Executive Director - Euthanasia Prevention Coalition
An Angus Reid Institute survey of 1517 Canadians focusing on euthanasia and assisted suicide (also known as assisted death) done between March 21 - 24 found that the majority of Canadians oppose many of the recommendations in the Special Joint Committee on Physician-Assisted Dying report (report). The report made 21 recommenations including euthanasia for: people with dementia, people with dementia, and people with psychiatric conditions. The report provided recommendations for legislation on assisted death.
The survey found that 78% of Canadians opposed euthanasia for people with severe psychological suffering but no terminal illness, meaning they oppose recommendation 3, in the report, that supported euthanasia for people with psychological suffering.
The euthanasia lobby has pressured the government to reduce funding for institutions that refuse to kill their patients. The survey found that only 24% of Canadians supported this idea.
The survey found that only 36% of Canadians supported forcing medical professionals who oppose euthanasia to refer their patients to a doctor who will kill their patient.
In the State of Oregon, where assisted suicide is legal, there is a two week waiting period before a person can obtain a lethal dose. Recommendation 14 in the report stated that there should be no waiting period. The survey indicates that respondents disagree with the report with only 12% opposing a waiting period.
The report of the Committee on Physician-Assisted Dying recommended wide-open rules for euthanasia but the survey found that the majority oppose "assisted death" for most reasons. The survey found that support for assisted death was limited based on circumstance:
- 36% support when a person with multiple conditions like arthritis and diabetes feels overwhelmed and wants to die,
- 31% support when a person has no hope for the future and finds no meaning in their life,
- 26% support when a person's care is perceived as a burden to their family,
- 21% support when the cost of a patient's care is very expensive to the health care.
The Liberal government is expected to present their euthanasia bill on April 11, 2016.
1 comment:
Death is what we are all destined for with no exceptions other than DIVINE intervention. Deaths sting is what deaths role is in our human existence, an action of finality.
In this regard we must consider a course of action to make those LIFE DAYS more tolerable, comfortable, and as pain free as possible in a dignified and uplifting journey towards each persons own respective demise. It is a life journey as has been said before, we are conceived, we are born, we live the path GOD destined for us and, then we die.
We are asked to be loving and caring towards one another and these attributes are the foundation of our humanity. Our words and actions carry profound consequences because of the decisions made in our daily undertakings and in our interaction with one another, especially those at lifes end.
We can make a difference through how we act and minister to the needs of others. YES dignity til death is achievable, laudable, and a grand gesture towards our own mortality, culminating in the importance of treating humanity with respect, honor, and promotion of dignity.
What a life giving offering DIGNITY TIL DEATH. AMEN
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