EPC hopes the BC Court of Appeal reversed the errors in assisted suicide court case

Media Release: October 9, 2013

The Euthanasia Prevention Coalition (EPC), an intervener in the BC Court of Appeal assisted suicide case, hopes that the BC Court of Appeal has followed the lead of the Irish Supreme Court who upheld the right of the state to protect its citizens from assisted suicide and reverse the errors in the court decision concerning assisted suicide and euthanasia in Canada.

Hugh Scher

EPC legal counsel Hugh Scher stated:

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

Toujour-Vivant– Not Dead Yet leader, Amy Hasbrouck stated:

“People with disabilities, chronic illnesses and seniors are negatively affected by assisted suicide, euthanasia and other end-of-life practices.” 

EPC-BC chair Dr. Will Johnston expressed his concern that legal assisted suicide has already being extended to people who are not terminally ill in jurisdictions where it is practiced.

Dr Will Johnston

Johnston also stated: 

"Elder abuse, is already difficult to detect, would be no easier to combat when a suicide offer is always dangling before a vulnerable older person. Giving legal immunity to those who would provide suicide does not make our loved ones safer."

EPC Executive Director, Alex Schadenberg, stated: 

"the Carter decision erred in several significant areas ... the judge came to her decision by falsely assuming that there is a 'right to suicide' in Canada."
 "the Carter decision also misinterpreted data from other jurisdictions that have legalized assisted death by stating that there is no significant risk to vulnerable patient groups. A study from Belgium found that 32% of all assisted deaths were done without request and incompetent people who are over the age of 80 were vulnerable to dying by an assisted death without request."

 SOURCE: Euthanasia Prevention Coalition of Canada (EPC)

For further information:

Dr. Will Johnston, (Vancouver) EPC-BC Chair: (604) 220-2042, willjohnston@shaw.ca

Hugh Scher, (Toronto) EPC Legal Counsel: (416) 816-6115, hugh@sdlaw.ca

Amy Hasbrouck, (Montreal) Tourjours Vivant–Not Dead Yet: (450) 921-3057, info@tv-ndy.ca

Alex Schadenberg, (London) EPC Executive Director: (519) 851-1434, info@epcc.ca

Links to similar articles:

Protecting the vulnerable, still the goal says government lawyer.

Legalizing assisted suicide causes non-dying persons to be steered to suicide.

Responding to the disturbing decision by Justice Smith in the Carter case.