Tuesday, January 23, 2018

Siwicki pleads guilty to criminal negligence causing the death of his mother.

Alex Schadenberg
Executive Director - Euthanasia Prevention Coalition

Ron Siwicki pled guilty, in a Winnipeg court on January 22, to criminal negligence causing the death of his mother, Betty, in December 2014. Ron Siwicki left his mother to die on the floor after falling from her bed.

I am writing this article because this case was a horrific case of elder abuse neglect but it was also a story that euthanasia activists used to promote the legalization of euthanasia.
Hugh Scher
Hugh Scher, legal counsel for the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition, also responded to the Siwicki case. Scher said that debates around end-of-life care are nothing new but the Siwicki case was particularly disturbing.

“I was surprised and horrified at the notion that this is how we’re going to treat our seniors; this is how we’re going to treat those who are vulnerable and in our care, to simply leave them to die on the floor with only the most basic of food and water, and without any basic pain and symptom management,” he says. “This is a very concerning proposition as it’s clearly contrary to basic human rights obligations and to basic care obligations that we all owe as citizens and as people of this country, particularly those who are in positions of trust and authority relative to their loved ones or are healthcare providers.”
“It’s really disrespecting – to a greater extent than before – human beings and human life in a manner that really does put people who are vulnerable and in the care of others at risk. There must be exceptional efforts taken, I think, to ensure that neglect and abuse are avoided," says Scher.
Scher stated that:
“We have historically believed that the third-party killing of people is wrong.”
Sadly, now that euthanasia is legal in Canada, new pressures are being placed upon people, such as Candice Lewis, to die by euthanasia.

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