Euthanasia Prevention Coalition to seek intervenor standing in euthanasia court case

TORONTO, Jan. 16, 2014 /CNW/ - The Supreme Court of Canada has decided to hear the Carter case, which seeks to legalize euthanasia and assisted suicide in Canada.

The Euthanasia Prevention Coalition (EPC) intervened in the Carter case at the lower court and at the BC Court of Appeal. 

EPC will seek to intervene in Carter at the Supreme Court of Canada.

EPC legal counsel Hugh Scher states:

EPC is concerned about the safety, security and equality of people with disabilities and seniors, which is central to the protections set out under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and our Criminal Code.

EPC-BC chair Dr. Will Johnston states:

The Supreme Court of Canada will consider this important public safety issue. The Court rejected assisted suicide in 1993 and prevented Canada from taking a wrong turn. In the 20 years since, human nature has not changed, our poor record of predicting the dying process has not changed, and vulnerable people are still at risk in our health care system. Euthanasia activists continue to confuse the public about turning off ventilators, which has little to do with the issue and our ability to control symptoms continues to improve.

Let us hope that by clarifying the issues, the Supreme Court once again confirms the rejection of suicide and direct killing of the sick, and that we stay the course in providing great symptom control to all who need it.

Disability rights advocate Amy Hasbrouck of Toujours Vivant - Not Dead Yet states:

People with disabilities, chronic illness and seniors are negatively affected by assisted suicide and euthanasia because it leads to the impression that our lives are lacking in meaning and value as compared to other Canadians.

EPC Executive Director, Alex Schadenberg states:

In jurisdictions where these practices have been legalized, there have been significant abuses of vulnerable people. For example, a study in Belgium found that 32% of the people killed under the Belgian euthanasia law were killed without request, a breach of a fundamental condition of that law. Not one of these doctors has been prosecuted.

SOURCE: Euthanasia Prevention Coalition

Dr Will Johnston, (Vancouver) EPC-BC Chair: [phone], [email protected]
Hugh Scher, (Toronto) EPC Legal Counsel: [phone], [email protected]
Alex Schadenberg, (London) EPC Executive Director: [phone], [email protected]
Amy Hasbrouck, (Montreal) Toujours Vivant - Not Dead Yet: [phone], [email protected]