Quebec physicians tentatively propose legal euthanasia

Description:

The Quebec College of Physicians is preparing to release a report this November which calls for euthanasia to be included "as part of the appropriate care in certain particular circumstances."

The College says the Criminal Code should be amended, given three conditions:

  • the act is in accordance with the patient's decision

  • there are clear rules to prevent abuse

  • the doctor has discretion about his participation and does not have to simply carry out orders.

    Social worker Yvon Bureau, of Dying With Dignity, who has spent 25 years promoting the right to euthanasia, said "I believe this is huge … About 80 per cent of the Quebec population supports the right to medical assistance in dying. All of this would take place in the course of the relationship between the doctor and the patient, as well as the family."

    In the Also see story, Ingrid de Kock, president-elect of the Canadian Society of Palliative Care Physicians, said palliative care physicians would oppose the move, as there is no need with good palliative care. Ruth von Fuchs, president of the Right to Die Society of Canada, said it's no surprise that Quebec, with its more European culture, is leading the way in this debate. Von Fuchs sees the College as trying to say that death is sometimes "the most practical, most sensible and the most honest kind of care."

    [Note: Some other recent stories on this topic are in the Links: section below.]

    [Note: there are stories in the Overflow: section below.]

Links:

To read the full article click on one of these links, both of which go to the same destination. A short link is provided for the convenience of readers.

Source:

Seguin, Rheal. "Quebec physicians tentatively propose legal euthanasia". The Globe and Mail. Last updated on Friday, Jul. 17, 2009 02:33AM EDT. <www.theglobeandmail.com/news/ national/quebec-physicians- tentatively-propose-legal-euthanasia/article1220196/>. The Globe and Mail, 444 Front Street West, Toronto, Ontario, M5V 2S9, Canada.

Tags:

Tags (or keywords) briefly indicate some major topics of the report.

  • euthanasia

  • medical profession

  • Quebec

  • Canada

  • Death With Dignity

Overflow:

Stories that EuthaNEWSia did not get to:

ID:

The EuthaNEWSia ID for this advisory is: enid200907171085.
Mailed: Friday, July 17, 2009 13:52:22 -0600
at Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.

Etcetera:

EuthaNEWSia is a free Canadian news advisory service covering end-of-life issues such as right to die, assisted suicide, and euthanasia. EuthaNEWSia is produced by the Right to Die Society of Canada which works toward a good death for all, including open, regulated and equitable access to euthanasia and assisted suicide. The editor is Michael Dawson <editor@euthanewsia.ca>. 

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