Canada's MAID (Medical Assistance In Dying)
"The implications of Canada's law [on euthanasia] is that a life with disability is automatically less worth living and that in some cases, death is preferable."Theresia Degener, professor or law and disability studies, Protestant University for Applied Sciences, Germany"[Canada's euthanasia law is] probably the biggest existential threat to disabled people since the Nazis' program in Germany in the 1930s."Tim Stanton, director, Canadian Institute for Inclusion and Citizenship, University of British Columbia"[Canadian politicians should listen to the concerns of those facing hardships who believe euthanasia is their only option'.""In an era where we recognize the right to die with dignity, we must do more to guarantee the right to live with dignity."Marie-Claude Landry, Ad. E., Chief Commissioner, Canadian Human Rights Commission
Disability
experts have concluded that Canada has the world's most permissive
euthanasia regulations which permit people with serious disabilities to
decide to reach out for death, absent any other medical issues. A
majority of Canadians in general support the concept of euthanasia for
those for whom life is untenable for medical reasons. The advocacy group
Dying With Dignity hails the process as being "driven by compassion",
to end human suffering. Well and good.
Human
rights advocates on the other hand, feel the regulations are too loose,
lacking required safeguards. In the process lives of disabled people
are devalued, inciting doctors and health workers to recommend the
procedure to those of their patients who might not otherwise consider
ending their lives. According to advocates, troubling instances occur
where people seek assisted suicide in direct relation to inadequate
government support in living.
Euthanasia
access is to expand in 2023, against advocacy that insists the system
warrants scrutiny at the present time. The euthanasia law "recognizes the rights of all persons -- as well as the inherent and equal value of every life",
insists Canada's health minister. Euthanasia protocol sees doctors
administer drugs meant to take away life of patients -- meant to be a
compassionate response to people's end-of-life requests -- is legal in
Belgium, Canada, Colombia, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand and
Spain, along with several states in Australia.
Jurisdictions
in several American states permit assisted suicide, with patients
themselves under supervision taking the lethal drug that will end their
lives. Originally in 2016 when Canada introduced euthanasia legally, the
procedure was to be granted to people age 18 and over meeting several
criteria, including having a "grievous and irremediable" medical condition that caases unbearable suffering. Death was to be reasonably foreseeable, as a qualification.
Later
legislation removed the death-be-imminent restriction, an issue
removing a key safeguard, according to critics of the legislation. In
Belgium and the Netherlands, euthanasia has been legal for the past two
decades, where monthly commissions review potentially troubling cases.
Canada lacks this oversight. No restrictions apply to doctors suggesting
euthanasia to patients who have not themselves requested it; strictly
forbidden elsewhere as a practise.
There
is no requirement to have exhausted all treatment options for people
seeking euthanasia in Canada, unlike what pertains in Belgium and the
Netherlands. Under current Canadian euthanasia law, any adult with a
serious illness, disease or disability can apply for euthanasia. Critics
say that permitting euthanasia based solely on disability represents a
clear human rights violation.
Another
issue has arisen, whereby in some instances people finding themselves
with mounting medical bills due to their disabilities choose to be
euthanized. Canada is preparing to allow people to be euthanized from
next year for mental health reasons exclusively. Consideration of
extending euthanasia is being given to "mature" minors, children under
age 18 meeting the same criteria as adults.
The
most needily vulnerable people whose lives could be improved
sufficiently so as to make them worthwhile living with some thoughtful
medical and therapeutic assistance, along with government disability
financial assistance surely is far preferable in a compassionate society
than offering suffering humanity early death in lieu of life under
tolerable living conditions.
Kiefer Pix/Shutterstock |
"A few days ago, a 30-year-old patient with very treatable mental illness asked me to end her life. Her distraught parents came to the appointment with her because they were afraid that I might support her request and that they would be helpless to do anything about it. It’s horrific they have to worry that by going to a psychiatrist, their daughter might be killed by that very psychiatrist."Psychiatrist editor of the Journal of Ethics in Mental Health
Labels: Canada, Disabilities, Euthanasia, Intractable Suffering, MAID, Medical Assistance in Dying, Mental Health, Minors
<< Home