What's in the plan to legalise assisted suicide in France?

The following article was published by the European Institute of Bioethics on June 30, 2025.

France National Assembly

The plan to authorise assisted suicide and euthanasia in France, which has been supported for some time by a number of political and media figures in France, has been the subject of numerous initiatives in recent years, despite some political upheavals.

Since the majority opinion in favour of authorising euthanasia issued by the French National Consultative Ethics Committee in September 2022 (in contradiction with previous opinions that had been largely unfavourable), the political timetable on this issue has accelerated. This was followed by a citizens' convention on end-of-life issues in December 2022, and the examination of a government bill in May 2024, halted by the dissolution of the National Assembly a few weeks later. The draft bill that has been before the public since 12 May is based on the text adopted at first reading by the Social Affairs Committee.

Towards a right to "use a lethal substance

Article 1 of the bill establishes a ‘right to assistance in dying’, i.e. authorising a person who so requests to ‘have recourse to a lethal substance [...] in order to administer it or have it administered by a doctor or nurse’. Under the heading of ‘aid in dying’, this means that the person requesting it can commit suicide after being given the means to do so, or be euthanised by a carer if he or she is no longer capable of administering the lethal substance.

Subjective conditions for access

In addition to the conditions of majority and French nationality (or residence in France), the text provides, as does Belgian law, for a condition linked to medical condition and a condition linked to the state of suffering:

• The person must be ‘suffering from a serious and incurable disease, whatever its cause, which is life-threatening, in an advanced or terminal phase’;
• They must also be ‘suffering physically or psychologically as a result of this condition, which is either refractory to treatment or unbearable according to the person when he or she has chosen not to receive or to stop receiving treatment’.

Patients must also be considered as ‘capable of expressing their wishes in a free and informed manner’.

Following the example of Belgian law, the text therefore does not stipulate that the patient's death must be expected in the near future in order for his or her life to be terminated. Some people, such as the French National Authority for Health, have stressed the vague and non-objective nature of the notion of ‘advanced or terminal phase’, as well as that of ‘life-threatening prognosis’.

Non-binding opinion of other healthcare professionals

The doctor asked by the patient to end his or her life must obtain the opinion of another doctor (who is not obliged to consult the patient), as well as the opinion of another medical auxiliary or care assistant (if necessary from a distance), without these opinions being binding.

A minimum period of a few days between the request and death by lethal injection

If, within the two-week period, the doctor decides in favour of the patient's request, the patient may be euthanised or die by assisted suicide after a period of reflection of at least two days. In practice, this means that the time between the patient's initial request and death by lethal injection can be reduced to a handful of days. This will depend on how quickly the doctor makes his or her decision and how soon the person chooses to have their life ended.

Carers involved in all cases

Insofar as it is envisaged that the person will in principle administer the lethal substance themselves, the programmed death provided for in the text under discussion corresponds to assisted suicide. Only in the event that the person is unable to self-administer the lethal cocktail would euthanasia be carried out by the doctor or nurse.

However, even if they do not administer the lethal substance to the person, the doctor or nurse ‘responsible for accompanying’ the person is required to ‘supervise the administration of the lethal substance by the person’, in addition to having obtained the lethal substance and, where applicable, having taken responsibility for authorising the person's assisted suicide beforehand.

Assisted suicide is a "natural death

The bill also stipulates that the death certificate will state that the person is ‘deemed to have died a natural death’. This echoes an equivalent provision in Belgian law. Justified as a means of guaranteeing access to certain life insurance cover, this legal fiction nonetheless seriously misleads the public about the very reality of the act of death - unnatural death - involved in euthanasia or assisted suicide.

Limited conscience clause

While the text gives doctors, nurses and healthcare assistants the right to refuse to take part in this procedure, pharmacists are excluded from the protection provided by this specific conscience clause, even though they are required to be involved in preparing and dispensing the lethal substance. Furthermore, the freedom of health establishments and retirement homes not to provide for euthanasia or assisted suicide within their walls is explicitly excluded: the staff of these institutions will not be able to oppose the carrying out of programmed death within their walls.

