Friday February 7, 2003
Canadian Euthanasia Prevention Coalition Release on Trillium Grant to Dying Wth Dignity
Calls for independent inquiry
February 5, 2003
Euthanasia Prevention Coalition calls on the Ontario Ministry of Culture to do an Independent Inquiry of Ontario Trillium Foundation Grant
The Euthanasia Prevention Coalition is a national non-profit organization that exists to support and maintain laws concerning euthanasia and assisted suicide while promoting exemplary palliative and end-of-life care and the dignity of all vulnerable Canadians.
We are calling for an independent inquiry by the Ontario Ministry of Culture into the Ontario Trillium Foundation’s approval of a grant for $177,800 over three years to Dying with Dignity (DWD)for its “pilot counselling program in Toronto providing information, support and assistance to terminally ill individuals.” (Trillium Foundation grants list 2000 – 2001)
Comments attributed to Ms. Pashley of the Trillium Foundation in an Ottawa Citizen, (Feb 3, 2003) article were: “Before we make any grant, we research the organization extensively … one of our criteria is that organizations must comply with legislation.” Ms. Pashley was then quoted as saying she: “did not think a group’s philosophical support for euthanasia would exclude it from eligibility.”
Ms. Pashley’s comments cause concern, because of the nature of the grant to DWD to operate a counselling program. Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide are illegal acts in Canada, punishable by a term not exceeding fourteen years. DWD exists fundamentally to promote euthanasia and assisted suicide as legitimate options, therefore the grant money might be used to illegally counsel terminally persons to end their lives.
DWD is affiliated and is integrally involved with the World Federation of Right to Die Societies, an organization which exists to organize and promote a world-wide endeavour to overturn laws which prohibit euthanasia and assisted suicide. DWD has asked to host the 2006 international convention of the World Federation of Right to Die Societies. (WFRTDS Delegates Meeting: Brussels September 2002, p.4)
Kathy St. John, the executive director of DWD admits in her September 28, 2002 Annual Report [Annual Report] that DWD attended a Nu-Tech conference, as well as training sessions for the Caring Friends Program of the Hemlock society.
Nu-Tech is an organization that develops new methods of committing suicide including the “Exit Bag”, the “Debreather” and the use of Helium as a suicide agent . Co-founded by Canadian John Hoffsess, Australia’s “Dr. Death” Phillip Nitschke, and American Derek Humphry, NuTech is an integral part of a growing underground movement assisting people to kill themselves, a movement with which John Hoffsess’ collegue Evelyn Martens was involved.
In an article by Derek Humphry on NuTech, he notes that: “resistance by lawmakers all over the West to legalizing physician-assisted suicide is forcing people to use ‘underground’ tactics and methods.” In reference to the 1999 NuTech conference, he then remarked: “The theme of the conference – finding non-medical, non-criminal ways of choice in dying – meant that some groups, such as Compassion in Dying and Oregon Right to Die, were not invited. They work for regulated, medical only assisted suicide while this conference was about ‘self-deliverance’ and self-help.” (see: https://www.finalexit.org/nutechframe.html P.2) Why did DWD attend a NuTech conference?
Kathy St. John also admits in her Annual Report that she attended the Caring Friends Training Program organized by Hemlock society [Hemlock]. Hemlock is an organization that was founded by Derek Humphrey who admits to helping his first wife Jean commit suicide; and was accused by his second wife Anne of pressuring her towards suicide when she developed breast cancer. On their website it is stated that: “Members have access to programs that help them and their loved ones examine the full range of their end-of-life choice, including the option of hastening the dying process. … Where the law is inadequate to provide end-of-life choice, Hemlock works through democratic process to change the law.”
The World Right to Die Newsletter (December 1999, p.4) states the purpose of Caring Friends more starkly. “The first year of operation of the “Caring Friends” program of the Hemlock society has been a significant success. Scores of Hemlock members in terminal conditions have been counseled about self-deliverance and assisted death, with some dozen dying with the dignity and control they desired. The Hemlock national membership was informed at the end of 1998 that it was now Hemlock policy that no member should have to die alone and that any who chose to hasten dying, when suffering an incurable illness, would have the availability of helpful advice to make sure no attempts were botched.”
In her (Annual Report) Kathy St. John stated that in 2001: “The highlight was attending the Caring Friends Training Program hosted by the Hemlock society of the U.S.A. … While there, I met with Dick MacDonald who is the Medical Director for their Caring Friends Program and he is also the President of the World Federation of Right to Die Societies. Faye Girsh and Lois Schaefer of Hemlock were delighted to hear of our renewed counseling program, and offered, and continue to offer, their professional advice and expertise.”
Historian Ian Dowbiggin reveals in his new book published by Oxford University Press, and titled A Merciful End: The Euthanasia Movement in Modern America, “Hemlock and the World Federation of Right-to-Die Societies have a long history of advocating the legalization of physician-assisted suicide and actual medical mercy-killing.”
In the same (Annual Report) Kathy St. John refers to Hemlock in the United States as their “sister organization”. Hemlock also operates a counseling program which upon its own admission counsels “self deliverance and assisted death.” In light of the apparent close ties between DWD and Hemlock’s Caring Friends program are their not grave reservations about DWD’s planned counseling program?
The Euthanasia Prevention Coalition believes that the Ontario Trillium Foundation erred in its decision to approve the $177,800 grant over three years to DWD.
We question whether the Ontario Trillium Foundation officials who approved the grant will be willing to reverse their decision without an independent review.
We believe that it is in the interest of the Ontario Ministry of Culture to do an independent inquiry into this matter.
We will continue to pressure the Ontario Ministry of Culture and the Ontario Trillium Foundation by asking our supporters to express their concerns. We will continue to advocate for people with disabilities, the elderly and the medically vulnerable. We expect this matter will be amended as soon as possible.
Please send your concerns to:
The Honourable David Tsubouchi
Ministry of Culture
12th Floor Ferguson Block
77 Wellesley St. W.
Toronto ON M7A 1N3
Caroline Di Cocco
Opposition Critic (Culture)
Queens Park
Room 428 – Legislative Building
Toronto ON M7A 1A4
The Ontario Trillium Foundation
45 Charles St. E.
5th Floor
Toronto ON M4Y 1S2
1-800-263-2887
[email protected]
* Please send a copy of your e-mail and any response you receive to the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition at: [email protected]
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