e-366 (Medical assistance in dying)

Petition to the Government of Canada

• In Carter v. Canada (AG), the Supreme Court of Canada ruled that competent and consenting adults who have a grievous and irremediable medical condition that causes enduring and intolerable suffering should be allowed to access Physician-Assisted Death (PAD);
• The not-for-profit Canadian organization 'Dying With Dignity' has determined through extensive research and polling of the Canadian public that the vast majority support choice in end-of-life for dying with dignity, including the legalization of Advance Directives and Physician-Assisted Death;
• End-of-life experts, professionals and sufferers concur with the findings of 'Dying With Dignity' and the majority of Canadians; and
• Dying with dignity and compassionate end of life through physician-assisted death are not suicide and should not be labelled as such as it creates a biased and derogatory reference;
• Bill C-14 does not honour Advance Directives; nor the Carter v Canada Supreme Court of Canada Ruling to allow competent and consenting adults who have grievous and irremediable conditions, to self-determine through an Advance Directive, a physician-assisted death.