Monitoring compliance with the law after the patient's death

The text establishes a control commission, tasked in particular with assessing compliance with the conditions of the law once the patient has died, on the sole basis of information declared by the carers concerned.

Offence of obstruction for attempting to prevent assisted suicide

The only criminal provisions introduced by the bill concern preventing (or attempting to prevent) others from practising assisted suicide or euthanasia, or from obtaining information on the subject, ‘by any means, including electronically or online, in particular by disseminating or transmitting allegations or information likely to intentionally mislead, with a view to dissuading, as to the characteristics or medical consequences of assisted dying’.

The text grants associations campaigning in favour of euthanasia and assisted suicide (‘whose statutory purpose includes the defence of the rights of persons to have access to aid in dying’) the right to bring a civil action to prosecute on this basis.

More articles on France:

• France's National Assembly votes to legalize euthanasia and assisted suicide (Link). 
• Dutch ethicist urges France to reject euthanasia (Link).
  

Lesson in Disability Justice One: Disability Justice Is a Whole Cloth Effort

Meghan Schrader

By Meghan Schrader

Meghan is an instructor at E4 - University of Texas (Austin) and an EPC-USA board member.

People everywhere have been influenced by ableist belief systems, including some opponents of assisted suicide. There are also a lot of attacks on disability rights in the United States right now. (I just spent time weeping over them and the degradation many disabled people could experience as a result.) Hence, I was thinking that I should offer some disability justice “lessons” for readers who do care about people with disabilities, but may not be fully apprised of what disability justice looks like in general. This post will be lesson number one; I hope to provide a general overview of the principle that the equal right to be alive is foundational to disability justice, but disability justice does not stop there.

It’s important that assisted suicide opponents not embrace regressive ideas, language and attitudes. For instance, at Thanksgiving in 2024 I had a very strange conversation with a family member about accommodations for people with disabilities. This family member has been very good to me. But, during a family event I mentioned the story of the time I considered transferring from one college to another. The director of disability services at the college I was thinking of transferring to told me that the school would not accommodate my learning or psychiatric disabilities, so I didn’t transfer. The family member said, “Well, at least they let you know up front that they couldn’t do it. A school is a business. How can they make money if they have to spend $300,000 accommodating one person’s learning disability?” I changed the topic rather than argue with them. I am very surprised that this family member, who has observed my struggles to fit into the world and has stood by me during my fits of psychotic depression, including making generous personal sacrifices for my well-being, would think this way. They know I use the Americans with Disabilities Act to advocate for myself, so they understand that not making reasonable accommodations for disabled people is illegal, right? Why do they think that accommodating my disabilities would cost $300,000? If every college had that attitude, how would I have become educated? Why don’t they understand that the attitude they just articulated is the root cause of disabled people like me being mentally ill, unemployed, uneducated, impoverished, isolated and maybe even dead? This person is really into people working instead of being on welfare. They understand that I am able to work because my employer uses resources to accommodate me, right? I love my loved one anyway, but that attitude is not one that assisted suicide opponents should embrace.

It is important that assisted suicide opponents set high goals for the full participation of people with disabilities in society. Do not excuse inaccessibility because disabled people ostensibly do not “need” the inaccessible thing.

For instance, the Department of Energy has submitted a proposal to weaken Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act’s requirement that newly constructed buildings be accessible to people with physical disabilities. (The department of energy says that such regulations are “unduly burdensome” for various stakeholders and that it would like to give them more “flexibility” about whether new construction has to incorporate disabled people’s needs.) Anti assisted suicide disability rights groups like the Disability Rights Legal and Defense Fund, and the National Council on Independent Living have said that this change endangers disabled people’s right to use any new government buildings or building features. Yet, some assisted suicide opponents seem ready to dismiss these types of concerns. For instance, another, able-bodied assisted suicide opponent who is generally very good to the disabled told me that they think the proposed rule change will still allow disabled people to access all of the things that we need. They told me that of course they support disabled people accessing buildings and building features that facilitate access to government programs and human rights, but perhaps disability rights didn’t mean that disabled people needed to access everything. (At least I think that’s what they meant.) For instance, the mentor said, if a building that allows wheelchair users to access essential services like medical care adds a solarium, does the solarium really need to be accessible to wheelchair users who would like to use it for sunshine and fresh air?

