Medical aid to die: welcome to the world of end of life care

Photo Stevens LeBlanc
Yvon Bureau

Yvon Bureau, special collaboration

Saturday, 13 January, 2018 05:00

UPDATE
Saturday, 13 January, 2018 05:00

Look at this article

Fully committed in Quebec for 32 years for a die that is more free and more worthy, I have been a witness and a privileged player of a great societal change.

Our society has transformed and is transforming still. We move from palliative care to end of life care. We move on to the primacy of the person in end-of-life/at the end of his life, his values, his freedom of choice, their dignity. We spend all of life is sacred is sacred, the living person’s informed and free. And all this through great moments of societal life.

Legal clarity

In December 2009, the establishment of the special Commission on dying with dignity. In march 2012, the report Dying with dignity. After a daring parliamentary debate, the Quebec vote overwhelmingly to its Law regarding end of life care in June 2014. Comes in a great tsunami of legal in February 2015 : the unanimous judgment of the supreme Court of Canada on medical aid to die. Ottawa passes bill C-14 on medical aid to die (MPCA) in June 2016. Since then, approximately 2500 Canadians have ended their lives this way.

On the end of life care, a legal clarity emerges. And this is due in large part to Dr. Alain Naud who addressed this fall, more than 5,000 canadian physicians. The end-of-life and at the end of his life was the choice. Refuse or agree to treatment. Take the comfort care (palliative care) until his death. Ask the sedation terminal. Receive medical help to die. The dignity will go through this freedom of choice.

Unfortunately, there is an urgency for greater legal clarity. Bill C-14 would exclude the great suffering of the life of the AMM, and it is challenged. Since last Monday, the superior Court of Quebec, Nicole Gladu and Jean Truchon, returned at the end of their life, challenge the criterion of Death should be reasonably foreseeable. This challenge is difficult, very difficult, for all, “inhuman” they say. To reason.

Benefits collateral

THE good news : a greater legal clarity on the AMM emerges. Last December 20, the citizen Margo Menard received a letter from the minister of Justice and attorney general of Canada claiming the character fully inclusive of bill C-14. On January 10, madame Ménard replied to him and make public these letters.

Finally, she arrives this legal clarity if necessary and much hoped for, even if belatedly. During this time, there has been too much collateral damage to this legal uncertainty.

Place to the benefits of collateral ! The time for Quebec to update the Act in relation to the care of end-of-life is reached. Honor the compassion and solidarity with our graduating seniors of the life. “Inclusivons ! “

Yvon Bureau is a social worker and activist for a die dignified and free.

www.collectifmourirdigneetlibre.org/blog.php