Friday, September 9, 2022

Alberta man requests (MAiD) euthanasia based on poverty

Alex Schadenberg
Executive Director, Euthanasia Prevention Coalition

The Bridge City News published a video report of a Medicine Hat senior who is looking into medical aid in dying because of poverty.

The story concerns Les Landry, a disabled senior who is applying for MAiD because he is living in poverty. When Les turned 65 his disability benefit ended and his seniors benefit began. The problem for Les is that the seniors benefit is lower and it doesn't cover certain expenses that his disability benefit covered. Landry also lives chronic pain and he says that he lacks a quality of life.

I explained to Bridge City News that due to the change in legislation from Bill C-7, passed last year, Landry will possibly be approved for euthanasia.

Bill C-7 created a two-track law. A person whose natural death is deemed to be reasonably foreseeable has no waiting period, meaning they can apply for death and die the same day, while a person whose natural death is not deemed to be reasonably foreseeable has a 90-day waiting period before being killed by lethal injection.

Drew Barnes (MLA) Cypress Medicine Hat told Bridge City News that he has heard of several similar requests for MAiD.

I also explained to Bridge City News that the law requires that two medical or a nurse practitioners would have to agree that Landry's life is not worth living and if the medical or nurse practitioners are willing to do it the law allows them to cause your death.

Landry told Bridge City News that as his situation is right now, he is willing to die.

There have been several stories of Canadians with disabilities dying by euthanasia and many of these stories the decision to be killed was based on poverty.

Links to more stories of the euthanasia experience in Canada:

  • Veterans affairs worker advocates euthanasia for PTSD (Link).
  • Shopping for doctor death in Canada (Link).
  • Gwen is seeking euthanasia because she can't access medical treatment (Link).
  • Euthanasia for disability and poverty (Link).
  • Euthanasia for Long Covid and poverty (Link).
  • Canada's MAiD law is the most permissive in the world. (Link).

4 comments:

JungleJim 57 said...

I bet Trudope is chomping at the bit to kill this guy. I can understand his plight as I suffer from a work related injury as well. What a sweet deal for all the EVIL MURDERERS in political positions to start killing the people with no remorse. Got news for them. Because of their evil hearts, just like Sodom and Gomorrah they will be destroyed and gain NOTHING because they follow their father (SATAN) plan(s) for them. I pray they wake up before it's too late and their is no other option for them. Sad times we live in.

Concerned Legion Member said...

Hello
I am Les Landry and I was hoping when the federal Minister Carla Qualtrough read Bill C-22 (the bill to combat poverty with people with disabilities) she would have included all people with disabilities regardless of age.
When I heard her say this benefit will target "working age" people, I found out that all seniors with disabilities would not be part of Bill C-22.
I was hoping Bill C-22 would help lift seniors with disabilities out of poverty and it wasn't to be.
Considering I am starting to lose coverage on most of my medication such as replacing my pain medication with Morphin I can no longer live with this continuing struggle.
I am now 100% committed to following through with MAID.
Thank you

Anonymous said...

My name is Carrie. I have chronic pain and a gambit of other illnesses 24/7 some days are worse than others. I understand how debilitating this kind of life is. I'm not a senior. The money we get is not enough either. I do get most of my medications paid for (some are not) I really hope for all our sakes younger and seniors that are disabled that we are treated with human value/dignity and not left to suffer at the greedy hands of the governments we need action to wipe out poverty amoung the disabled. Not 1 human life should be snubbed out because of financial hardship what the hell is this world come to? Come on wake up!!!!

Anonymous said...

Dear Mr. Landry, I am so sorry for the struggle that you have been through. I too understand poverty-I am severely chronically ill and disabled, and I have to pay over $2500 a month out of pocket for my medications that they refuse to cover, with almost no way of working to pay those off. Some days it is terrifying, because I know if I can’t stay on my medications I will die. Even with all of the uncertainty, I would plead of you to reconsider ending your life. You, Mr. Landry, are precious, and valued, even if the government tries to tell you otherwise. There is so much life to be lived, even if money and health are lacking-you don’t know the influence you have on the people who care about you, even if you aren’t aware that they do. The only way your story is guaranteed to end badly is to end it now, in the midst of the struggle…if you keep on fighting, who knows the joys, the sunrises, the smiles, the laughter, and the hope that remains in store for you, as I trust that they do for me, even with all of the hardships. You will be in my prayers…