By CATHERINE FRAZEE, former chief commissioner of the Ontario Human Rights Commission. first published in the Canadian Chronicle Herald Today (Oct. 15), the Supreme Court of Canada will hear argument in an appeal which seeks to strike down Canada's Criminal Code prohibition against assisting suicide.The appeal is mobilized by the B.C. Civil Liberties Association and supported by Death with Dignity advocates across the country, many of whom will take to the streets to urge Canadians to "stand on the side of history for assisted dying." Continue reading

This article is crossposted from MercatornetBY MARGARET SOMERVILLE Many know the saying "You have to fish or cut bait". Many fewer know the law's equivalent, "You can't approbate and reprobate". But the Canadian Medical Association's recent dealing with their 2007 Policy on Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide makes it seem they are unaware of the warning and wisdom these axioms communicate.That CMA policy unambiguously declares: "Canadian physicians should not participate in euthanasia or assisted suicide." Despite that, a motion passed at the recent CMA General Council meeting, which ostensibly was meant only to ensure freedom of conscience, has allowed the CMA to make the following statement in its intervener factum in the upcoming appeal in the Supreme Court of Canada in the Carter case: Continue reading

By Paul Russell: After holding the line against euthanasia and assisted suicide and re-affirming opposition to it as recently as August 2013 the Canadian Medical Association rolled over and played dead earlier this month in the wake of the passage of euthanasia legislation in the Province of Quebec.To be fair, the CMA Annual General meeting did re-affirm its earlier statement on euthanasia and assisted suicide but also debated and passed the following motion that supports: Continue reading

The CMA consultation report determined that 71.5% agreed with the current CMA policy on euthanasia and Physician-Assisted Death, 25.8% disagreed with its current position and 2.6% were unsure. By Alex Schadenberg Executive Director: Euthanasia Prevention CoalitionThe Canadian Medical Association (CMA) published the results of its online poll and it national dialogue concerning euthanasia, assisted suicide and end-of-life care. Continue reading

  This excellent article about the volta face of euthanasia pioneers from support to downright opposition written by Licia Corbella and published in the Calgary Herald.Why euthanasia pioneers are changing their minds. Continue reading

  The recently-passed Bill 52 of the Quebec legislature that legalised euthanasia will be challenged in the Canadian Courts.Alex Schadenberg Reports: Continue reading

This post form the Total Refusal of Euthanasia Blogsite: Four palliative care providers exclude medical aid in dyingFour Quebec residences, including Maison Michel Sarrazin (first of its kind in Canada), have so far officially said they would not practice "medical aid in dying". Continue reading

The passage of Bill-52 through the Quebec Parliament a month ago sent shock waves across Canada and the Western World; as much because of the bill's provisions as the haste with which the debate was held. This vote ignored the opposition of the Canadian Medical Association, and the stated opposition of the Federal Government. The bill is already the subject of a legal challenge which, we hope will be joined by the Canadian Government in Ottawa.Australian Academic and Canadian resident, Margaret Somerville tackled the substantive issues in the Montreal Gazette shortly after the bill passed. Much, if not all, of her article applies to the new bill before committee in the Australian Senate. Continue reading

Recently Melbourne doctor and vice president of the Victorian pro-euthanasia organisation, Dr Rodney Syme wrote in The Saturday Paper arguing for a change in the language around euthanasia. Like his namesake in George Orwell's 1984, his is a form of Newspeak. Alex Schadenberg blogged about an article in the Canadian press that would answer Syme and his 'Ministry of Truth' colleagues:The National Post published an excellent article titled: Why can't we say euthanasia? concerning the passage of Québec euthanasia Bill, by Lise Ravary, a columnist and Blogger for Le Journal de Montréal. Continue reading

Euthanasia: Death is not preferable to living with a significant disability. Norman KuncI'm a non-religious man with cerebral palsy. I oppose legalizing euthanasia because i've seen far too many unrequested do-not-resuscitate orders placed on my disabled friends and colleagues. This occurs because many doctors, like most of society, believe that death is preferable to living with a significant disability. Continue reading