Why yes, it does. It is possible to build an accessible solarium, so it needs to be built that way, even if building it that way is a “burden” to the builder. That’s kind of the point of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act. Generally if able-bodied people have access to something good, then disabled people are supposed to have access to that good thing. That’s part of first class citizenship. And, of course, the new regulations wouldn’t just apply to “extreme” examples like solariums, they would apply to government funded buildings in general, which would put basic services at risk.

Moreover, people who are concerned with fighting assisted suicide should view the solarium argument in the context of the assisted suicide issue. What if assisted suicide does get legalized for disabled people and some “MAiD”- vulnerable person thinks to themselves, “Gee, I would feel so much better if I could just go into that solarium for some sunshine and fresh air, but I can’t. I’m a second class citizen; I want to die”? That kind of speculation might sound “silly” to some proponents, but that’s the reality that disabled people experience on an everyday basis.

I have also seen publications who have published very good pieces opposing assisted suicide turn around and use the r word repeatedly, as a joke. Or using words like “midget” to describe Little People. My dudes, you simply cannot do that. Using the r word is a huge no no. So is using the word “midget.” Most people in the disabled community consider both words to be slurs.

Before anyone pounces on the idea that assisted suicide proponents are generally more “enlightened” about non assisted suicide disability issues, allow me to try and humble such people a bit. Assisted suicide supporters also have a history of ignoring disabled people and not understanding disability justice. Right to die leaders have collaborated with Peter Singer, who has argued that raping disabled people is ok and compared disabled people to pigs and orangutans. Right to die leader and “disability rights advocate” Christopher Riddle has compared disabled people who will die in accidents related to assisted suicide to car accident statistics. People of all political stripes cut funding for the disabled, support inaccessible buildings and deprioritize disability justice in their non assisted suicide advocacy efforts. Ableism is everywhere.

But, perhaps it is possible to combine advocacy for justice with grace. No matter where someone stands on the assisted suicide issue, ableism isn’t always entirely the fault of people doing the ableist things. Most people don’t grow up learning about disability history and justice. A lot of people inadvertently allow ableist conditions to exist because they haven’t had the opportunity to understand that these conditions are ableist. But people need to understand that disability justice is like a tapestry, with laws related to things like Section 504 and the Americans with Disabilities Act forming the “threads” of the tapestry. If someone pulls out one thread, then the whole tapestry starts to fray.

So, if you are someone doing the good work of helping the disabled community fight assisted suicide but maybe do not “hang out in” mainstream disability justice circles and you have not had the opportunity to study trends in disability justice and history, try to set aside some time to educate yourselves. Beware of any argument that disabled people should not have access to something nice because making it accessible is a “burden.” This is, after all, the logic motivating the assisted suicide proponents who think the early deaths of “burdensome” disabled people are good.

It is not realistic to expect assisted suicide opponents to agree with one another on every nuance of every issue, but any effort seeking to revert disability rights laws back to what they were in the 1960s is a bad thing. If a disability rights organization that fights alongside you to oppose “MAiD” says that a policy is bad, don’t write their expert advice off. It’s important that anti assisted suicide activists of all political stripes support the disability justice movement’s goals regarding things like accessible buildings, employment, deinstitutionalization, education and community living. Doing that is one of the most important ways that one can connect one’s advocacy for disabled people’s lives with the broader fight for disability justice. 

Previous articles by Meghan Schrader (Articles Link)

Acolytes of the Angel of Death

The following true story was sent to our EPC "Story Contest"

Please visit our "contributor info" (Link) "recent stories" (Link) and "story index" (Link). We would be thrilled to receive your story at: story@epcc.ca

All formats are welcome, especially short videos.

By Marie-Blanche Mitchell

(Names have been changed to protect the identity of the family.)

I had hardly known the woman, but Dolores, my frail 95-year-old neighbour, had left an indelible scar of sadness and outrage on my soul.

