Canada's Euthanasia Horror Story

Alex Schadenberg
Executive Director, Euthanasia Prevention Coalition

The Spectator published an indepth article by Douglas Murray concerning Canada's euthanasia law that entitled: Canada's Euthanasia Horror Story.

He begins by refering to the novel, Time's Arrow, by Martin Amis that follows the Nazi Holocaust but in reverse, meaning, he records the end to the beginning.

Murray, who opposes Canada's euthanasia law, states his concerns:

As long-term readers will know, this is a slope that I have worried about for some time, for there is a slipperiness to it. Sure enough, two years ago Canada expanded the law to encompass people who had non-terminal conditions. As of next year the criteria will expand again, this time to take in people whose sole underlying condition is mental illness.

Murray explains that politicians and celebrities have been raising awareness of how debilitating mental illness and stress can be:

But that ground starts to move awfully fast once a state has said that incurable physical ailments are enough to send you to the knacker’s yard.

Murray focuses on the story of Lisa Pauli (47) who lives with anorexia and wants to die by euthanasia. He writes:

Lisa Pauli this week spoke to the media to announce her desire to take advantage of the new law. The 47-year-old suffers from anorexia, and has done since the age of eight.

Murray acknowledges that a 47-year-old with anorexia clearly needs help, but in Canada her help may be death by euthanasia. Murray refers to death by euthanasia as a "cure." He writes:

You can expect Canada to find a lot of other ailments to cure in the years ahead. Just last year a Canadian armed forces veteran who has been suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) sought support from Veterans Affairs Canada. An employee of the agency asked him if he had considered taking advantage of the new euthanasia options available in Canada. The veteran in question said that this was suggested unprompted.

Shanti De Corte

Murray tells the story of Shanti De Corte, who at the age of 17 survived the Belgium Airport terrorist attack. Last year De Corte died by euthanasia to escape the PTSD that she had been living with after the terrorist attack. Murray continues:

And so it does seem likely that at some point after March Canada will be able to go down a similar hell-path. As well as being able to kill the victims of crime and terror, they will be able to kill (or award ‘medically assisted suicide’) to people of any age who suffer from anorexia, depression, PTSD or a growing smorgasbord of other debilitating ailments. And in time a temptation will linger over Veteran Affairs Canada, and among many other organisations and medical professionals.

Murray statement, "people of any age [can obtain euthanasia]" is incorrect. In February, a government committee supported expanding euthanasia to "mature minors" but the government has not introduced legislative change yet.

Murray ends his article by stating:

Naturally I must stress, as does the Canadian government, that this ‘complex and deeply personal issue’ will ‘reflect Canadians’ needs’ and ‘protect those who may be vulnerable, and support autonomy and freedom of choice’. It all starts from such a kindly place. It’s all about bodily autonomy, you see, and freedom – including freedom of choice... And perhaps it is These bodies and souls are, after all, horrifically disfigured, mangled things. Perhaps it is right to wonder whether it’s worth the effort involved in bringing them to life?

Further reading:

• Compassionate release from jail or euthanasia (Link).
• 47-year-old Canadian woman with anorexia wants to die by euthanasia (Link).
• Euthanasia tightens its grip as quadriplegic Canadian considers assisted death (Link).
• Canada's law will provide not prevent suicide for some psychiatric patients (Link).
• Euthanasia for mental illness. Killing people with an uncertain prognosis (Link).
• Abbotsford police investigating euthanasia death (Link).
• Canada is not as advertised. Euthanasia is eugenics (Link).
• Canada's euthanasia law is the most permissive in the world (Link).
• (MAiD) euthanasia for disability and poverty (Link).
• (MAiD) euthanasia for mental illness and poverty (Link).
• Veterans affairs worker advocates euthanasia for PTSD (Link).\
• Abandoning people. Canada's broadening euthanasia laws (Link).
• Mother wants to stop 23-year-old son from dying by euthanasia (Link).
• Bereaved mother speaks out against euthanasia (Link).
• Woman died by euthanasia because of inadequate home care (Link).
• Infant euthanasia proposed by Quebec College of Physicians (Link).
• How poverty not pain is driving people with disabilities to euthanasia (Link).
• Ontario man seeks euthanasia to avoid homelessness (Link).
• Why did they kill my brother? (Link).
• Canada's doctors offer euthanasia before receiving a request (Link).
• Food bank clients asking for euthanasia based on poverty (Link).
• No other options. An expose on euthanasia in Canada (Link).
• Poverty and euthanasia creates public interest but euthanasia is abhorent on its own (Link).
• Canadian quadriplegic woman can be approved and die by euthanasia quicker than being approved and receive disability benefits. (Link).