When to Die - Can you ask for Help?
The British Columbia Supreme Court recently began hearing a case surrounding the rights of individuals to choose assisted suicide as a means of ending their life. The issues involved in this case have been discussed in a variety of recent articles in the Toronto Star, the most recent of which can be found here.
Currently, Canadian law makes it illegal to counsel, aid or abet a person to commit suicide, a conviction bringing with it a maximum prison sentence of up to 14 years, (Criminal Code, R.S.C., 1985 , c.C-46, s. 241). In a landmark decision we all remember, the Supreme Court of Canada decided on this very issue in the early 1990s, denying Ms. Sue Rodriguez the right to assisted suicide in a 5-4 decision. The right to choice is again before the Courts, with the plaintiffs hoping for a drastically different outcome.
The Royal Society of Canada, the Canadian Institution, self-described as “devoted to recognizing excellence in learning and research, as well as recognizing accomplishments in the arts, humanities and sciences”, has released its initial recommendations, the underlying principle of which is to change the Criminal Code to permit some forms of assisted suicide, even for patients not suffering from terminal illness. In itself, the recommendations have spurred debate, mostly surrounding the extent to which the recommendations suggest the law be changed. Certainly however, the mere foundation for a recommendation calling for such drastic amendment may be the reason this matter is before the courts once again.
The debate on this issue never really went away and this most recent effort before the Court is the result of the action of five plaintiffs who are seeking the right to choose the time to die, the hearing of which is scheduled to take several weeks. Certainly this matter will take some time to work through the Courts, but the Country is certainly watching.
Until Tomorrow,
Nadia M. Harasymowycz - Click here for more information on Nadia Harasymowycz.