It was just before Christmas of 2014, that I found an invitation taped to my hallway door, to join Dolores and a few neighbours for Christmas tea at her place.

The afternoon was festive and loaded with surprises. Two of Dolores’ daughters, Thana, and Morana had carried out her wishes to have a party with her neighbours. The daughters had spared no effort or expense to prepare a beautifully decorated apartment, a wonderful spread of tasty holiday treats, and wine as well, to spice up the otherwise ordinary coffee and tea in porcelain cups. Dolores had even sent everyone home with a ‘goodie bag.’

I discovered eventually that my elderly neighbour resided in a nursing home, and her daughters would regularly take her back to her old abode to enjoy a few days at a time as they looked after her needs.

Despite the nonagenarian’s frail health (she barely tipped the scales at a hundred pounds), she maintained a sharp and witty mind as she engaged her guests in conversation. However, my sense of propriety was put off at some of Dolores’ off-colour jokes. Obviously, modesty didn’t automatically stroll hand-in-hand with aging. The lady seemed very fulfilled and happy with life. I was impressed by the care lavished on her by her daughters.

As the next two years passed, I would meet Dolores and her daughters in the hallway of the condo building, and they would exchange pleasantries. Dolores seemed happy and content. Occasionally, Thana would come by my place and ask for a cup of sugar or some cream that they had forgotten to bring for Dolores’ few days at home.

One warm spring day, I was relaxing on my patio, enjoying the shade and the birdsong from nearby trees. Thana pulled up with Dolores in a black SUV. I waved and ambled over. Once Dolores was wheeled inside the apartment, I helped Thana bring in various supplies and a suitcase for Dolores’ stay.

In my estimation, Thana was about my age— late fifties and close to retirement. Perspiration beaded her face; large wet circles appeared under her arms on her oversized T-shirt. She wiped her forehead with a bandana she had pulled out from her jeans pocket. I followed Thana out to her vehicle to help with a few more things.

Anyone could see that it was no easy job for Thana to regularly assist her mother in spending a few days at home. I wanted to encourage her. “Your mother is very blessed to have daughters like you and Morana.”

Thana’s smile didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Really? I hadn’t really thought of that. Sweet as she is, Mother is quite demanding at her age. Unfortunately, the job falls to me most of the time, as my siblings are usually too busy.”

I detected a note of bitterness.

Thana mopped the rest of her face and pocketed the bandana. “This time, Morana is away on a European holiday, and the rest have their legitimate excuses for not helping me. Frankly, I’m getting tired. This is becoming too stressful.

Thana managed another weak smile. “Thank you for watering my mom’s plants on the patio. They would be dead in no time without your help.”

I nodded. “Oh, I’m a real gardener-at-heart who misses that now that I’m in a condo. I am happy to keep those plants alive!”

The next time I saw Dolores was on Canada Day. Thana wheeled her chair down the hall to her suite. The woman was frowning and seemed preoccupied. As she passed me, she whispered, “Hang on a minute. I’d like to ask you something.”

As soon as Dolores was in her apartment, Thana returned. She cleared her throat. “I have a favour to ask of you. If you don’t feel comfortable with what I’m asking you, please say no.”

I shifted my position to a more comfortable one. My curiosity was piqued. “Sure. What do you have in mind?”

Thana’s tone became quieter as her eyes glanced back and forth. Despite my hearing aids, it was a challenge to make out what she was saying.

“My Mom’s health is really going downhill. She’s in a lot of pain, and she’s suffering.”

Eppie thought about Dolores’ cheerfulness today and in the last few encounters. If she was suffering, she was hiding it well.

“She’s lived a good life, and she’s tired.”

I was gripped with apprehension. I then had an exceptionally good idea of what Thana was going to ask.

“My Mom would like to leave this earth on her own terms. But before she can do this, she needs two people who are not her family, to sign a statement attesting to the fact that she is of sound mind.”

I felt sick and thought: If Dolores really is of sound mind, why isn’t she asking me herself, instead of her daughter? This is not your will, Lord! Jesus, please give me your wisdom to say the right thing.

