Download the press release in .docx format: PressRelReintPL52
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 22 May 2014
Contact: Amy Hasbrouck – 450-921-3057
PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES WORRIED OVER REINTRODUCTION OF EUTHANASIA BILL
People with disabilities who oppose euthanasia are deeply troubled at the reintroduction of a bill by the Couillard government on “medical aid in dying.”
Bill 52 received unanimous support when it was filed by motion in the National Assembly on May 22, since the Liberal leader Philippe Couillard forbade his MNAs from opposing its reintroduction.
Bill 52 promised palliative care to Québecers and would have allowed euthanasia under the euphemism of “Medical Aid in Dying.”
Many activists with disabilities believe the new bill will be disastrous in combination with the budget cuts announced by the liberal government.
Health services, palliative care and home care will be reduced by the cuts. More and more people with disabilities will find themselves sick, desperate and without any choice other than to die, according to Amy Hasbrouck, Director of Toujours Vivant-Not Dead Yet.
“Medical Aid in Dying will divert resources from services necessary for people’s lives, toward the bureaucracy needed to manage a euthanasia program,” said Hasbrouck. “If the national assembly were to remove the sections allowing euthanasia from the bill, these resources could be directed toward the urgent need, palliative care to all Québecers.”
Toujours Vivant-Not Dead Yet is a project of the Council of Canadians with Disabilities to unify, inform and give voice to the disability opposition to assisted suicide, euthanasia and similar discriminatory ending-of-life practices. The CCD is an intervenor in the Carter case which is currently before the Supreme Court of Canada.
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The feds now have to decide whether or not Quebec is going to rule all of Canada. They must challenge it as in unlawful violation of the Criminal Code. To allow it to stand is to acknowledge Quebec has jurisdiction over criminal law and superior to all other provinces. In which case, to allow it to stand is for Ottawa to declare euthanasia for all Canada or else that Quebec is a separate country. And if that be so, so be it as long as not one federal dollar goes to support them. If Quebec wants a political fence between them and the rest of Canada, we should not allow them to reach through the fence to milk the cow.
Hi R., thanks for your comment. I think it will ultimately come down to whether the Supreme court will accept the interpretation that the euphemistically-named “medical aid in dying” is a service under the definition of health care, and thus governed by provincial law.
People have a right to care and pain control but not a right to insist on medical help to commit suiside. Such actions would be contrary to the physician’s commitment to healing and care.
Hi Eileen. Thanks for your comment, and I apologize for the delay in replying.