EuthaNEWSia (www.euthanewsia.ca)

Euthanasia and assisted suicide should be taken out of the Criminal Code, argues law professor Jocelyn Downie.

Downie will be giving a lecture at McGill University on Jan. 13 and says she will not only review where Canadian laws currently stand on these issues, but also suggest the need for law reform.

"My ideal [situation] would be that it, euthanasia and assisted suicide, be taken out of the Criminal Code and be handled through a commission that oversees what's going on and sets out very clear standards under which euthanasia or assisted suicide can be practised," she says.

The lecture is co-sponsored by the McGill Research Group on Health and Law and the McGill Biomedical Ethics Unit.

This lecture comes on the heels of public hearings on euthanasia in Quebec and a new poll commissioned by the CBC and Radio-Canada. The poll revealed that 83 per cent of Quebeckers support euthanasia and assisted suicide. However, a minority would not consider this end-of-life option for themselves or a loved one.

Currently, the Criminal Code prohibits euthanasia and assisted suicide.

Later: Downie says Canada can look at other countries or states as models for new laws in this area. She points to Belgium, the Netherlands, Washington, Oregon, and, most recently, Montana.

And: "I'm not sure how familiar people are with the data and the evidence that's coming out of countries that have started to allow euthanasia and assisted suicide," she says. "People still make the ‘slippery slope’ argument . . . but there's no evidence for this."

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D'Orazio, Olivia. "De-criminalize euthanasia and assisted suicide, says law prof". Canadian Lawyer. Posted Date: December 29, 2010. <www.canadianlawyermag.com/de-criminalize-euthanasia-and-assisted-suicide-say-law-prof.html>. Canadian Lawyer, 240 Edward St., Aurora, ON L4G 3S9, Canada.

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The EuthaNEWSia ID for this advisory is: enid201101109004.
Mailed: Monday, January 10, 2011 14:07:40 -0600
at Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.

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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