This document summarizes a policy paper on physician-assisted suicide and euthanasia in Canada. It proposes reintroducing Bill C-407 to protect physicians from criminal liability if they assist terminally ill patients to die. The bill would amend sections of the Criminal Code to allow physician assistance in dying under certain criteria. Past cases in Canada show physicians have faced charges for assisting patients or withdrawing life support. The paper argues reintroducing Bill C-407, with modifications, would provide legal protections for physicians while safeguarding vulnerable patients through advance care directives.
This document discusses proper completion of medical certificates of cause of death. It begins by defining death and explaining the importance of death registration for public health data and benefits to families. Causes of death are defined as diseases or injuries directly leading to or contributing to death. The underlying cause is the initial disease/injury in the chain leading to death. Common errors in completing certificates include listing multiple causes per line, omitting time intervals, incorrect sequences, and abbreviations. Examples are provided of properly completed certificates for different causes of death like injuries, poisoning, and cancer.
A death certificate is a legal document that states the date, cause, and manner of death. It is issued by the government to establish that an individual has died and is no longer bound by legal and social obligations. This allows for the settlement of property, inheritance, and collection of insurance benefits by the deceased's family.
The death certificate contains three parts: general details of the deceased, cause of death including immediate cause and antecedent cause, and manner of death (natural, accidental, suicidal, homicidal, or pending investigation). Proper completion of death certificates is important for public health assessment, policymaking, health planning, and medicolegal purposes.
The document discusses the lack of protection for doctors in India from attacks by politicians, hooligans, and flawed laws. It notes several instances where doctors and hospitals have been attacked, resulting in damage to property and even deaths. It calls for stronger legal protections for doctors, discussing past examples from Andhra Pradesh and ongoing efforts in Maharashtra to pass a Doctor Protection Act. However, the bill remains pending in the state legislature.
This document discusses certification of death and guidelines around end of life care. It defines death, provides legal definitions, and outlines Gordon's classification of deaths. It describes tests to certify death, such as circulation and respiration stoppage tests. It discusses death certificates, the duties of doctors in certifying death, and special circumstances around organ donation and withholding life support. It summarizes Supreme Court of India rulings on withholding life support and provides guidelines from ISCCM on limiting life-prolonging interventions and providing palliative care.
This document discusses various doctrines of doctor liability and professional negligence under Indian law. It also discusses provisions of the Indian Penal Code relating to the medical profession.
Some key points discussed include:
- Doctrines of doctor liability such as loss of chance, apparent authority, corporate negligence, and informed consent.
- What constitutes negligence and the tests used to determine medical negligence in India.
- Duties of hospitals and doctors.
- Relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code dealing with medical professionals, including sections around causing hurt or death through negligence.
- Case laws from India and other countries that set precedents around medical negligence.
The document summarizes key aspects of Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which protects the right to life. It discusses the state's obligations to refrain from arbitrarily taking life, to protect life through effective criminal laws and investigations of deaths, and to safeguard those in state custody. The summary examines evidence that the UK may not fully meet its obligations in some areas, such as protecting vulnerable individuals in detention from suicide and self-harm through appropriate training and support, preventing deaths in police custody through risk assessment, and ensuring investigations into deaths in custody are sufficiently independent and effective.
This document discusses proper completion of medical certificates of cause of death. It begins by defining death and explaining the importance of death registration for public health data and benefits to families. Causes of death are defined as diseases or injuries directly leading to or contributing to death. The underlying cause is the initial disease/injury in the chain leading to death. Common errors in completing certificates include listing multiple causes per line, omitting time intervals, incorrect sequences, and abbreviations. Examples are provided of properly completed certificates for different causes of death like injuries, poisoning, and cancer.
A death certificate is a legal document that states the date, cause, and manner of death. It is issued by the government to establish that an individual has died and is no longer bound by legal and social obligations. This allows for the settlement of property, inheritance, and collection of insurance benefits by the deceased's family.
The death certificate contains three parts: general details of the deceased, cause of death including immediate cause and antecedent cause, and manner of death (natural, accidental, suicidal, homicidal, or pending investigation). Proper completion of death certificates is important for public health assessment, policymaking, health planning, and medicolegal purposes.
The document discusses the lack of protection for doctors in India from attacks by politicians, hooligans, and flawed laws. It notes several instances where doctors and hospitals have been attacked, resulting in damage to property and even deaths. It calls for stronger legal protections for doctors, discussing past examples from Andhra Pradesh and ongoing efforts in Maharashtra to pass a Doctor Protection Act. However, the bill remains pending in the state legislature.
This document discusses certification of death and guidelines around end of life care. It defines death, provides legal definitions, and outlines Gordon's classification of deaths. It describes tests to certify death, such as circulation and respiration stoppage tests. It discusses death certificates, the duties of doctors in certifying death, and special circumstances around organ donation and withholding life support. It summarizes Supreme Court of India rulings on withholding life support and provides guidelines from ISCCM on limiting life-prolonging interventions and providing palliative care.
This document discusses various doctrines of doctor liability and professional negligence under Indian law. It also discusses provisions of the Indian Penal Code relating to the medical profession.
Some key points discussed include:
- Doctrines of doctor liability such as loss of chance, apparent authority, corporate negligence, and informed consent.
- What constitutes negligence and the tests used to determine medical negligence in India.
- Duties of hospitals and doctors.
- Relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code dealing with medical professionals, including sections around causing hurt or death through negligence.
- Case laws from India and other countries that set precedents around medical negligence.
The document summarizes key aspects of Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which protects the right to life. It discusses the state's obligations to refrain from arbitrarily taking life, to protect life through effective criminal laws and investigations of deaths, and to safeguard those in state custody. The summary examines evidence that the UK may not fully meet its obligations in some areas, such as protecting vulnerable individuals in detention from suicide and self-harm through appropriate training and support, preventing deaths in police custody through risk assessment, and ensuring investigations into deaths in custody are sufficiently independent and effective.
Medical certification of the cause of deathSanjeev Kumar
The document discusses medical certification of cause of death in India. It provides background on the Registration of Births and Deaths Act of 1969 which made registration of all births and deaths in India compulsory. It describes the process of reporting and registering a death, including filling out the death reporting form and the medical certification of cause of death (MCCD) form. It notes challenges with death registration in India like underreporting of deaths and lack of certified causes of death. Initiatives are needed to improve coordination, training, monitoring, and demand for vital statistics.
Presentation by Ewen Stewart, on death certification and HIV. This was presented at the Scottish HIV and AIDS Group annual meeting on 26 June 2015. Copyright Ewen Stewart.
Fabriccio The Suspension Of Medical Treatment In Italy Definitivesynapticaweb
This document provides an overview of the legislative framework regarding medical treatment decisions in Italy through a discussion of several key court cases. It summarizes the evolution of Italian laws from emphasizing the unavailability of life to recognizing patient autonomy in the Constitution of 1948. The document analyzes two prominent end-of-life cases - Piergiorgio Welby's request to discontinue ventilation in 2006 and the judgments that followed, as well as the case of Renato Nuvoli regarding refusal of treatment.
