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Canadian Justice Minister Wants Debate on Legalizing Assisted Suicide

OTTAWA, November 18, 2004 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Canadian Justice Minister Irwin Cotler has said he would like to see Parliamentarians debate the legalization of assisted suicide. Cotler told the House of Commons Justice Committee last night that there should be a "take note debate" on the matter - where the matter is discussed without a vote. "I think it may be appropriate to offer the opportunity for this discussion," he said. "I don't think there should be a rush to judgment until we say we are as properly informed as we deserve to be to make the most appropriate principled judgment in this regard."

Cotler claims he consulted experts on the issue including retired Supreme Court Justice Claire L'Heureux-Dube, an activist for abortion, homosexual 'marriage', and assisted suicide. L'Heureux-Dube wrote a recent column in the Quebec paper Le Soleil calling for a change to the law on assisted suicide. Cotler did not however consult with Canada's Euthanasia Prevention Coalition.

Recent cases of assisted suicide in Canada and a recent court-case in which jurors acquitted assisted suicide activist Evelyn Martens have brought the issue into focus.

Alex Schadenberg, the executive director of the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition, maintains that the Evelyn Martens case in BC demonstrates that the current laws concerning assisting suicide are correct and need to be enforced by impartial juries.

"Monique Charest, who committed suicide on January 7, 2002, with Evelyn Martens at her side, was not terminally ill," said Schadenberg. Court testimony from her physician confirmed that Charest did not have any condition that would lead to her death but was being treated for symptom management and depression. "Monique needed professional help, not suicide," concluded Schadenberg.

Schadenberg has urged all Canadians who respect life to send a simple message to political leaders: "I am opposed to any change in the current law concerning assisting suicide. I support an enhancement for palliative care and assistance for people with disabilities in Canada. I believe that changing the law concerning assisted suicide would cause many vulnerable Canadians to be pressured into suicide with assistance."

Email:
Justice Minister Hon. Irwin Cotler:
Justice Critic Vic Toews:
and your member of parliament (for contact info see: http://www.parl.gc.ca/common/senmemb/house/members/CurrentMemberList.asp?Languag... )

Copy emails to Euthanasia Prevention Coalition:

jhw

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