QUEBEC CITY – The province’s Dying with Dignity bill will soon become a reality in hospitals. After four years of debate, the bill has cleared the National Assembly’s clause by clause study.
“It’s a very important step,” said Quebec’s Social Services Minister. Hivon rejoiced on Thursday that seriously-ill Quebecers will soon have access to medical aid to die. The next step is a final vote in February, for implementation as early as 2015. A majority of MNAs support the bill.
To qualify, patients must be over 18 and suffer from an incurable disease, causing constant, unbearable pain. They have to be lucid and ask freely, in writing, for medical assistance to die.
The issue percolated in public opinion to recently reach a 66% approval rating among Quebec doctors, said Hivon.
“More than 40% are willing to do it themselves so that’s a pretty good range of doctors,” Hivon told reporters. Doctors uncomfortable with the process will have to seek out someone who will do it for them: “We provided in the bill the obligation that each health institution has to provide end of life care and all end of life care,” she added.
Coincidentally, the Supreme Court of Canada announced on Thursday that it will revisit the question of assisted suicide. The High Court will hear an appeal in the Gloria Taylor case. The terminally-ill British Columbia woman was granted the right to get help to end her life in 2012.
Quebec politicians said they will be watching, even if he two issues are “parallel, separate”.
“There is a point when someone says ‘I don’t want to suffer anymore, please help me to stop that suffering’,” said Liberal MNA and Dying with Dignity committee member Stéphanie Vallée. “But some people disagree with the fact that that could be possible and I understand that.”
Vallée said the issue is still sensitive even among her colleagues and she doesn’t want Quebecers to think hospitals will start “getting rid of people”. She said the second half of the Quebec legislation improves palliative care in the province.
“Obviously medical aid in dying should not be chosen because palliative care is not available,” said Vallée.
The government estimates at 500 the number of Quebecers who could realistically apply for medical assistance to die.
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