Judge Professor Anselm Eldergill resume 10 may 2019Anselm Eldergill
Anselm Eldergill has had a long and distinguished career in public service related to mental health law. He has served as a judge, chaired numerous government inquiries, and held leadership positions with regulatory bodies. Additionally, he has authored several influential textbooks and publications and holds academic positions where he lectures on mental health law.
Deaths from Respiratory Diseases: Implications for end of life care in England
21 June 2011 - National End of Life Care Intelligence Network (NEoLCIN) / National End of Life Care Programme
The aim of this report is to analyse the latest data on place of death for those with respiratory disease and how this varies with gender, age, socioeconomic deprivation, place.
It presents high level analysis of mortality data from the Office for National Statistics(ONS).
A 5-Year Retrospective Analysis of Legal Intervention Injuries and Mortality ...Jim Bloyd, DrPH, MPH
There has been a public outcry for the accountability of law enforcement agents who kill and injure citizens. Epidemiological surveillance can underscore the magnitude of morbidity and mortality of citizens at the hands of law enforcement. We used hospital outpatient and inpatient databases to conduct a retrospective analysis of legal interventions in Illinois between 2010 and 2015. We calculated injury and mortality rates based on demographics, spatial distribution, and cause of injury. During the study period, 8,384 patients were treated for injuries caused during contact with law enforcement personnel. Most were male, the mean age was 32.7, and those injured were disproportionately black. Nearly all patients were treated as outpatients, and those who were admitted to the hospital had a mean of length of stay of 6 days. Most patients were discharged home or to an acute or long-term care facility (83.7%). It is unclear if those discharged home or to a different medical facility were arrested, accidentally injured, injured when no crime was committed, or injured when a crime was committed. Surveillance of law enforcement-related injuries and deaths should be implemented, and injuries caused during legal interventions should be recognized as a public health issue rather than a criminal justice issue.
Medical Whistleblower Canary Notes Newsletter 36 United Nations Declar...MedicalWhistleblower
The United Nations recognized the vital role of human rights defenders and the UN was convinced that these human rights defenders need to be protected from retaliation for reporting violations of human rights of others. The UN formally defined the defense of human rights as a right in itself and to recognize persons who undertake human rights work as “Human Rights Defenders.”The Resolution 53/144 was adopted in order to protect both human rights defenders and their activities. This is commonly known as the “Declaration on human rights defenders.”
Article. neighbor intervention in zoning casesBrian Elliff
Discusses the conundrum where a property owner challenges zoning on constitutional grounds, but then must deal with the intervention of neighbors during the litigation phase.
Páll Árnason is a soccer coach from Iceland. He owns and founded KEPacademy, a soccer academy that provides personalized training for young talented players. He has over a decade of experience coaching youth soccer teams between ages 8-17 and currently serves as the U17 and U13 coach for FH Hafnarfjordur. Páll has a Master's degree in Sport Science with a specialization in elite coaching and has received several honors and championships as a youth coach over the years.
Achemedes S. Goll has over 15 years of experience in customer service, technical support, and project management roles. He is skilled in Microsoft Office, Citrix, Oracle, and various CRM software. Currently he works as a Service Network Specialist at Asurion, where his responsibilities include ensuring compliance, communicating with field teams, and providing excellent customer service. He has held prior roles such as Resource Management Center Analyst, Customer Service Representative, Technical Supervisor, and System Analyst. Goll has a BSc in Business Management and certificates in customer service, IT, and computer literacy.
Graduating from Group Lending to Individual LendingPurvi Thaker
This document summarizes a case study on The SAATH Savings and Credit Cooperative Society Ltd's transition from group lending to individual lending. The objectives of the research were to determine if third and fourth cycle clients had opened bank accounts, if those accounts were functional for loans and insurance, and reasons why clients may not have opened accounts. The methodology involved a questionnaire distributed to 24 households comprising 110 individuals who had completed their fourth loan cycle. The findings of the research are then presented.
Páll Árnason is a soccer coach currently coaching the U17 and U13 teams at KR Reykjavík. He owns and founded KEPacademy, a personalized soccer training academy. He has over a decade of experience coaching youth soccer teams in Iceland and holds a UEFA A coaching diploma. Páll graduated with a BSc and MSc in Sport Science from Reykjavík University with a specialization in elite coaching.
This short document promotes creating presentations using Haiku Deck on SlideShare. It contains two stock photos and text suggesting the reader may be inspired to create their own Haiku Deck presentation. In fewer than three sentences, it highlights presentation creation using Haiku Deck on SlideShare.
This document provides a summary of the current UK law regarding a patient's right to refuse medical treatment. It discusses several important cases that have shaped this area of law:
1) Re T established the fundamental principle that competent adult patients have an absolute right to refuse medical treatment. This case is still the benchmark in UK law.
2) Exceptions to the Re T principle include cases where refusal could lead to the death of a viable fetus. However, later cases established that all competent adults, including pregnant women, can refuse treatment.
3) Younger patients can consent under the "Gillick competence" standard, where a minor understands the treatment, or refuse if their refusal is overridden by parental consent and medical
The document discusses physician assisted suicide (PAS) and euthanasia laws around the world. It begins with background on PAS and euthanasia. It then examines the laws and statutes regarding PAS in several places: the US (Oregon, Washington, Montana, Vermont), Switzerland, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Quebec, and the UK. The laws vary significantly between allowing PAS in some circumstances and completely prohibiting it. Requirements for patients and physicians also differ in jurisdictions where PAS is legal.
Physician Assisted Death
Alexandra Preston
HSA4431
What is Physician Assisted Death?
One may ask what is Physician Assisted Death, its the act of a physician intentionally providing a patient with the means necessary to commit suicide, which can include counseling about lethal doses of drugs, prescribing lethal doses or supplying the drugs.
Interesting Background About Physician Assisted Death
There are only 5 states where physician assisted death is legal ( Oregon, Washington, Montana, Vermont, California)
Oregon was the First State to allow Physician assisted Death on November 8, 1994
California was the most recent to legalize it on October 5, 2015
Montana is the only state where it could be mandated by court ruling for a physician to be able to proceed with assisting a patient to die.
The specific method in which assisted death is done in each state varies, but mainly involves a prescription from a licensed physician approved by the state in which the patient is a resident.
Difference Between Physician Assisted Death and Euthanasia
Although they may have similar goals, physician-assisted suicide and euthanasia differ
In Physician-Assisted Suicide:
The physician provides the necessary means or information
The patient performs the act
In Euthanasia: The physician performs the intervention
Euthanasia is defined as the act of bringing about the death of a hopelessly ill and suffering person in a relatively quick and painless way for reasons of mercy
Timeline of Physician Assisted Death
June 1997 - The U.S. Supreme Court rules that state laws banning physician-assisted suicide do not violate the Constitution in the case Washington v. Glucksberg. The court left the matter of the constitutionality of a right to a physician's aid in dying to the states.
