Dear Member, Friend
A warm welcome to those who joined us this year!
Great News! In June 2014 the Quebec Parliament passed an Act respecting end-of-life care, which allows terminally ill patients to choose an assisted death. The vote was 94 in favour and only 22 against, and all four political parties WORKED TOGETHER to achieve this result. The Act was passed with a standing ovation!
It was thought there would be a legal challenge to this Act, but instead –
The Supreme Court of Canada, February 2015, in a unanimous decision by 9 judges has stated “The prohibition on physician-assisted dying infringes the right to life, liberty and security of the person in a manner that is not in accordance with the principles of fundamental justice,” and has given the Canadian Parliament 12 months to introduce legislation to comply with the Supreme Court guidelines.
There can be no doubt that this “fundamental justice” should also apply to all Australians!
If you add to this the fact that the Canadian Medical Association have relaxed their opposition to assisting in a death “each doctor can act in accordance with their conscience within the law” – Canada is making the progress we would like in Australia.
In Federal Parliament, Senator Di Natale instigated a Parliamentary Inquiry into a Draft Dying with Dignity (Medical Services) Bill. Continue reading