The World Federation for the Right to Die Societies and the Association pour le Droit de Mourrir Dignement (France's Association for the Right to Die with Dignity) co-sponsored an international conference, which took place in Paris, Oct. 29 - Nov. 2. The gathering takes place every two years and the last one was held in Toronto in 2006. A total of 120 [...]
On June 12, Francine Lalonde (Bloc Quebecois - La Pointe-de-l’Île) introduced Bill C-562, An Act to Amend the Criminal Code (Right to Die With Dignity) to amend Subsections 222(7) and 241(2) of the Criminal Code with an eye to legalizing euthanasia and doctor-assisted suicide. In June 2005, Lalonde introduced Bill C-407, a similar bill. Bill C-562 has only minor variations from Bill C-407. [...]
Recently, there have been some disturbing trends in Europe towards fewer restrictions on euthanasia and assisted suicide. Pressures also are appearing to establish a “right” to be killed. Euthanasia and assisted suicide were legalized in the Netherlands and Belgium in 2002. The Netherlands had effectively legalized euthanasia and assisted suicide by the decree of the courts in 1985, with the 2002 legalization [...]
During an interview on the CBC radio show Cross Country Checkup in March, Jocelyn Downie, the Canada research chair in health, law and policy from Dalhousie University, stated she knew that new legislation was being drafted to legalize euthanasia and assisted suicide in Canada. Downie also said a new test case had been drafted to challenge the Criminal Code prohibitions of euthanasia via [...]
Convicted child killer Robert Latimer was granted day parole by an appeal board in February and then released in mid-March. Latimer, who killed his daughter Tracy, who had cerebral palsy, in 1993 and was convicted by two juries of second-degree murder, began his 10-25 year sentence in 2001, after the Supreme Court affirmed a lower court decision. In December, the National Parole [...]
Once again the Oregon Death With Dignity Act annual report is more about numbers than actual information. It is important to note that there are no case reports connected to the annual report on Oregon’s assisted suicides, and there is no guarantee that all the cases of assisted suicide have been reported. The number of reported deaths has risen in 2007 to 49, [...]
Samuel Golubchuk is an orthodox Jewish man who is on life-support at Grace Hospital in Winnipeg.Grace Hospital believes it has the right to end this life-sustaining care against the wishes of the Golubchuk family. Samuel is currently dependent on a respirator and receives fluids and food through a feeding tube. On March 14, Neil Kravetsky and the lawyers for Grace Hospital met [...]
The most important part of the International Symposium on Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide was the strategy session that was held on Nov. 29, the day before the public symposium began. International leaders had an opportunity to discuss their concerns and successes. This was a ground-breaking moment for many of the leaders who work in their jurisdictions and rarely get the opportunity to [...]
The family of Samuel Golubchuk, an 84-year-old orthodox Jewish man in Winnipeg, is fighting to save his life. On Nov. 30, Golubchuk’s family was told by doctors at Grace Hospital in Winnipeg that they were going to remove the respirator, fluids and food from him. The family acted by initiating an injunction against the hospital to ensure he would continue to live. [...]
Twenty-year-old Amanda Phillips is an example of what a young woman can accomplish when she sets her heart on serving Canada’s unborn. She is an office assistant with Alberta Pro-Life, which describes itself as “a province-wide group which works to educate and motivate Albertans on life issues, most notably abortion and euthanasia.” She is also the ministry co-ordinator for The Back Porch, [...]
Broad coalitions stem the tide of euthanasia Amidst the presentations at the First International Symposium on Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide in Toronto Nov. 30-Dec. 1 were three speakers who spoke about the successful attempts by those opposed to the practice to halt the passage of laws legalizing euthanasia and assisted suicide in England, California and Vermont. They were represented by Dr. Bill [...]
The first International Symposium on Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide held in Toronto Nov. 30-Dec. 1 hosted numerous informative speakers on the subject. However, the most poignant testimonials came from those who spoke from personal experience, those whose lives bore the wounds inflicted by the culture of death mentality. Alison Davis, from the United Kingdom, was one such speaker. A disabled activist, she [...]
Disabilities rights groups cheer decision, vow to continue fight Robert Latimer, who is serving a life-sentence in the second-degree murder of his daughter Tracy in September 1993, has been denied early parole by a three-member panel of the National Parole Board. He had applied for day parole after serving seven years of the 10-year mandatory minimum sentence that is associated with second-degree [...]
On Nov. 30 - Dec. 1, the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition is holding the First International Symposium on Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide, which will take place at the Four Points by Sheraton - Toronto Airport Hotel. Most of the leaders of groups that oppose the legalization of euthanasia and assisted suicide will be speaking at this Symposium, including Bobby Schindler, the brother of [...]
Editor’s Note: The following is an interview with Diane Coleman, founder of the disability rights group Not Dead Yet, by Alex Schadenberg, executive director of the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition. Not Dead Yet is a co-sponsor of the upcoming International Symposium on Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide that is entitled: Current Issues – Future Directions. The International Symposium, Nov. 30–Dec. 1, is being organized [...]