A coalition of organizations advocating for the rights of people with disabilities has announced that they will challenge in court a provision of Canadian law on medical assistance in dying under the Charter of Rights.
The coalition, which also includes two individual plaintiffs, argues that the so-called second phase of the euthanasia law has resulted in premature deaths of Canadians who allegedly resorted to the procedure for false reasons.
Under the law, patients whose natural death is not reasonably foreseeable but whose condition causes “unbearable physical or psychological suffering” can now request medical assistance in dying.
The coalition claims that this second phase of the law has had a direct impact on the lives of people with disabilities.
In fact, the organizations argue that medical assistance in dying should only be offered to people whose natural deaths are reasonably predictable.
The vice-president of Inclusion Canada, which is part of the coalition, claims that there is currently an alarming trend of people with disabilities requesting medical assistance in dying due to social disadvantage, poverty or lack of basic services.
Krista Carr says these people should instead be better supported to enjoy a better life.
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