{"id":42983,"date":"2015-02-20T02:32:18","date_gmt":"2015-02-19T18:32:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/canadianinquirer.net\/v1\/?p=42983"},"modified":"2015-02-20T02:32:18","modified_gmt":"2015-02-19T18:32:18","slug":"debate-on-doctor-assisted-suicide-needs-to-be-started-right-away-say-liberals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/canadianinquirer.net\/v1\/2015\/02\/20\/debate-on-doctor-assisted-suicide-needs-to-be-started-right-away-say-liberals\/","title":{"rendered":"Debate on doctor assisted suicide needs to be started right away, say Liberals"},"content":{"rendered":"
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OTTAWA — The Conservative government should immediately launch a comprehensive national debate about doctor-assisted suicide in the wake of a landmark Supreme Court decision, the federal Liberal leader says.<\/p>\n

Justin Trudeau called on the Harper government to get talks started in order to take full advantage of the one-year grace period the high court provided when it opened the door to the controversial practice earlier this month.<\/p>\n

“The Supreme Court has tasked us with the job of doing our job as legislators,” Trudeau said Wednesday after a Liberal caucus meeting.<\/p>\n

“I think it’s important that we do that.”<\/p>\n

Two weeks ago, the high court unanimously struck down the ban on providing a doctor-assisted death to patients who are mentally competent but suffering “irremediable” ailments.<\/p>\n

However, the court suspended its judgment, giving Parliament a year to introduce legislation recognizing the right of consenting adults with intolerable physical or mental suffering to seek medical help in ending their lives.<\/p>\n

That doesn’t leave much time to come up with a new law, said Trudeau — especially given the strong views held on both sides of what he acknowledged is a divisive and passionate debate.<\/p>\n

“This is something that is important for Canadians on a personal level.”<\/p>\n

Trudeau put the issue to Stephen Harper during question period Wednesday, and the prime minister acknowledged the complexity of the issue, even if he was non-committal on the way forward.<\/p>\n

“It is clear that this is a sensitive issue for many Canadians, and deep convictions are held on both sides,” he said in French.<\/p>\n

“We will study the decision and will hold extensive consultations on all points of view associated with this difficult issue.”<\/p>\n

At least six reform bills on right-to-die issues have been defeated over the past two decades. Last fall, the Conservatives declared they would not support changing the status quo.<\/p>\n

Some groups have condemned the Supreme Court ruling, warning that legalizing euthanasia could have far-reaching consequences, particularly for vulnerable Canadians.<\/p>\n

In fact, Justice Minister Peter MacKay has said the concerns of advocates for the disabled will be paramount for him as the government reviews the court’s decision.<\/p>\n

Others have applauded the decision, saying it’s about time that certain people under particular circumstances were given a say in when and how their lives should end.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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