Senators say assisted-suicide bill all about choice — not coercion
OTTAWA — A new assisted-suicide bill presented in the Senate proposes that suffering people who decide to end their lives with a doctor’s help must wait two weeks to do so, and that the physicians involved will not be held criminally liable for their actions.
The bill would decriminalize physician-assisted suicide as well as “voluntary euthanasia,” subject to myriad conditions, then leave it up to provincial governments to ensure no abuse. The bill would require two doctors to sign off on a patient’s request, creating a 14-day waiting period during which the request could be recanted.
These and other details differentiate the Senate bill from a similar bill in the House of Commons authored by Conservative MP Steven Fletcher. It’s unlikely to see debate before the 2015 federal election.
The two senators behind the bill say their wording provides greater protections for doctors, patients and third parties who could be involved in a person’s decision to end their life. Conservative Sen. Nancy Ruth also said the Senate bill doesn’t require doctors or patients to do anything they don’t want to.
“This bill ... doesn’t coerce anybody — not a physician, not a patient, not a family member, nobody. It is simply to provide ... another choice for Canadians in how they choose to end their lives.”
The Canadian Medical Association has said that if parliamentarians legalize assisted suicide, they must ensure doctors won’t be forced to do something against their personal beliefs, and must protect vulnerable patients from potential abuse. President, Dr. Chris Simpson said the Senate bill conditions have eased concerns in other jurisdictions. “I think it’s a great place to start the discussion.”
Ruth and Sen. Larry Campbell believe they have enough support from their caucuses to get the bill to a final vote. Ruth said, however, that at least four Conservatives won’t support it. Campbell expected a few Senate Liberals to oppose it.