I looked Thana in the eye.

“Thank you for considering me a trustworthy person for this request. However, I need to let you know that you are talking to a pro-lifer.”

Thana’s hardened gaze belied her cheerful tone. “Oh, okay. No problem. I just thought I would ask.”

In the months that followed, I prayed constantly for Dolores and her family. What could I say or do? An urgent request was put on my church’s prayer chain. I prayed for my elderly neighbour and the family who wanted to send her off into eternity. To what? With or without her permission? I sent urgent petitions to the Lord about Dolores, Thana, and the siblings each time I passed her door.

In the early fall, I was tending to my vehicle outside my ground floor condo, when Thana drove up with Dolores, who was wheeled inside a little too quickly, in my estimation. I offered to bring items from the vehicle to Dolores’ sliding door. Thana hesitated, then gave me some things. As I approached the sliding door, I noticed that it was slightly open, and that Dolores was seated right beside it! My heart jumped. Here was a God-given, ten-second window to speak to Dolores! At the corner of my eye, I spied a furious Thana, barrelling toward me in a panic.

“You are so blessed by God to have a family who loves you and cares for you,” I sputtered loudly enough for both women to hear. I deposited the items inside the door and turned to Thana, forcing a smile. “Have a good day.”

Thana remained silent and brooding as her chest heaved from her exertion.

There were three more days until New Year’s Eve, and I had caught some kind of bug. Feeling miserable, I lay on the couch all day, listening to classical music and reading a novel. I heard some voices outside and peered out the window. A group of people I did not know were making their way into Dolores’ suite. She and her family gathering for New Year’s perhaps?

A short while later, I heard a knock on my hallway door. I answered it. Thana had a saucer in her hand. “Hi!” She waved it in my direction. “Mother would like some eggnog, and I was wondering if you had any nutmeg.”

I nodded. “I’m under the weather, and wouldn’t want to endanger you or your mom with my germs, so if you hang on to the saucer, I’ll get the nutmeg and sprinkle some on, while I keep my distance, okay?”

Thana seemed much more chipper than the last time I saw her and was all smiles. Her eyes, however, conveyed a cloaked wariness. “Sure! Thank you so much.”

I sprinkled as much nutmeg as I could. Thana stopped me politely. “That will be fine, thank you! Happy New Year!

And then she was gone.

It was a few days after New Year’s that I went to the lobby down the hall from my door. I opened my mail slot. Nothing except for junk mail— all my bills were paid online. As I passed the bulletin board, a small notice caught my eye. I leaned in closer. Horrified, I realized that it was Dolores’ obituary. According to the obit, her neighbour had peacefully passed away at home surrounded by her family. —That she had chosen to leave this earth with dignity, grace, and serenity.

As if in a stupor. I photographed the obituary with my smartphone. My mind did some chronological backtracking, as the memory of the people outside Dolores’ apartment flashed before my eyes.

Most likely, Dolores did not die in God’s timing on December 29th. Could it have been during the wee hours of the morning? —And on the evening of the 28th, had I unknowingly contributed to Dolores’ last eggnog on earth?

I felt used. I threw myself into my Heavenly Father’s arms and wept.

The End

White House: Assisted suicide is "state-subsidised suicide."

Alex Schadenberg
Executive Director, 

Euthanasia Prevention Coalition

The Telegraph reported on June 26, 2025 that the US State Department stated that the British Parliament passing of the Leadbeater assisted suicide bill is "supporting state-subsidised suicide." 

The British assisted suicide bill passed on June 20, 2025 by a vote of 314 to 291 and will soon be debated in the British House of Lords.

The Telegraph reported that the US State Department sent this message to the British Parliament:

“As the UK Parliament considers support for state-subsidised suicide, euphemistically called a Bill for ‘terminally ill adults’ the United States reaffirms the sanctity of life,” the US bureau of democracy, human rights and labour said.

“The Western world should stand for life, vitality and hope over surrender and death.”

The Euthanasia Prevention Coalition is pleased with the clear statement from the US State Department. 