October 27, 1997 - Oregon's Death with Dignity Act becomes law. Passed in a 1994 election with 51% of voters in favor, the law was delayed initially because U.S. District Judge Michael Hogan issued an injunction and then ruled it unconstitutional. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals reversed the ruling and the injunction was lifted when the U.S. Supreme Court referred the matter back to the state in 1997.
November 1998 - American pathologist and assisted suicide advocate Jack Kevorkian, known as "Dr. Death," videotapes the death of Thomas Youk, submits it to CBS's 60 Minutes and it is broadcast on television. The airing prompts murder charges against Kevorkian, rather than assisted suicide charges, because Kevorkian injected the drug into Youk, who had Lou Gehrig's disease.
March 26, 1999 - Kevorkian is convicted of second degree murder and delivery of a controlled substance. He serves eight years of a 10 to 25 year sentence. November 4, 2008 - Washington's initiative, the Death with Dignity Act, is passed with 57.91% of voters in favor. March 5, 2009 - The Washington Death with Dignity Act goes into effect.
Timeline cont’d
December 31, 2009 - A Montana Supreme Cou ...
The document provides background information on euthanasia and its current status around the world. It defines euthanasia as hastening death to prevent suffering from an incurable disease. While some countries have legalized certain forms of euthanasia, it remains illegal in many places and is still controversial. The document outlines the history of euthanasia and different country positions, including how some have legalized voluntary euthanasia while opposing non-voluntary or active euthanasia. It also notes increasing support for euthanasia rights but continuing ethical debates.
This document discusses physician aid in dying and definitions of related terms like death with dignity, physician assisted suicide, and euthanasia. It outlines where physician aid in dying is currently legal and the eligibility requirements. The document also presents some of the most common arguments against physician aid in dying, including concerns about the sanctity of life, distinguishing between passive and active actions, and potential for abuse. It then provides counter arguments for each of these common positions against physician aid in dying.
Medical certification of the cause of deathSanjeev Kumar
The document discusses medical certification of cause of death in India. It provides background on the Registration of Births and Deaths Act of 1969 which made registration of all births and deaths in India compulsory. It describes the process of reporting and registering a death, including filling out the death reporting form and the medical certification of cause of death (MCCD) form. It notes challenges with death registration in India like underreporting of deaths and lack of certified causes of death. Initiatives are needed to improve coordination, training, monitoring, and demand for vital statistics.
Presentation by Ewen Stewart, on death certification and HIV. This was presented at the Scottish HIV and AIDS Group annual meeting on 26 June 2015. Copyright Ewen Stewart.
Fabriccio The Suspension Of Medical Treatment In Italy Definitivesynapticaweb
This document provides an overview of the legislative framework regarding medical treatment decisions in Italy through a discussion of several key court cases. It summarizes the evolution of Italian laws from emphasizing the unavailability of life to recognizing patient autonomy in the Constitution of 1948. The document analyzes two prominent end-of-life cases - Piergiorgio Welby's request to discontinue ventilation in 2006 and the judgments that followed, as well as the case of Renato Nuvoli regarding refusal of treatment.
Judge Professor Anselm Eldergill resume 10 may 2019Anselm Eldergill
Anselm Eldergill has had a long and distinguished career in public service related to mental health law. He has served as a judge, chaired numerous government inquiries, and held leadership positions with regulatory bodies. Additionally, he has authored several influential textbooks and publications and holds academic positions where he lectures on mental health law.
Deaths from Respiratory Diseases: Implications for end of life care in England
21 June 2011 - National End of Life Care Intelligence Network (NEoLCIN) / National End of Life Care Programme
The aim of this report is to analyse the latest data on place of death for those with respiratory disease and how this varies with gender, age, socioeconomic deprivation, place.
It presents high level analysis of mortality data from the Office for National Statistics(ONS).
A 5-Year Retrospective Analysis of Legal Intervention Injuries and Mortality ...Jim Bloyd, DrPH, MPH
There has been a public outcry for the accountability of law enforcement agents who kill and injure citizens. Epidemiological surveillance can underscore the magnitude of morbidity and mortality of citizens at the hands of law enforcement. We used hospital outpatient and inpatient databases to conduct a retrospective analysis of legal interventions in Illinois between 2010 and 2015. We calculated injury and mortality rates based on demographics, spatial distribution, and cause of injury. During the study period, 8,384 patients were treated for injuries caused during contact with law enforcement personnel. Most were male, the mean age was 32.7, and those injured were disproportionately black. Nearly all patients were treated as outpatients, and those who were admitted to the hospital had a mean of length of stay of 6 days. Most patients were discharged home or to an acute or long-term care facility (83.7%). It is unclear if those discharged home or to a different medical facility were arrested, accidentally injured, injured when no crime was committed, or injured when a crime was committed. Surveillance of law enforcement-related injuries and deaths should be implemented, and injuries caused during legal interventions should be recognized as a public health issue rather than a criminal justice issue.
Medical Whistleblower Canary Notes Newsletter 36 United Nations Declar...MedicalWhistleblower
The United Nations recognized the vital role of human rights defenders and the UN was convinced that these human rights defenders need to be protected from retaliation for reporting violations of human rights of others. The UN formally defined the defense of human rights as a right in itself and to recognize persons who undertake human rights work as “Human Rights Defenders.”The Resolution 53/144 was adopted in order to protect both human rights defenders and their activities. This is commonly known as the “Declaration on human rights defenders.”
Article. neighbor intervention in zoning casesBrian Elliff
Discusses the conundrum where a property owner challenges zoning on constitutional grounds, but then must deal with the intervention of neighbors during the litigation phase.
Páll Árnason is a soccer coach from Iceland. He owns and founded KEPacademy, a soccer academy that provides personalized training for young talented players. He has over a decade of experience coaching youth soccer teams between ages 8-17 and currently serves as the U17 and U13 coach for FH Hafnarfjordur. Páll has a Master's degree in Sport Science with a specialization in elite coaching and has received several honors and championships as a youth coach over the years.
Achemedes S. Goll has over 15 years of experience in customer service, technical support, and project management roles. He is skilled in Microsoft Office, Citrix, Oracle, and various CRM software. Currently he works as a Service Network Specialist at Asurion, where his responsibilities include ensuring compliance, communicating with field teams, and providing excellent customer service. He has held prior roles such as Resource Management Center Analyst, Customer Service Representative, Technical Supervisor, and System Analyst. Goll has a BSc in Business Management and certificates in customer service, IT, and computer literacy.
