Last June the B.C. Supreme Court struck down Canada’s ban on assisted suicide. The federal government launched an appeal. Yesterday Bill 52 was tabled in the Quebec National Assembly to legalize medically assisted dying.
This bill would allow a physician who receive the repeated consent of a patient to administer medication with the specific purpose of causing death. This is different than the laws in four US states where the physician writes an order the the patient fills the prescription and takes the medication themselves.
I support the Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association and the Canadian Society of Palliative Care Physicians (CSPCP) as they stress “the need to ensure that all Canadians have access to Hospice and Palliative Care before legalizing assisted dying.”
This is the most important message to share with neighbours, friends, politicians, health care team members. For more information, clarification, definitions, go to “Let’s Talk About Hospice Palliative Care First” campaign at: www.chpca.net/hpcfirst
