"Dying with Dignity Canada" is now asking Prime Minister Trudeau to mandate his next Minister of Justice to make this legislation a priority - and even to go further than the requirements set out by Justice Baudouin.
In addition to wanting to remove the "reasonably foreseeable natural death" requirement, the organization also wants a person no longer required to confirm consent just prior to the procedure. This requirement, according to the organization, has deprived medical assistance in dying of some already consenting individuals who had, however, lost the ability to validate this decision at the very end because their condition had deteriorated.
Note to readers: Corrected version. It must be read that governments have until March 2020, rather than early April 2020, to change their respective laws.
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