Canadian government Assisted Dying recommendations will not protect people.

For Immediate Release - February 25, 2016

The Euthanasia Prevention Coalition (EPC) is a national organization representing groups and individuals representing medical, personal and disability perspectives since 1999 with the purpose of protecting people from euthanasia and assisted suicide.

Research proves that the misuse of Assisted Dying in jurisdictions where it is legal has resulted in deaths without an explicit request, assisted deaths of people with a wrong diagnosis, the under reporting of assisted deaths, and assisted death of people with treatable psychiatric conditions including depression.

EPC urges the federal government to:

• devise guidelines with clear oversight that cannot be abused.
• reject the concept that assisted dying is a form of medical treatment.
• reject assisted death for people who are incompetent to make decisions.
• devise clear guidelines to ensure that people, who are experiencing a vulnerable time of their life, will not die an assisted death, based on situational depression.
• protect the conscience rights of healthcare institutions.
• protect the conscience rights of medical professionals who reject that killing patients is an acceptable medical act. Medical professionals must not be forced, in any manner to participate in killing their patients.
• increase support for palliative care, home care for people with disabilities, mental health services and suicide prevention.

For interviews contact:

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

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

Amy Hasbrouck (Montreal QC) Toujours Vivant Not Dead Yet, (450) 921-3057, tigrlily61@gmail.com

Dr. Will Johnston (Vancouver BC) EPC – BC Chair, (604) 220-2042.

Euthanasia Prevention Coalition, 1-877-439-3348, info@epcc.ca, www.epcc.ca