It's Not That Simple: Euthanasia & Assisted Suicide Today

by Jean Echlin, Ian Gentles

'It's Not That Simple' comes at a critical moment in Canada's history. The longstanding ban on assisted suicide has been lifted and our government now confronts the challenge of framing a law that respects the ruling of the Supreme Court on 6th February 2015, at the same time that it furnishes maximum possible protection for vulnerable people, and upholds the freedom of religion and conscience of not only individual doctors and nurses, but also of hospitals and palliative care institutions, whose principles do not permit them to participate in "assisted dying," or any other form of euthanasia. Shortly after the Supreme Court announced its ruling in the Carter case the deVeber Institute decided to publish a book analyzing the implications of this ruling. Our book outlines the legal ramifications of the epochal decision of the Supreme Court, as well as the effects it will have on the Canadian healthcare system. We conclude our analysis with a consideration of the positive alternatives to assisted suicide - skilled, compassionate palliative care, including adequate pain management. There is no reason why any citizen approaching the end of life should be denied such care. It has been demonstrated again and again that those who are given proper palliative care rarely request assisted suicide.

159 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2015