We are also asking our supporters to urge New York Governor Kathy Hochul to veto the New York assisted suicide bill that passed in the New York Assembly on April 29, 2025 and in the New York Senate on June 9, 2025. The bill has not been signed by Governor Hochul yet. 

We need to urge Governor Hochul to reject state-subsidised suicide - veto assisted suicide bill A136/S138 (Link to contact Governor Hochul)

Visiting with Roger Foley. Join the Roger Foley team.

Alex Schadenberg
Executive Director, Euthanasia Prevention Coalition

I was visiting Roger Foley with a caring woman who is interested in helping Roger.

In the past, Roger's "care-givers" have offered Roger euthanasia. Roger wants to live.

Roger has been living for more than nine years at the London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC). He lives with Spino cerebellar ataxia type 14, a degenerative neurological condition that has also caused Roger to have severe photo sensitivity (photophobia) to regular lighting, forcing him to keep his hospital room lights off. Several years ago, the hospital agreed to special lighting. In early May (2025) the hospital decided that it was not light enough to feed Roger unless the regular lighting is on. 

Sign and share the Petition: Roger Foley needs to be fed (Petition Link).

Roger has severe reactions to high-intensity white/blue wavelength lighting. In response Roger has agreed to intravenous (IV) feeding while continuing to request installation of low-intensity amber-spectrum lighting.

While visiting Roger I thought it would be good for more people got to know Roger, to visit him and long-term to join a team of people who oversee his care and enable him to return home.

If you live in the London Ontario region and are willing to help Roger, then contact Alex Schadenberg at: alex@epcc.ca

Bill C-218 introduced to prevent euthanasia for mental illness alone.

Alex Schadenberg
Executive Director, Euthanasia Prevention Coalition

Tamara Jansen MP

I have great news.

On June 20, 2025, Tamara Jansen (MP - Cloverdale - Langley City) introduced private members Bill C-218 in the House of Commons to prevent (MAiD) euthanasia for mental illness by excluding mental disorders from being considered a "grievous and irremediable medical condition" for the purposes of MAiD. If passed no one would be eligible for MAID for mental illness alone.

Bill C-218 will likely receive it's first hour of debate in November 2025.

When Canada expanded the euthanasia law in March 2021 by passing Bill C-7, one of the expansions in the law permitted euthanasia for a mental illness alone. At that time the government approved euthanasia for mental illness alone with a two-year moratorium to give time to prepare.

After two delays, last year the government further delayed the implementation of euthanasia for mental illness alone until March 17, 2027

For Bill C-218 to be successful, we will need stories from Canadians who have lived with, (or currently live with) mental health concerns and may have died by euthanasia (MAiD) if it had been available at that time. Contact us with your story at: info@epcc.ca

It is not easy to share stories, but the courage to share your suffering may lead to protection for other people.

A February 2023, Angus Reid Institute poll indicated that 31% of Canadians supported euthanasia for mental illness alone, with the highest support being in Quebec (36%) and the lowest support being in Saskatchewan (21%). A September 2023, Angus Reid Institute poll indicated that support for euthanasia for mental illness alone had dropped to 28% of Canadians.

Bill C-218 is identical to Bill C-314 that was sponsored by the Hon. Ed Fast and narrowly defeated in parliament by a vote of 167 to 150 at second reading on October 18, 2023.

The Bill C-314 debate prompted the government to delay the implementation of euthanasia for mental illness alone until March 17, 2027. 

During the Bill C-314 debate many Canadians came forward with powerful personal stories that witnessed to the fact that people who are living with mental health concerns that suicidal ideation is often a symptom of mental health concerns.

