News
CMAJ
Quebec passes right-to-die law
Q
Photodisc/Thinkstock
of Sue Rodriguez, who suffered from groups have argued that assisted suicide uebec has become the first amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) disis an unethical alternative to redressing Canadian province to legalize ease. The British Columbia Civil Liberdeficiencies in palliative care. medically assisted death. Bill ties Association recently asked the court Quebec’s International Relations 52, an Act respecting end-of-life care, to reconsider whether such prohibitions Minister Christine St-Pierre, who voted passed in the National Assembly by violate the rights of the gravely ill. A against the bill, said she worries that 94 votes to 22 in a free vote on June 5. ruling is expected in the fall. Health Minister Gaétan BarA private member’s bill to rette said the law will come into legalize physician-assisted force within 18 months, as soon suicide nationally has been as the province has established introduced in the federal para commission on end-of-lifeliament by Manitoba Consercare to oversee implementation. vative MP Steven Fletcher, Quebec is the fourth jurisbut its low place on the order diction in North America — list makes it unlikely to be after Oregon, Vermont, and debated this session. The Washington — to allow what House of Commons overthe bill describes as “medical whelmingly rejected a bill aid in dying.” Drawing heavily legalizing physician-assisted on Belgian and Dutch models, dying in 2010. Quebec’s law permits doctors During Quebec’s debate, to prescribe and administer the Premier Philippe Couillard substance that will cause the told fellow legislators that in death of the patient. his work as a neurosurgeon, The bill’s language avoids he had never encouraged a describing this as euthanasia. patient who explicitly asked By defining the act of hastening to die. “But some said, ‘Docdeath as a medical service, and tor, I don’t want this pain any thus a matter of provincial more. I want to sleep.’ ” competence, Quebec’s government hopes to avoid friction Couillard said he would with the Criminal Code of Canhave voted against the bill had ada, which still defines all he held a seat last year, but assistance in dying as culpable was won over by recent homicide. changes that allow physicians Federal Justice Minister to refuse to provide medical Peter MacKay criticized this aid in dying if their conscience manoeuvre when Quebec’s new dictates. Physicians will still Liberal government tabled the have to transmit such requests bill in March, arguing that proto a colleague or superior, hibitions against assisted suihowever. cide “serve to protect all mem- A landmark law gives terminally ill and suffering Quebeckers Health Minister Barrette, a the right to medical aid in dying. bers of our society, including radiologist, said that he had the most vulnerable.” often heard patients demand undue pressure from family members A spokeswoman for the federal “the proverbial shot of morphine.” He might lead some patients to feel it is justice ministry, Mary Ann Deweyadded, “Canada will not be spared this “their duty to die.” Under the new law, Plante, said on Thursday that “it is for debate. At some point, they will have to it is the physician’s duty to verify that the courts to decide if any province is face it. But I believe that support for an patient consent is informed and free legislating within its jurisdiction,” but initiative like this one will not be unifrom such external pressures. did not suggest that Ottawa would form across the country.” — Owen It is now 21 years since Canada’s mount a legal challenge. Dyer, Montréal Supreme Court narrowly upheld the Several anti-euthanasia groups have Criminal Code’s provisions in the case said they will go to the courts. Such CMAJ 2014. DOI:10.1503/cmaj.109-4830 E368
CMAJ, July 8, 2014, 186(10)
© 2014 Canadian Medical Association or its licensors
CMAJ
Quebec passes right-to-die law
Q
Photodisc/Thinkstock
of Sue Rodriguez, who suffered from groups have argued that assisted suicide uebec has become the first amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) disis an unethical alternative to redressing Canadian province to legalize ease. The British Columbia Civil Liberdeficiencies in palliative care. medically assisted death. Bill ties Association recently asked the court Quebec’s International Relations 52, an Act respecting end-of-life care, to reconsider whether such prohibitions Minister Christine St-Pierre, who voted passed in the National Assembly by violate the rights of the gravely ill. A against the bill, said she worries that 94 votes to 22 in a free vote on June 5. ruling is expected in the fall. Health Minister Gaétan BarA private member’s bill to rette said the law will come into legalize physician-assisted force within 18 months, as soon suicide nationally has been as the province has established introduced in the federal para commission on end-of-lifeliament by Manitoba Consercare to oversee implementation. vative MP Steven Fletcher, Quebec is the fourth jurisbut its low place on the order diction in North America — list makes it unlikely to be after Oregon, Vermont, and debated this session. The Washington — to allow what House of Commons overthe bill describes as “medical whelmingly rejected a bill aid in dying.” Drawing heavily legalizing physician-assisted on Belgian and Dutch models, dying in 2010. Quebec’s law permits doctors During Quebec’s debate, to prescribe and administer the Premier Philippe Couillard substance that will cause the told fellow legislators that in death of the patient. his work as a neurosurgeon, The bill’s language avoids he had never encouraged a describing this as euthanasia. patient who explicitly asked By defining the act of hastening to die. “But some said, ‘Docdeath as a medical service, and tor, I don’t want this pain any thus a matter of provincial more. I want to sleep.’ ” competence, Quebec’s government hopes to avoid friction Couillard said he would with the Criminal Code of Canhave voted against the bill had ada, which still defines all he held a seat last year, but assistance in dying as culpable was won over by recent homicide. changes that allow physicians Federal Justice Minister to refuse to provide medical Peter MacKay criticized this aid in dying if their conscience manoeuvre when Quebec’s new dictates. Physicians will still Liberal government tabled the have to transmit such requests bill in March, arguing that proto a colleague or superior, hibitions against assisted suihowever. cide “serve to protect all mem- A landmark law gives terminally ill and suffering Quebeckers Health Minister Barrette, a the right to medical aid in dying. bers of our society, including radiologist, said that he had the most vulnerable.” often heard patients demand undue pressure from family members A spokeswoman for the federal “the proverbial shot of morphine.” He might lead some patients to feel it is justice ministry, Mary Ann Deweyadded, “Canada will not be spared this “their duty to die.” Under the new law, Plante, said on Thursday that “it is for debate. At some point, they will have to it is the physician’s duty to verify that the courts to decide if any province is face it. But I believe that support for an patient consent is informed and free legislating within its jurisdiction,” but initiative like this one will not be unifrom such external pressures. did not suggest that Ottawa would form across the country.” — Owen It is now 21 years since Canada’s mount a legal challenge. Dyer, Montréal Supreme Court narrowly upheld the Several anti-euthanasia groups have Criminal Code’s provisions in the case said they will go to the courts. Such CMAJ 2014. DOI:10.1503/cmaj.109-4830 E368
CMAJ, July 8, 2014, 186(10)
© 2014 Canadian Medical Association or its licensors