Graduating from Group Lending to Individual LendingPurvi Thaker
This document summarizes a case study on The SAATH Savings and Credit Cooperative Society Ltd's transition from group lending to individual lending. The objectives of the research were to determine if third and fourth cycle clients had opened bank accounts, if those accounts were functional for loans and insurance, and reasons why clients may not have opened accounts. The methodology involved a questionnaire distributed to 24 households comprising 110 individuals who had completed their fourth loan cycle. The findings of the research are then presented.
Páll Árnason is a soccer coach currently coaching the U17 and U13 teams at KR Reykjavík. He owns and founded KEPacademy, a personalized soccer training academy. He has over a decade of experience coaching youth soccer teams in Iceland and holds a UEFA A coaching diploma. Páll graduated with a BSc and MSc in Sport Science from Reykjavík University with a specialization in elite coaching.
This short document promotes creating presentations using Haiku Deck on SlideShare. It contains two stock photos and text suggesting the reader may be inspired to create their own Haiku Deck presentation. In fewer than three sentences, it highlights presentation creation using Haiku Deck on SlideShare.
This document provides a summary of the current UK law regarding a patient's right to refuse medical treatment. It discusses several important cases that have shaped this area of law:
1) Re T established the fundamental principle that competent adult patients have an absolute right to refuse medical treatment. This case is still the benchmark in UK law.
2) Exceptions to the Re T principle include cases where refusal could lead to the death of a viable fetus. However, later cases established that all competent adults, including pregnant women, can refuse treatment.
3) Younger patients can consent under the "Gillick competence" standard, where a minor understands the treatment, or refuse if their refusal is overridden by parental consent and medical
The document discusses physician assisted suicide (PAS) and euthanasia laws around the world. It begins with background on PAS and euthanasia. It then examines the laws and statutes regarding PAS in several places: the US (Oregon, Washington, Montana, Vermont), Switzerland, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Quebec, and the UK. The laws vary significantly between allowing PAS in some circumstances and completely prohibiting it. Requirements for patients and physicians also differ in jurisdictions where PAS is legal.
Physician Assisted Death
Alexandra Preston
HSA4431
What is Physician Assisted Death?
One may ask what is Physician Assisted Death, its the act of a physician intentionally providing a patient with the means necessary to commit suicide, which can include counseling about lethal doses of drugs, prescribing lethal doses or supplying the drugs.
Interesting Background About Physician Assisted Death
There are only 5 states where physician assisted death is legal ( Oregon, Washington, Montana, Vermont, California)
Oregon was the First State to allow Physician assisted Death on November 8, 1994
California was the most recent to legalize it on October 5, 2015
Montana is the only state where it could be mandated by court ruling for a physician to be able to proceed with assisting a patient to die.
The specific method in which assisted death is done in each state varies, but mainly involves a prescription from a licensed physician approved by the state in which the patient is a resident.
Difference Between Physician Assisted Death and Euthanasia
Although they may have similar goals, physician-assisted suicide and euthanasia differ
In Physician-Assisted Suicide:
The physician provides the necessary means or information
The patient performs the act
In Euthanasia: The physician performs the intervention
Euthanasia is defined as the act of bringing about the death of a hopelessly ill and suffering person in a relatively quick and painless way for reasons of mercy
Timeline of Physician Assisted Death
June 1997 - The U.S. Supreme Court rules that state laws banning physician-assisted suicide do not violate the Constitution in the case Washington v. Glucksberg. The court left the matter of the constitutionality of a right to a physician's aid in dying to the states.
October 27, 1997 - Oregon's Death with Dignity Act becomes law. Passed in a 1994 election with 51% of voters in favor, the law was delayed initially because U.S. District Judge Michael Hogan issued an injunction and then ruled it unconstitutional. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals reversed the ruling and the injunction was lifted when the U.S. Supreme Court referred the matter back to the state in 1997.
November 1998 - American pathologist and assisted suicide advocate Jack Kevorkian, known as "Dr. Death," videotapes the death of Thomas Youk, submits it to CBS's 60 Minutes and it is broadcast on television. The airing prompts murder charges against Kevorkian, rather than assisted suicide charges, because Kevorkian injected the drug into Youk, who had Lou Gehrig's disease.
March 26, 1999 - Kevorkian is convicted of second degree murder and delivery of a controlled substance. He serves eight years of a 10 to 25 year sentence. November 4, 2008 - Washington's initiative, the Death with Dignity Act, is passed with 57.91% of voters in favor. March 5, 2009 - The Washington Death with Dignity Act goes into effect.
Timeline cont’d
December 31, 2009 - A Montana Supreme Cou ...
The document provides background information on euthanasia and its current status around the world. It defines euthanasia as hastening death to prevent suffering from an incurable disease. While some countries have legalized certain forms of euthanasia, it remains illegal in many places and is still controversial. The document outlines the history of euthanasia and different country positions, including how some have legalized voluntary euthanasia while opposing non-voluntary or active euthanasia. It also notes increasing support for euthanasia rights but continuing ethical debates.
This document discusses physician aid in dying and definitions of related terms like death with dignity, physician assisted suicide, and euthanasia. It outlines where physician aid in dying is currently legal and the eligibility requirements. The document also presents some of the most common arguments against physician aid in dying, including concerns about the sanctity of life, distinguishing between passive and active actions, and potential for abuse. It then provides counter arguments for each of these common positions against physician aid in dying.
The document discusses the right to die debate. It defines the right to die as a terminally ill person's right to refuse life-extending treatment and the right to physician-assisted suicide. Supporters want to legalize assisted suicide and see it as a fundamental right. Opponents believe it could lead to abuse of patients and suicide for financial reasons. The document outlines laws around assisted suicide in Oregon, Switzerland, and a French court case. It also discusses the US Supreme Court upholding Oregon's Death with Dignity Act.
This document discusses key concepts in healthcare law and ethics. It covers basics of healthcare law including different types of laws, how laws are created and interpreted, and civil vs criminal law. It also discusses the relationship between healthcare providers and consumers, important consumer laws like HIPAA and EMTALA, informed consent, patient bills of rights, ethical standards and considerations, and issues at the intersection of ethics and public health.
This document discusses euthanasia and the debate around its legalization. It defines euthanasia as taking action to deliberately cause another person's death to relieve persistent pain from a terminal illness. There are two types - active euthanasia deliberately causes death through lethal substances, while passive euthanasia withholds life-sustaining treatment. The document outlines arguments for and against legalization, including that it respects patient autonomy over enduring suffering, but could slip down a slope towards non-voluntary euthanasia or be misused for financial gain. It concludes that with proper regulation, euthanasia could be legally implemented while deterring misuse, though some problems may still exist as with any law
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY AND BIOSTATISTICS : UNIT-IV: Medical fatality iASHISHSUTTEE
Case fatality rate, also called case fatality risk or case fatality ratio, in epidemiology, the proportion of people who die from a specified disease among all individuals diagnosed with the disease over a certain period of time.
