Monday, January 27, 2014

Euthanasia (Québec Bill 52) The Truth, The Facts, The Numbers

Link to Vivre dans la Dignité. (Living with Dignity)



Euthanasia: The Truth, The Facts, The Numbers. (Edited by EPC)

The Québec government hasn’t told you these facts about legalizing “medical aid in dying” (Bill 52):
• “Medical aid in dying” is the injection of a poison that kills immediately.
• “Medical aid in dying” is euthanasia, forbidden by the Criminal Code.
• Bill 52 won’t solve the lack of access to palliative care.
• Modern medicine is able to relieve all physical pain.
• The provisions of Bill 52 which are aimed at legalizing euthanasia are unconstitutional.
• Bill 52 will irreparably damage the health care system.
• Legalizing “medical aid in dying” is against the law.
• Only the federal parliament can legalize euthanasia.
• The oversight of the Commission’s processes don’t provide sufficient guarantees for the safety of patients.
• To claim to the contrary is to deceive the public and our legislators.  

The Numbers
• 88% of palliative care physicians oppose Bill 52.
• 67% of Quebecers don’t understand what “medical aid in dying” is.
• 69% of Quebecers don’t have access to palliative care.
• 25% of Quebecers don’t have a family doctor.
• 34% of Montrealers don’t have a family doctor.
• Bill 52 is modelled closely on the Belgian euthanasia law.

Deaths in 2012
• Belgium: 1.4% (1,432) reported deaths by euthanasia.
• Netherlands: 3% (4,188) reported deaths by euthanasia.
• Quebec: of 60,800 deaths, there would be between 850 and 1,824 deaths caused by euthanasia, based on the Belgian or Dutch percentages.

Some Worrisome Statistics
• 47% of euthanasia cases in Flanders (Belgium) are not reported.
• 32% of euthanasia cases in Flanders (Belgium) are carried out without the patient’s explicit agreement.
• 78% of euthanasia cases in Belgium are carried out without agreement and without discussion with the patient.
• 6% of euthanasia cases in Belgium are carried out by nurses (which is illegal).
• 23% of lung transplants in Belgium come from donors killed by euthanasia.
• Deaf twins were euthanized because they were going blind (Belgium).
• Woman was euthanized because she was depressed, her family not notified (Belgium).
• Woman was euthanized because she was anorexic (Belgium).
• Woman was euthanized because she was going blind and couldn’t handle not seeing dirt (Netherlands).
Euthanasia Worldwide
• In 2013, the World Medical Association (WMA) publicly stated its position against euthanasia. WMA is composed of 106 member states, representing over 9 million physicians. Of 196 countries in the world, there are only 3 countries where euthanasia is legal.
• 99.6% of the world population is protected by laws against euthanasia. Only 0.4 % of the world population is not protected against euthanasia. 
• According to the World Health Organisation, palliative care intends neither to hasten nor postpone death.
The references are found at: (Link)

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