Prime minister-designate Justin Trudeau is being urged by religious leaders from Canada’s Catholic, Evangelical Christian, Jewish and Muslim communities to act quickly on creating a legislative framework to govern physician-assisted suicide.
At a news conference on Parliament Hill Thursday, those religious leaders released a joint statement declaring that any action to end human life is “morally and ethically wrong.”
In the wake of the Supreme Court of Canada decision in February that lifted a ban on doctor-assisted death, the leaders called for action to provide more palliative care for people who are dying, specific regulations to control physician-assisted suicide, and protection for doctors who don’t want to be pushed into helping their patient commit suicide.
Without those controls, said one Catholic leader, the country could end up with an unregulated situation similar to the one that now exists for abortion.
“On the basis of our respective traditions and beliefs, we insist that any action intended to end human life is morally and ethically wrong,” said the religious leaders in their written declaration.
“Together, we are determined to work to alleviate human suffering in every form but never by intentionally eliminating those who suffer.
“Euthanasia and assisted suicide treat the lives of disadvantaged, ill, disabled, or dying persons as less valuable than the lives of others. Such a message does not respect the equal dignity of our vulnerable brothers.”
Furthermore, they said assisted suicide raises questions that go to the “very core” of the meaning of life.
The court decision, they said, compels all Canadians to reflect on their “personal and societal response to those who need our compassion and care.”
“We are convinced the only ways to help people live and die with dignity are: to ensure they are supported by love and care; to provide holistic care which includes pain control as well as psychological, spiritual and emotional support; and, to improve and increase resources in support of palliative and home care.”
In February, the Supreme Court struck down the ban on doctor-assisted dying and gave Parliament a year to draft a law that recognizes the right of clearly consenting adults who are enduring intolerable physical or mental suffering to seek medical help to end their lives.
The Conservative government, faced with internal divisions in its own caucus, delayed action and waited until the summer to strike a three-person panel of experts to study the issue.
In February, Trudeau called upon MPs from all parties to immediately form a parliamentary committee to study the issue and consider how to draft legislation that would respect the Charter of Rights “and the priorities of Canadians. But the Conservatives blocked Trudeau’s motion in the Commons.
Now, with Trudeau taking office next Wednesday, the politically sensitive issue will be one of his government’s first challenges.
It’s expected the new government will ask the top court for a six-month extension to give it more time to hold public consultations and draft legislation on physician-assisted suicide.
The religious leaders said they would welcome such an extension so that a “public discussion” can be held and so that legislators have time to draft policies and legislation.
“We urge federal, provincial and territorial legislators to enact and uphold laws that enhance human solidarity by promoting the rights to life and security for all people; to make good-quality home care and palliative care accessible in all jurisdictions; and to implement regulations and policies that ensure respect for the freedom of conscience of all health-care workers and administrators who will not and cannot accept suicide or euthanasia as a medical solution to pain and suffering.”