The document discusses physician-assisted suicide laws in several US states. It provides details on:
1) The eligibility requirements for patients seeking physician-assisted suicide, including being terminally ill with less than 6 months to live, mentally competent, and a resident of Oregon, Washington, Vermont, Montana or New Mexico.
2) The process patients must go through, including making two oral requests 15 days apart, a written request, and a 48-hour waiting period before receiving a prescription.
3) Perspectives on the debate around physician-assisted suicide laws, with supporters arguing for patient autonomy and relieving suffering, and opponents like the Catholic Church believing it devalues life.
This document discusses euthanasia and its legal status in various countries and US states. It defines euthanasia as intentionally ending a person's life to alleviate pain and suffering, and identifies three types: voluntary, non-voluntary, and involuntary. Several landmark court cases related to end-of-life decisions and removing life support are also summarized. Both arguments for and against euthanasia are presented, focusing on patient autonomy versus the ethical responsibilities of medical professionals.
Running head APPLICATION OF AN ETHICAL THEORY1APPLICATION OF.docxjoellemurphey
Running head: APPLICATION OF AN ETHICAL THEORY 1
APPLICATION OF AN ETHICAL THEORY 2
Application of an Ethical Theory
Trudie J. Harris
Professor: PHI 208 Ethics and Moral Reasoning
Instructor: Christopher Kinney
Date: Feb 23, 2015
Granting the people who are terminally ill the right to die has been debatable overtime. It is worth noting that people who are terminally ill have a limited period of time to live. As such, some parties argue that whether or not they continue living they will at long last die and hence it is only justifiable if they are given the right to decide whether to live or to die. Others argue that it is an equivalent people if terminally ill people are granted the right to die and hence it is unethical act. Applying the theory of deontology it is unethical to let people who are terminally ill have the right to die.
The theory of deontology is centered on the motives of the person who carries out a specific action. Kant (2008) provides that it is not the consequences attributable to a specific action that can be used as a basis of classifying the action right or wrong but rather it is the motive with the doer of the action did it. Kant argues that at times consequences of an action may contradict the intentions of the doer. Thus, desirable consequences may arise by coincidence from act whose doer wanted to undesirable consequences. Consequently, by bad luck undesirable consequences may arise from an act whose doer intended desirable consequences for the action. Hence, this fact forms a basis on which Kant finds it justifiable to consider the motives of an individual when looking at the consequences of an act. Kant (2008) further adds that for an individual to act in a way that is considered moral h/she must act in respect of the moral law. He provides that an individual should act in a way that always upholds the sense of humanity and that the each individual should undertake to act out of their own goodwill in upholding humanity.
Applying the theory of deontology and provisions of Immanuel Kant renders it unethical to grant terminally ill people the right to die. As noted in the paragraph above, it is the motive of the doer of a specific act that determines whether the act is right or wrong and not the consequences that can be attributed to the specific act. Hence, the motive of granting terminally ill people the right to die will be more or less a motive of killing which is unethical. Though terminally ill people may be granted the right to die as a course of action to save them from the psychological torture that they may go through knowing that they will finally die, considering the motive the act will be unethical. It is also worth noting that according to Kant (2008) individual should act in respect to the moral law that requires that people should always act in a way that upholds the sense of humanity. Granting terminally ill people the right to die can be considered as being against humanity and hence ...
Euthanasia refers to intentionally ending a person's life to relieve suffering. The document discusses the history and types of euthanasia, including active/passive and voluntary/non-voluntary euthanasia. It outlines arguments for and against euthanasia regarding patient autonomy and quality of life versus the sanctity of human life. Trends in different countries are examined, such as euthanasia being legal in some places like the Netherlands and Oregon but not in others like the UK and India. The document also discusses the famous Dr. Kevorkian's assisted suicides and the Indian Supreme Court case regarding Aruna Shanbaug that legalized passive euthanasia. Psychologists' roles
This document provides an overview of end-of-life issues and ethics. It discusses key concepts around patient autonomy, advance directives, withdrawal and withholding of treatment, medical futility, and do-not-resuscitate orders. It also covers ethics committees and their role in consulting on patient care issues. Organ donation, research, and genetics are discussed in relation to end-of-life decisions. The document concludes with review questions on various topics covered.
MRM301T Research Methodology and Biostatistics: Euthanasia An Indian perspec...ashish7sattee
In our society, the palliative care and quality of life issues in patients with terminal illnesses like advanced cancer and AIDS have become an important concern for clinicians.
Parallel to this concern has arisen another controversial issue-euthanasia or “mercy –killing” of terminally ill patients.
This document discusses the right to die debate. It defines the right to die as a terminally ill person's right to refuse life-extending treatment and the right to physician-assisted suicide. Supporters see it as a fundamental human right allowing people to determine the time and manner of their death, while opponents worry it could be abused or coerce people into suicide for financial reasons. The document outlines Oregon's Death with Dignity Act, the first US law legalizing physician-assisted suicide, and discusses related cases like Gonzales v Oregon which upheld the law. It also notes euthanasia is legal in Switzerland if the patient takes an active role.
Medical ethics provide moral principles to guide physicians in their practice and dealings with patients. The document discusses key concepts in medical ethics such as autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice. It also covers international guidelines like the Declaration of Geneva and the International Code of Medical Ethics. The code outlines the duties physicians have to patients, other doctors, and in general, including maintaining confidentiality, acting with integrity, and providing competent care. Unethical practices like improper advertising or fee splitting are also described.
Published April 2017
Part of hospital test scenarios, escalation to ethics committee
Patients with a terminal illness who communicate their wish to die to a nurse shall receive appropriate care that is in line with institutional procedures, local laws, and their personal preferences. A nurse should be able to rely on the support of the institution he or she works for in terms of training, clear line of responsibility for such decisions, and unambiguously communicated expectations defined in organizational procedures. Assisted suicide is legal in Switzerland and several other European countries, in several states in the U.S., and in Canada. The mental capacity of the patient has to be considered in addition to locally applicable laws. Medical Power of Attorney is helpful if the patient previously described his or her wishes regarding end-of-life decisions and became incapacitated in the meantime. Financial toxicity, in addition to dubious effectiveness, contributes to the reluctance of some patients to undergo aggressive and invasive therapies. German physician Albert Moll in his book Medical Ethics (1902), argues that aggressive care in incurably ill patients is unethical. Healthcare staff, including nurses, can conscientiously object to assisting with suicide.
The document discusses the right to die debate, including arguments from both supporters and opponents. It provides details on Oregon's Death with Dignity Act, the first law in the US to legalize physician-assisted suicide. The act established requirements like being diagnosed with a terminal illness, making two oral requests separated by 15 days, and undergoing a psychological evaluation if concerns about the patient's ability to consent arise. It also discusses a related 2006 Supreme Court case upholding the law and euthanasia practices in Switzerland that allow "suicide tourism."
