Life is precious and is not just another commodity

In February 2015 the Supreme Court tossed out prohibitions against assisted suicide and euthanasia, saying that such prohibitions “unjustifiably infringe” Charter rights (section 7) of the individual, which are the rights to “life, liberty and security of the person.” So how does forcing physicians to kill their patients not break down the all important physician-patient trust relationship or in any way enhance the "life, liberty and security" of Canadian citizens? Where in the world do the rights of the vulnerable or the moral conscience of physicians fit into this perverse notion?

The advocates for death are putting tremendous pressure on not only our most vulnerable citizens but every physician who has taken the Hippocratic Oath to preserve life. It is not difficult to imagine that with the ever escalating costs of health care and an aging population assisted suicide could conceivably become the most acceptable, inexpensive "treatment" for terminal illness. Legalization of physician-assisted suicide is a path toward self-destruction. The majority of doctors do not believe it is their right to determine when life begins or ends or whether or not it is viable or too burdensome to endure. This authority belongs to God the Creator of life only and men who would usurp this right are very poor amateur providences. It can never be ours to question the value of life and because a person is gravely ill by no means diminishes the value of their life. Putting to death the sick or disabled shows a profound disrespect for the sanctity of life and constitutes a great moral offence and human tragedy. Proper palliative care already provides "dying with dignity" and compassionate care for the dying and should be encouraged and better funded. We need look no further than the experiences of Belgium and Holland down this dark path to see where it leads. It is a myth that doctor assisted suicide can be properly regulated and what begins as voluntary euthanasia leads to involuntary euthanasia. Euthanasia in Belgium has now become a "normal medical procedure" with doctors no longer even reporting cases. Bill C-14 is radical legislation based on a perceived need of a tiny remnant of the population and amounts to a false compassion that trumps the rights of the majority. Canada needs to heed the warning of Belgium and other European states and follow the example of Britain and the majority of American states in rejecting this evil.

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