For Bill C-218 to be successful, we will need stories from Canadians who have lived with, (or currently live with) mental health concerns and may have died by euthanasia (MAiD) if it had been available at that time. Contact us with your story at: info@epcc.ca

Bill C-218: (Link to Bill C-218)

An Act to amend the Criminal Code (medical assistance in dying)

R.‍S.‍, c. 46
Criminal Code
1 Subsection 241.‍2(2.‍1) of the Criminal Code is replaced by the following:

Exclusion
(2.‍1) For the purposes of Insertion start subsection (2) Insertion end, a mental Insertion start disorder Insertion end is not Insertion start a grievous and irremediable medical condition Insertion end .
Coordinating Amendments
2 (1) In this section, other Act means An Act to amend the Criminal Code (medical assistance in dying), chapter 2 of the Statutes of Canada, 2021.
(2) If section 1 of this Act comes into force before subsection 1(2.‍1) of the other Act, then that subsection 1(2.‍1) is repealed.‍
(3) If subsection 1(2.‍1) of the other Act comes into force before section 1 of this Act, then section 241.‍2 of the Criminal Code is amended by adding the following after subsection (2):

Exclusion
(2.‍1) For the purposes of subsection (2), a mental disorder is not a grievous and irremediable medical condition.
(4) If subsection 1(2.‍1) of the other Act comes into force on the same day as section 1 of this Act, then that subsection 1(2.‍1) is deemed to have come into force before that section 1 and subsection (3) applies as a consequence.

More articles on this topic:

• Has Canada's euthanasia law gone too far? (Link)
• Psychiatrists: Do we offer hope or do we offer death (Link).
• The majority of Canadian oppose euthanasia for mental health (Link).
• Canada's euthanasia law is the most permissive in the world (Link).
• Canada to delay implementing euthanasia for mental illness (Link).
• Toronto Star: Canada is going too far with euthanasia (Link).
• Globe and Mail Editorial: No to euthanasia for mental disorders (Link).
• Euthanasia panel member quit: Proposals don't adequately protect Canadians with mental illness (Link).
• Offering euthanasia to a suicidal person leads to premature deaths (Link).
• Euthanizing the mentally ill without providing proper supports is reprehensible (Link).
• Euthanasia for mental illness. Killing people with an uncertain prognosis (Link).
• Profound social change with euthanasia for mental illness (Link).

I was rejected from speaking at a Men's Club.

Alex Schadenberg
Executive Director, Euthanasia Prevention Coalition

Alex Schadenberg

A few months ago I was asked to speak at the Guelph Wellington Men's Club. Along with the request I received this information.

Recently we had a retired United Church minister, who gave a talk on “Dignity in Dying”, which, although it included other topics, was mostly a presentation in favour of MAID.

I was approved to speak for this August.

Even though I provided the required information and I was open to questions from any participant, I was informed, today, that I would not be welcome at the Men's Club.

Since the Men's Club neither supports nor opposes MAiD, I understood that not everyone would be happy with my presentation, but I was willing to provide information and I was open to respectful dialogue.

Several years ago I spoke at a Southern Alberta Council on Public Affairs. The attendees were clearly divided on the issue and I faced several questions from supporters of euthanasia, but the dialogue was respectful.

I have also spoken at several other civic events and once again there was respectful dialogue.

It concerns me when groups prevent free and open dialogue. I would never be "hateful" or "discriminatory" but clearly the Men's Club is closed to our point of view.

Oh, by the way, Yes, I do oppose killing people.

New York faces a "slippery slope" with assisted suicide.

Alex Schadenberg
Executive Director, Euthanasia Prevention Coalition

Christine Gauthier

Hollie McKay published an interesting article in the New York Sun on June 22, 2025 warning of the slippery slope that is likely to happen if New York implements it's assisted suicide bill.

McKay begins her article by interviewing Canadian veteran Christine Gauthier:

Christine Gauthier, a disabled Canadian veteran, says she was“completely shocked” when a government caseworker several years ago offered her medical aid in dying instead of basic disability support. As New York considers a similar path, her story serves as a stark warning.

“I was really depressed because of what I have been through,”Ms. Gauthier tells The New York Sun. “You won’t give me the equipment I need to live but will let me die. It was surreal.”

A former artillery expert who served during the Gulf War, Ms.Gauthier suffered irreversible spinal damage during military training in 1989. Despite undergoing multiple surgeries and competing in the 2016 Paralympics and Invictus Games, she says she’s spent the past several years fighting for a wheelchair ramp and other basic accommodations.