Henry Morgentaler, a Canadian gynecologist and abortion rights activist, received an honorary degree that sparked controversy. Morgentaler opened illegal abortion clinics and spent time in jail challenging Canada's abortion laws. In 1988, the Supreme Court of Canada struck down the country's abortion law, finding it violated a woman's right to security of her own body. This ruling essentially removed all restrictions on abortion in Canada. Morgentaler continued his advocacy for abortion access, opening more clinics and debating the issue publicly.
1. 1| Purvi Thaker
Assignment 3: Physician Assisted Suicides and Euthanasia in Canada
(Protecting Medical Practitioners’ from Conviction on Grounds of Violation of Criminal Code)
Purvi Thaker
PPOL 611: Social Policy in Canada
Dr. Loreen Gilmour
April 9, 2015
2. 2| Purvi Thaker
Table of Contents
Executive Summary 3
1. Introduction 4-5
1.1Policy Issue and Historical Background
1.2 Assisted Suicide and Euthanasia: Definitions and Differences
2.Literature review 5-7
2.1.Legislation governing Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide
2.2Charges Against Physicians in Canada in the past for practicing
Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide: Lessons learnt from past experiences in
Canada
3. Research question, goals, and strategies: Policy Recommendation 7-10
4. Other Alternatives (The Garbage Can Model) 10-13
5.Conclusion 13
Bibliography 14
3. 3| Purvi Thaker
Executive Summary
Advances in medical treatments have raised the average life expectancy of people in Canada.
However, it fails to guarantee a perfectly healthy life for people who experience incurable diseases. The
rising interest in Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide in Canada, is an outcome of the desire of people to
have a greater control over their lives in terms of their capacity to determine death when the patients are
terminally ill.
In February 2015, the Supreme Court of Canada struck down the Criminal Code laws prohibiting
physician-assisted suicide, making it no longer against the law for a doctor to help someone who is ill
and suffering to end their life. The ruling raises several concerns over the role of physicians in guiding
their terminally ill patients to dignified death. Learning from the past cases in Canada, where many
physicians, who provided proper and ethical treatment to their terminal patients, incurred a violation of
certain sections of Criminal Code, the paper proposes to re-introduce Bill C-407, An Act to Amend the
Criminal Code (right to die with dignity) in the House of Commons.
The Bill, which did not get debated upon in the year 2005 due to dissolution of Parliament, has
provisions that safeguard the physicians from violating the Criminal Code, by amending sections 14
(Consent to Death), 22(Homicide) and 241(Counselling or aiding suicide) of the Criminal Code,
provided certain criteria are met. The paper also proposes that the legislation and implementation of the
Bill be made a federal issue so as to avoid risks of discrepancy in practice of euthanasia and assisted
suicide across Canada.
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1. Introduction
1.1 Policy Issue and Historical Background
In February 2015, the Supreme Court of Canada, in a unanimous 9-0 decision, struck down the
Criminal Code laws prohibiting physician-assisted suicide, making it no longer against the law for a
doctor to help someone who is ill and suffering to end their life.1
The Supreme Court however,
suspended its ruling for 12 months to allow for new rules and laws to be drafted.2
Legalizing the right to
physician assisted suicide and euthanasia will mean putting the physicians at the center of the debate,
making them powerful, yet vulnerable. In a variety of cases in Canada, physicians have been convicted
for assisting suicide, withdrawing medical treatment at the request of terminally ill patient or where
treatment is not in best interests of the patient and counselling pain-relieving drugs that hastened the
patient’s death as a side effect.3
Effective and concrete drafting of laws on assisted suicide and
euthanasia is required to protect the physicians who provide proper and ethical treatment to their
terminal patients but, by doing so also incur the possibility of violating certain sections of Criminal
Code. This paper proposes reintroducing Bill C-407, An Act to Amend the Criminal Code(right to die
with dignity), with respect to Assisted Suicide and Euthanasia to protect the rights of physicians and
deal fairly with those choosing death over remaining terminally ill.
1.2 Assisted Suicide and Euthanasia: Definitions and Differences:
In order to understand how the legalization of assisted suicide and euthanasia can affect the
physicians, it is important to review the legal definitions of both the phenomena, adopted in Canada.
Special Senate Committee on Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide, Of Life and Death,4
defines Assisted
Suicide in the given way:
“Assisted suicide is the act of intentionally killing oneself with the assistance of another who
provides the knowledge, means or both. Euthanasia on the other hand, means knowingly and
intentionally performing an act, with or without consent, that is the deliberate act undertaken by one
1
“Supreme Court strikes down Canada’s assisted suicide laws,” Global News, last modified February 6, 2015
http://globalnews.ca/news/1740699/alberta-government-approves-tuition-hikes-in-25-programs/.
2
“Supreme Court rules Canadians have right to doctor-assisted suicide,” Global News, last modified February 7, 2015
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/supreme-court-rules-on-doctor-assisted-suicide/article22828437/ .
3
Butler Martha, Nicol Julia, Tiedemann Marlisa and Valiquet Dominique, Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide in Canada, Library
of Parliament, 2013, 16, http://www.parl.gc.ca/Content/LOP/ResearchPublications/2010-68-e.htm.
4
Senate of Canada, Of Life and Death, Report of the Special Senate Committee on Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide, June
1995.
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person with the intention of ending the life of another person in order to relieve that person’s suffering.
Euthanasia can be voluntary and non-voluntary depending upon whether the act is undertaken in
accordance with or without the consent of a competent individual. Involuntary euthanasia is
indistinguishable from murder or manslaughter. It occurs when the act is done against the wishes of a
competent individual or a valid directive.”
Essentially, there is a difference between euthanasia and assisted suicide, which are used
interchangeably, almost everywhere. In this paper hence, we discuss both the terms and the impact of
legalization of both on the physicians.
2. Literature Review
2.1 Legislations governing euthanasia and assisted suicide
The principle legislation that governs euthanasia and assisted suicide in Canada is the Criminal Code.
According to Section 14 of the Criminal Code,
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 have been inflicted on the person by whom
consent is given.
Thus, a physician is criminally liable if at the request of a patient, he administers the patient with
a lethal dose or knowledge. In other words, a physician is criminally accountable for euthanasia as well
as guiding an assisted suicide.
