By Deborah Gyapong
Canadian Catholic News

OTTAWA -- As the House of Commons debated euthanasia and assisted suicide October 2, Steve Passmore, a man disabled from birth, held a lonely vigil in front of the Peace Tower.

"Bill C-384 directly threatens my life," said the sign he carried.

Passmore, who lives in Hamilton, said he feared Bill C-384 would "open Pandora's box."

"Equality protects life," said the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition representative. "All human persons must be treated as equal."

Passmore warned passage of Bill C-384 would mark "the end of the weak in society."

He decried the lack of bonding between those in society who are disabled and those who are well. "If you're around the disabled and you see how much they enjoy life you begin to want to help them," he said. "But this debate says, 'No, let's not help them,' because it's cheaper for resources."

Instead of building facilities and improving care, "we'll just offer them a needle," he said.

Inside the House, a sea of empty green chairs on the floor and a virtually empty gallery, save for two student groups, greeted Bloc Quebecois MP Francine Lalonde's opening speech on the first hour of debate on her bill. Only about 20 MPs were present, scattered along the margins.

"My conviction has grown stronger, and that is why I am introducing an amended bill on the right to die with dignity, Bill C-384," said Lalonde. She explained her bill would amend the Criminal Code so that "a medical practitioner does not commit homicide just by helping a person to die with dignity." This is the third time Lalonde has introduced a bill on assisted suicide. Two previous attempts died when elections were called.

Lalonde noted the conditions include the person's being at least 18; that this person have a terminal illness; and that this person be suffering "severe physical or mental pain without any prospect for relief and suffers from a terminal illness."

Lalonde noted that other countries had given patients the "right to receive medical assistance to die." She pointed out that palliative care in the Netherlands, where euthanasia is legal, is excellent.

Of the seven MPs who responded to Lalonde, only one Bloc MP, Serge Cardin, spoke in favour of her bill.

Conservative MP David Anderson, who is Natural Resources parliamentary secretary, led the response.

"There were so many failures of logic, and so much misinformation and misguided information there that I hardly know where to start," Anderson said.

"We need to understand that allowing people to die is a far cry from causing their death," he said. Countries that have given people this "choice" have "developed death tourism," he said. lt of Bill C-384.

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Liberal MP John McKay used the analogy of capital punishment, pointing out that many people who were later found to be falsely convicted would have died. He warned mistakes would be inevitable as a resu

Conservative MP Jacques Gourde, who is Public Works parliamentary secretary, said Bill C-384 would allow people who suffer depression to request a doctor's help in committing suicide. He criticized the bill's insufficient safeguards.

"Parliament should not consider such profound changes to the law without prior input from Canadians," said Gourde, noting the "serious implications" for the medical profession.

"It is not clear to me that the legal regime proposed is right for Canada," he said.

Liberal MP Marlene Jennings told the House the Liberal justice critic would not be supporting Bill 3-384.

She read into the record a letter sent to all MPs from the president of the Canadian Medical Association (CMA).

"The CMA does not support euthanasia or assisted-suicide and urges its members to uphold the principles of palliative care," said the letter by CMA president Anne Doig, MD. "Euthanasia and assisted suicide are opposed by almost every national medical association and prohibited by the law codes of almost all countries."

The letter also stood behind suicide prevention programs.

Jennings said she had sympathy for Lalonde, but the debate should be initiated by the government. She said she agreed with the CMA's conclusion that there needs to be a "comprehensive public debate" on how end-of-life decisions are made. The CMA, however, stressed its support for palliative care and suicide prevention.

NDP MP Joe Comartin opposed the bill, saying it would be a "tragedy" if Canada adopted assisted suicide without providing the option of good palliative care and hospice care. "At this time, approximately 20 per cent of our population is covered by meaningful palliative care, hospice and a home care system," he said.

Liberal MP Paul Szabo concluded the debate. "It would not give the right to die with dignity to someone," he said. "It would give the right of someone to take a life. All human life is dignified life."

Lalonde's bill comes up for a second hour of debate in early November. After that debate, it will go to a second reading vote. If it passes, then the bill will go to the Commons justice committee for further study.

-- Courtesy of Canadian Catholic News. Please do not reprint without permission.

Related stories:

Euthanasia 'favourable' to Quebec MDs: survey
Amending the Criminal Code to make euthanasia legal in Canada would likely gain the support of three-quarters of Quebec's medical specialists, says a new survey that is the latest chapter in a growing debate on physician-assisted suicide.
Charles Lewis, National Post, October 14

Ottawa can't ignore euthanasia debate forever
Parliament, however, has been notoriously shy about having this discussion . even though prolonged agony continues to haunt thousands of Canadians who want an assisted way out of life, but are prevented from finding a legal exit. For the seventh time in 18 years, a private member's bill on the subject has been introduced and may reach the Commons floor this fall. For the seventh time, the bill seems doomed to die from a lack of political oxygen.
Don Martin, Full Comment, National Post, October 14

October 15/2009