This is why Canada is debating assisted death laws

When Audrey Parker, 57, was diagnosed with stage four breast cancer, she decided to turn to Canada’s assisted-dying law, but soon realized there was a catch: the law dictated that people approved for medically assisted death had to be conscious and mentally sound at the moment they gave their final consent.

Fearing she would be denied her wish if she eventually became incapacitated, Parker said she was forced to die sooner than she wanted to.

Audrey Parker died last Nov. 1.

In this episode of the Global News podcast This is Why, we hear recorded messages from Parker and host Niki Reitmayer speaks with Dying With Dignity Canada’s CEO, Shanaaz Gokool.

We LOVE that you are loving the This Is Why podcast! If you haven’t subscribed yet — what are you waiting for?

Get weekly health news

Receive the latest medical news and health information delivered to you every Sunday.

Sign up for weekly health newsletter Sign Up

By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.

Subscribing’s easy! Here’s how…

• Open the Apple Podcasts app, search for “This Is Why” and select it from the list of results.
• Once on the This Is Why page, click the “Subscribe” button to have new episodes sent to your mobile device for free.
• Click the name of an episode from the list below to listen.

• Open the Google Podcasts app, search for “This Is Why” and select it from the list of results.
• Once on the This Is Why page, click the “Subscribe” button to have new episodes sent to your mobile device for free.
• Click the name of an episode from the list below to listen.

Watch: coverage of the medically assisted death debate in Canada

3:00 Nova Scotia woman’s posthumous fight to fix assisted-dying law

• Nova Scotia woman’s posthumous fight to fix assisted-dying law
• Religious hospitals do not have to offer assisted dying
• Fighting to die: medically assisted death fails Saskatoon family
• Former Alberta nun facing terminal cancer chooses medically assisted death
• Fighting to die: is medically assisted death criteria too vague?
• Should ‘mature minors’ have access to medically assisted death? Alberta professor weighs in
• Delicate balance creating guidelines for medically assisted death
• Quebec doctors want better palliative care services

Previous Video

Next Video