The document discusses euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide. It defines key terms, provides a brief history of euthanasia, outlines Canadian laws on the issue, summarizes the Sue Rodriguez Supreme Court case which challenged those laws, and discusses the two sides of the euthanasia debate. The document also summarizes Bill C-384, proposed Canadian legislation that would legalize euthanasia and assisted suicide.

2. Agenda Euthanasia Vocabulary Euthanasia – Brief History Laws in Canada regarding euthanasia Sue Rodriguez Case Sue Rodriguez Case – Arguments Sue Rodriguez Case - Ruling Two different sides to euthanasia Bill C-384 Discussion questions

3. Key Term - Euthanasia Euthanasia: the intentional killing by act or omission of a dependent human being for his or her alleged benefit. (The key word here is "intentional". If death is not intended, it is not an act of euthanasia) Voluntary euthanasia: When the person who is killed has requested to be killed. Non-voluntary: When the person who is killed made no request and gave no consent. Involuntary euthanasia: When the person who is killed made an expressed wish to the contrary. Assisted suicide: Someone provides an individual with the information, guidance, and means to take his or her own life with the intention that they will be used for this purpose. When it is a doctor who helps another person to kill themselves it is called "physician assisted suicide."

4. Euthanasia – A Brief History "I will give no deadly medicine to any one if asked, nor suggest any such counsel." ~ Hippocrates, Father of Modern Medicine (400 BC) “ I will not give a lethal drug to anyone if I am asked, nor will I advise such a plan…” ~ Original Hippocratic Oath In the 1300s, suicide as well as helping people to kill themselves were considered as a criminal act. In the 1930s euthanasia was practiced for first time by German physicians In the 20th century, lot of organizations were formed to address the concerns regarding euthanasia. - Voluntary Euthanasia Society

5. Laws in Canada - Euthanasia Under section 241 of the Criminal Code , it is an offence to counsel or to aid suicide, although suicide itself is no longer an offence: 241. Every one who a. counsels a person to commit suicide, or b. aids or abets a person to commit suicide, whether suicide ensues or not, is guilty of an indictable offence and liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding fourteen years. Section 14. No person is entitled to consent to have death inflicted on him, and such consent does not affect the criminal responsibility of any person by whom death may be inflicted on the person by whom consent is given.

6. The Sue Rodriguez Case – The Story In 1993 the appellant, a 42‑year‑old mother, suffers from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Her condition is rapidly deteriorating and she will soon lose the ability to swallow, speak, walk and move her body without assistance. She wishes that a qualified physician be allowed to set up technological means by which she might, when she is no longer able to enjoy life, by her own hand, at the time of her choosing, end her life. Her life expectancy is between 2 and 14 months. The appellant does not wish to die so long as she still has the capacity to enjoy life, but wishes that a qualified physician be allowed to set up technological means by which she might, when she is no longer able to enjoy life, by her own hand, at the time of her choosing, end her life.

7. The Sue Rodriguez Case

8. The Sue Rodriguez Case - Arguments Ms. Rodriguez argued that the criminal offence created by s. 241(b) prohibits a person from aiding her to terminate her life when she cannot do so without assistance, thus depriving her of liberty and security of the person under s. 7 of the Charter. Ms. Rodriguez’s claim that s. 241(b) violates s. 12 of the Charter, which provides that: Everyone has the right not to be subjected to any cruel and unusual treatment or punishment. 241(b) violates s. 15(1) of the Charter, which provides as follows: Every individual is equal before and under the law and has the right to the equal protection and equal benefit of the law without discrimination and, in particular, without discrimination based on race, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, sex, age or mental or physical disability.

9. The Sue Rodriguez Case – The Ruling Majority decision by: Sopinka J. Joined by: La Forest, Gonthier, Iacobucci and Major JJ. Dissenting opinion by: McLachlin J. Joined by: L'Heureux-Dubé J. Dissenting opinion by: Lamer C.J. Dissenting opinion by: Cory J.

10. Two different Sides to Euthanasia

11. Summary of Bill C-384 Bill C-384 would legalize euthanasia and assisted suicide in Canada. (For the purpose of the analysis, euthanasia and assisted suicide will be referred to as “intended death”.) • Bill C-384 does not restrict intended death to Canadian citizens. (The bill could make Canada a destination for Suicide Tourists and Suicide Clinics). • The individual would need to be at least 18 years old. • Bill C-384 does not limit intended death to the terminally ill and it does not define terminal illness. • The individual may refuse appropriate treatments and still die by an intended death. Bill C-384 allows intended death for people who experience depression or other chronic mental conditions.

12. Legality of Euthanasia – The Facts Netherlands: 2,300 people died as the result of doctors killing them upon request (active, voluntary euthanasia). 400 people died as a result of doctors providing them with the means to kill themselves (physician-assisted suicide). 1,040 people (an average of 3 per day) died from involuntary euthanasia , meaning that doctors actively killed these patients without the patients' knowledge or consent. 14% of these patients were fully competent. 72% had never given any indication that they would want their lives terminated. In 8% of the cases , doctors performed involuntary euthanasia despite the fact that they believed alternative options were still possible.

13. Discussion Questions A doctor treating an elderly, bed-ridden patient at home, leaves powerful sleeping tablets by the bed with strict instructions that no more than two must be taken on any account. The patient has already told the doctor that she wants to die The Doctor left the extra pills which she took to kill herself – Assisted Suicide A badly deformed baby is born and needs immediate maximum intensive care to survive. The mother also needs urgent medical care, and the doctor deliberately deals with her needs first. Without help the baby will die, the doctor decides to save the mom Non-voluntary