Other section of the Criminal Code that make a physician liable for a patient’s death even when
the physician deals in ethical and proper treatment of a terminally ill patient, are:
1. section 215(Duty of persons to provide necessaries)
2. section 216(Duty of persons undertaking acts dangerous to life)
3. section 217(Duty of persons undertaking acts)
4. section 219(Criminal negligence)
5. section 220 (Causing death by criminal negligence)
6. section 221(Causing body harm by criminal negligence)
7. section 22(Homicide)
8. section 229(Murder)
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9. section 231 (Classification of murder)
10. section 234 (Manslaughter)
11. Section 245 (Administering noxious thing)
12. Section 265 and subsequent (various assault and bodily harm provisions)
Given the above sections of the Criminal Code, a physician practicing euthanasia could be expected
to get convicted on grounds of a first-degree murder since it involves both , the intent to cause death
(definition of murder) and the act is most often planned and deliberate (the definition of a first degree
murder). Charges in Canada have ranged from administering noxious substance, to manslaughter, to
murder.5
2.2 Charges Against Physicians in Canada in the past for practicing Euthanasia and Assisted
Suicide: Lessons learnt from past experiences in Canada
In the past, in Canada, there have been numerous cases where assisted suicides have been treated
at par with manslaughter and attempted murder. In some cases, judges have declined to commit the
physicians and in some cases, the physicians have borne the brunt of violating the Criminal Code. In yet
other cases, physicians have been found misusing their authority and put in words of those against
legalizing euthanasia and assisted suicide, killed the hope of life! Some case have been discussed in
brief below:
(A) The Case of Dr,Nancy Morrison:
On May 6, 1997, Dr.Nancy Morrison was arrested on a charge of first-degree murder in the death
of a terminally ill cancer patient. Mr.Mills had cancer of the esophagus which required the
physician to remove the esophagus and repair the gap by repositioning the stomach. By 1996
there was no hope that Mr.Mills would recover. Family of the patient was consulted with usual
procedures in such circumstances and it was decided to discontinue active life support for
Mr.Mills by an agreement. Mr. Mills was taken off the ventilator and administered lethal doses of
pain control drugs. Continuous distress of Mr.Mills led Dr.Morrison to administer first
nitroglycerine, and then inject potassium chloride by syringe, which eventually stopped Mr.Mill’s
heart.
5
Butler Martha, Nicol Julia, Tiedemann Marlisa and Valiquet Dominique, Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide in Canada, Library
of Parliament, 2013, 16, http://www.parl.gc.ca/Content/LOP/ResearchPublications/2010-68-e.htm.
7. 7| Purvi Thaker
In February 1998, Judge Hughes Randall declined to commit Dr.Morrison to stand trial. His
argument was that Mr.Mills had already been given pain killers in heavy amount event before
Dr.Morrison administered the same to him which would have led to eventual death of Mr.Mills.6
(B) Doctor Maurice Genereux’s Case (1998):
Doctor Maurice Genereux, in 1998 was convicted of assisted suicide. He plead guilty of abetting
and aiding two HIV patients who were not terminally ill, to commit suicide. The patients as per
the doctor, were deep into depression, and could have taken drugs to suicide sooner or later. The
court sentenced him to two years less one day in jail and three years of probation, rigorous than
most sentences in cases of assisted suicide and because the Ontario Court of Appeal withheld the
sentence, he lost his license to practice.7
(C)The Case of Ramesh Kumar Sharma:
Ramesh Kumar Sharma, a general practitioner was convicted for aiding the suicide of a 93-year
old heart patient, Ruth Wolfe and sentenced to conditional confinement of two years less one day
to be served in the community. Dr.Sharma’s license to practice was also revoked by the
province’s college of physicians.8
The cases cited have been one of a kind and lead to various debates about the role of physicians
and their liabilities and whether the physicians can decline requests of terminally ill patients for
assisted suicide.
It can hence be thought that a change in legal status of these practices in Canada would represent
a major shift in social policy behavior and the importance attached to physicians on the issue of
assisted suicide and euthanasia.
3. Research Question, Goals, and Strategies: Policy Recommendation
a. Research question:
This research paper aims to answer the question of protection of physicians in the context of
legalization of euthanasia and assisted suicide. The primary research question that the paper examines is:
6
Ibid.
7
Ibid.
8
Ibid.
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How will the physicians be protected against getting convicted of false charges if euthanasia and
assisted suicide are legalized in Canada?
b. Goals (ranked):
Aligned to this research question is the associated goals that are ranked in terms of priorities as follows:
i. Protecting physicians if euthanasia and assisted suicide are legalized and establishing conditions
for the denial and acceptance of a particular case by the physicians.
ii. Ensure that those who are vulnerable do not bear the brunt of legalization of assisted suicide and
euthanasia.
c. Strategies for remedy (to achieve goals):
i. Re-introducing Bill C-407, An Act to Amend the Criminal Code (right to die with dignity) in the
House of Commons. The bill was introduced by a private member in June 2005, but did not get
debated upon because of dissolution of the Parliament. Bill C-407 would have amended sections
14(Consent to Death), 222(Homicide), and 241 (Counselling or aiding suicide) if the Criminal
Code so that, provided that certain criteria are met, a person who assists another person to die
would neither be committing a homicide nor counselling or aiding suicide. 9
ii. Mandate “advance directives” for patients undergoing treatments that deal with “end of life”
decision.
9
Ibid.18
9. 9| Purvi Thaker
d. Possible consequences:
i. Bill C-407, in its essence, did not make it clear that it would be the medical practitioner or a
physician who would legally aid a patient to die with dignity. If the bill is reintroduced without
any changes on this particular concern, there could be discrepancies in terms of the person
assisting death and the power could be misused by other people in-charge.
ii. End of life decisions are challenging particularly given the fact that at times, the course of mental
or physical condition of patients who are seriously ill cannot be known in advance. A patient
may hope to recover, even in worse situations and may not have given advance directives, in the
absence of which, according to the bill, the person shall not be granted the right to die with
dignity, even with the aid of physician.
e. Best policy to achieve goals:
Reintroduce Bill C-407, in the House of Commons as soon as possible to be debated upon so that
it does not meet with the same consequence of that of the last time in the name of dissolution of
WHAT DID BILL C-407 LOOK LIKE?
Bill C- 407 would have amended sections 14 (Consent to Death), 222(Homicide) and 241(Counselling or
aiding Suicide) of the Criminal Code. The Bill would have required that the individual whose death is
assisted:
Be at least 18 years old;
Be either experiencing “severe physical or mental pain without any prospect of relief” or
terminally ill;
Have, while appearing to be lucid, made two requests more than 10 days apart stating his or her
free and informed wish to die; and
Have designated in writing someone to act for him or her “with respect to the person who aids him
or her to die, and with respect to any medical practitioner” in the event that the individual appears
not be lucid.
The bill would also have required that the person who is assisting the death:
Be a medical practitioner or be assisted by a medical practitioner;
Have received confirmation of the diagnosis, from one or two medical practitioners( depending on
whether the person assisting death is a medical practitioner);
Be entitled by the law to provide health services or be assisted by a team of people so entitled;
Act as directed by the individual whose death is assisted; and
Provide the coroner with a copy of the diagnosis from one or two medical practitioners (depending
on whether the person assisting the death is a medical practitioner).
