Canada's proposed euthanasia law: Throwing away lives and covering up medical errors

MONTREAL - May 5, 2016 - PRLog -- Dr. Paul Saba, a family physician who continues to lead the fight against euthanasia, euphemistically called "medical aid in dying," hosted a press accompanied by a young family that could have been victims of this proposed legislation (C-14).  The husband today would be a widower, and their 5-year-old daughter orphaned, if the erroneous predictions and advice of the medical staff had been listened to. They also shared their challenges of caring for a family member who has cancer and the medical staff promoting euthanasia.

Dr. Saba explained that Bill C-14 must be rejected. The dangers and abuses of euthanasia and assisted suicide here in Canada and worldwide were highlighted. The few jurisdictions that practice euthanasia are unable to establish workable safeguards. For example: in Belgium, 32% of euthanasia deaths are performed without specific request or consent; and, 47% of cases go unreported. In a video, Dr Philippa Whitford, MP (UK Parliament) and Breast Cancer Surgeon as well as Professeur Régis Aubry, Médecin, Chef Unité de soins palliatifs, CHU Besançon, France explained why the United Kingdom and France have rejected assisted suicide and euthanasia as a treatment of people facing health challenges. A lawyer from Dr. Saba's legal team explained that Quebec's law is presently being challenged and Canada's proposed legislation will be challenged if enacted.

To start, many health care services including medicines are inadequately available in Canada thereby creating a risk that certain patients will not be able to exercise genuine free and informed consent to end their lives. Second, there is the always present danger of physicians rendering an incorrect diagnosis and/or prognosis. Medical errors are considered the third leading cause of death as published in a recent British Medical Journal. What better way of covering up medical errors than by euthanasizing people? Third, such a proposed law discriminates against people who are depressed, living with chronic conditions (such as diabetes), physically challenged or financially stressed.

The proposed law means that people who are in need of medical care -- but lacking adequate services at the most vulnerable time of their lives -- could be pressured to end their lives prematurely by euthanasia or physician-assisted suicide.  Any law should respect the principle that people must have a right to have their medical condition treated at all times of life.

The evidence is overwhelmingly clear: euthanasia and assisted suicide is not the solution for people who need to be cared for and not killed.

This family could have been victims of this proposed legislation (C-14)

http://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/a-five-year-old-canadian-girl-and-family-pleads-with-the-prime-minister-of-canada-for-the-sake-of-our-families-say-no-to-euthanasia-564148521.html

UK rejects Assisted Suicide: Dr Philippa Whitford

http://www.youtube.com/embed/yT4gqotrgCg