McKay explains that if New York's Governor Hochul does not veto the assisted suicide bill that has passed in New York's Assembly and Senate then similar stories could happen in New York.

Alex Schadenberg

McKay interviewed me, Alex Schadenberg, about the New York assisted suicide bill:

“The New York assisted suicide bill is wider than most assisted suicide laws because it does not have a waiting period and it does not have a residency requirement. The lack of a residency requirement fulfills the goal of the assisted suicide lobby that anyone in America can die by assisted suicide,” the executive director at the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition, Alex Schadenberg, tells the Sun.

“And the no waiting period means that a person can have a same-day death.”

McKay also reported that I said:

Mr. Schadenberg added that in many cases, both the evaluating doctors and the second assessors are closely tied to assisted suicide organizations, weakening oversight.

“There is no independent third party ensuring the law is being followed,” he said, highlighting that both eligibility and oversight are undermined, with many doctors involved in the process directly referred by pro-assisted suicide organizations.

Jessica Rodgers

McKay also received comments from Jessica Rodgers, director of the Patients Rights Action Fund:

Critics warn that once assisted death is legalized, eligibility often broadens beyond initial guardrails. “In states where assisted suicide is legal, the eligibility has expanded in practice — even without voters or lawmakers changing the laws,”

McKay explains what has happened in Canada:

While New York’s proposed law includes more restrictions than Canada’s, critics often point north to highlight how safeguards can erode. Canada’s “medical assistance in dying” program was legalized in 2016 for adults with incurable conditions and was expanded in 2021 to include those without terminal illnesses. By 2023, more than 15,000 people died through MAID — accounting for roughly one in every 20 deaths in Canada.

That’s five times higher than when the law was first enacted in2016, raising concerns that the expansion of eligibility may be fueling the rise

Canada’s MAID law is now among the most permissive globally, and by 2027 it will include patients with mental illness as their sole condition — even in the absence of any physical disease. Most recipients cite severe pain, loss of dignity, or inability to enjoy life as primary reasons for ending their lives. Canadian media have also documented cases where people sought MAID due to poverty, lack of housing, or inadequate disability benefits.

McKay examines the issue of whether or not suicide rates are affected by the legalization of assisted suicide. I responded:

“When comparing the suicide rate in the Netherlands to other European countries that have not legalized assisted death, you notice an increase in the suicide rate in the Netherlands and a decrease in the suicide rate in countries that have not legalized,” noted Mr. Schadenberg.

McKay looks further into the issue and writes:

Contrary to early hopes, legalizing assisted dying has reportedly not reduced overall suicide rates. A 2021 study in Oregon shows a 32 percent increase in the general suicide rate since legalization. European data point to similar trends— with countries like Belgium, after euthanasia legalization in 2002, reporting by 2016 the highest non-assisted suicide rate in women across Europe. In Switzerland, the female suicide rate, including assisted deaths, nearly doubled between 1998 and 2017. Assisted death has been legal since 1941, with statistics tracked since 1998. 

McKay interviews an assisted suicide lobby leader who emphasizes the support for assisted suicide in New York. McKay refers to my interview and states:

“The concept that assisted suicide is about compassion or autonomy is simply not true. These laws work by giving doctors the right in law to be involved with causing your death. That isn’t autonomy,” said Mr. Schadenberg.

“Once it is decided that death can be an answer to a difficult human condition, then it becomes discriminatory to deny it to others in a similar condition. The reality is that people can die a peaceful death without being killed. This should be the focus because this is what people want.”

McKay ends her article with a quote from Christine Gauthier:

For the likes of Ms. Gauthier, however, basic needs to get through daily life would be a long-awaited step in the right direction.

“Things are not really moving; I am back to not being able to use the elevator. I have to deal with that on top of the medical and emotional effects of it all,” she added. “I am still waiting for the surgeries. I am still isolated, so I haven’t been able to hear from anyone much.”

Links to similar articles:

• Physicians group urges New York Governor to veto assisted suicide bill (Link).
• Veterans Affairs offers euthanasia to a former Paralympian (Link).