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Parliament. The bill is fair framework of dealing with the issue of legalization of euthanasia and
assisted suicide and the problems associated with “who will guide the assisted suicide” can be
taken care of by replacing the words “medical practitioners” in the original clause
“Have received confirmation of the diagnosis, from one or two medical practitioners (depending
on whether the person assisting death is a medical practitioner);” by the word “physician”. The
Bill could also contain details on the advance directives to be issued by the patient who seeks to
end life by the means of assisted suicide or euthanasia.
f. Best time to implement Bill C-407:
Since the Supreme Court of Canada has left the decision of legalization open to Parliament, it is
still unclear as to whether any bill let alone Bill C-407 will be introduced in the House of Commons.
4. Other Alternatives (The Garbage Can Model):
a. Policy process (independent of one another)
I. Problems:
Protecting the rights of physicians in case euthanasia and assisted suicide are legalized in Canada
by the government.
Minors and incompetent patients are at a risk given the legal status of euthanasia and assisted
suicide.
II. Solutions:
Introduce Bill C-407 in the House of Commons at the earliest if the government decides to
respect the decision of the Supreme Court.
Introduce a clause of advance directives in the Bill to protect vulnerable patients and minors
from the side effects of legalization of euthanasia and assisted suicide.
III. Politics:
The Supreme Court has left the decision on the Parliament on whether to respect the ruling of
Supreme Court and legalize euthanasia and assisted suicide or not. Justice Minister Peter MacKay, after
the decision of Supreme Court was announced, has said that the government is reviewing the decision.
Conservative MP Steven Fletcher who became quadriplegic after a car accident almost 20 years ago
already gave a signal that the government would leave the legislating process up to the provinces, since
11. 11| Purvi Thaker
health is a provincial matter in Canada however, the federal government will ensure that the vulnerable
are protected. Supreme Court’s decision also confirms that legislating the regulation over health care can
be handled both by the provincial and the federal governments, also outlining that Quebec passed a law
to facilitate medical aid in dying last year.10
The prevalence of federal-provincial responsibility debate
and the delays in consideration of the apex court’s decision by the federal government, both can be seen
as adherence to the individualistic and non-interfering behavior of the government towards an issue
central to palliative health care in Canada.
IV. Resolving the Crisis:
a. Public Perception:
There is a mixed reaction to the decision of Supreme Court on legalizing euthanasia and assisted
suicide. “There are some factors that shape public opinion when it comes to doctor-assisted suicide.
Does suffering from a terminal disease impact how one feels about physician assisted suicide? What if a
loved one thought their health care was a burden to their family?”11
An online survey by The Angus
Reid Institute revealed that most Canadians support doctor-assisted suicide, but they are still divided on
the specific circumstances under which assisted suicides are sought.12
When asked about approval for changing the Criminal Code to allow doctors to prescribe lethal drugs to
patients who want to die, survey respondents answered as follows:13
Strongly Approve:37%
Moderately Approve:42%
Moderately Disapprove:8%
Strongly Disapprove:10%
10
“Supreme Court strikes down Canada’s assisted suicide laws,” Global News, last modified February 6, 2015
http://globalnews.ca/news/1740699/alberta-government-approves-tuition-hikes-in-25-programs/.
11
“Most Canadians support doctor-assisted suicide, but specifics reveal divisions,” Global News, last modified December 17,
2014 http://globalnews.ca/news/1731716/most-canadians-support-doctor-assisted-suicide-but-specifics-reveal-divisions/
12
Ibid.
13
Ibid.
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“There are scenarios under which the vast majority of Canadians – those 42 per cent who say they
moderately support physician-assisted suicide– are actually drawing a line and saying, ‘Under certain
circumstances, we don’t support it.'”14
Thus, although the general public perception supports chaging the Criminal Code to legalize physician
assisted suicide, there are wider variations dividing general perception, given specific circumstances.
b. Current Political Agenda:
Currently, the federal government does not seem to have legalizing euthanasia and physician assisted
suicide on its agends as highlighted by statements from Justice Minister Peter McKay and Conservative
14
Ibid.
13. 13| Purvi Thaker
MP Steven Fletcher.Introduction of Bill C-407 will require that the agends first move up in the scale of
preferred debates in the House of Commons. Another point of contention could be the politics involved
with the responsibility of regulating the law. The federal govenrment would want the provincial
governments to look after necessary amendments and implement the Bill since health falls under the
purview of provincial matters.
c. Paritipants:
Participants (or stakeholders in othe words) include governments at both, the federal and provincial
levels, vairous Medical Associations (The Canadian Medical Association for example), Patients who are
terminally ill ( and those who seek to die with the help of physicians), Judiciary (lawyers, who shall
guide drafting of the advance directives, judges and legal advisors) and Non-Governmental
Organizations (NGOs) that advocate for and against assisted suicide and euthanasia and Physicians ,who
are going to be at the serving end of the whole debate.
5. Conclusion:
In conclusion, there are still heavy discussions revolving around the topic of euthanasia and assisted
suicide. In order to protect the doctors from the unintended consequences of getting convicted even
while they perform their duties ethically, it is imperatvie that a bill like be Bill C-407 be introduced in
the House of Commons, making it an issue of federal importance. Giving a federal consideration to the
entire debate of legalizing euthanasia and assisted suicide will guarantee levelled implementation of the
laws throughout enitre Canada, protecting physicians not only in particular provinces under particular
circumstances but allowing the physicians in Canada to follow a standardised procedure in assiting their
patients with dignified deaths.As a final note, it will be a good proposal to legalising euthanasia and
assisted suicide in Canada because it can save thousands of patients in the country, hours of gruelling
pain and suffering instead of dying a peaceful death and help the physicians, cater to their patients’
needs without compromising on their ethics and conscience.
14. 14| Purvi Thaker
Bibliography
Butler Martha, Nicol Julia, Tiedemann Marlisa and Valiquet Dominique, Euthanasia and Assisted
Suicide in Canada, Library of Parliament, 2013, 16,
http://www.parl.gc.ca/Content/LOP/ResearchPublications/2010-68-e.htm.
“Most Canadians support doctor-assisted suicide, but specifics reveal divisions,” Global News, last
modified December 17, 2014 http://globalnews.ca/news/1731716/most-canadians-support-doctor-
assisted-suicide-but-specifics-reveal-divisions/
Senate of Canada, Of Life and Death, Report of the Special Senate Committee on Euthanasia and
Assisted Suicide, June 1995.
“Supreme Court strikes down Canada’s assisted suicide laws,” Global News, last modified February 6,
2015 http://globalnews.ca/news/1740699/alberta-government-approves-tuition-hikes-in-25-programs/
“Supreme Court rules Canadians have right to doctor-assisted suicide,” Global News, last modified
February 7, 2015 http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/supreme-court-rules-on-doctor-
assisted-suicide/article22828437/ .