Mental illness and disability enough to choose MAiD

John Diefenbaker has been quoted as saying that “Freedom is the right to be wrong, not the right to do wrong.”

Unelected senators and unelected judges have combined to force elected officials to pry open the legislation on euthanasia for yet another group of Canadians. While the Conservative threat to debate the newly proposed amendments allowed the Prime Minister to request another month’s delay (March 26) in the House of Commons, it seems that the government, which has sacrificed billions through economic shutdown, stimulus spending and care for seniors, will now welcome the vaccinated to use mental illness or disability enough of a reason to choose MAiD and die. This fourth extension to the debate process will not be long enough for most Canadians who support right to life perspectives.

The EFC’s David Guretzki states that “These are massive changes in law, medicine and society.” The EFC lobbied to put the brakes on this legislation and provided input through their membership in the Coalition for Healthcare and Conscience. Disability advocates have long feared that the opened door in 2016 would eventually provide a channel for state-provided suicide for the disabled. By eliminating the provision regarding “reasonably foreseeable natural death” Canada may be among the most permissive country in the world for euthanasia. When we consider our lack of abortion laws this may not surprise some.

The Justice Minister attempted to show some independence in allowing Canadians “suffering solely from grievous and incurable mental illness,” by extending the delay for implementation of MAiD from the 18 months recommended by the Senate to a full 24 months. The government denied the Senate’s proposal to allow advance requests for euthanasia in the same way that someone might request to be an organ donor before their time has come. All five amendments proposed by the Senate would kick the door wider on C-7. This hot potato could bounce back and forth between the two houses for quite some time if there is no consensus on key points.

The die is cast on this bill. A joint Senate-Commons committee will review other recommendations regarding the possibility of mature minors, palliative care and the protection of people with disabilities within the month after Bill C-7 becomes law. Rejection of a provision on advance requests for those fearing dementia, or other “competence-eroding conditions,” may put the House and the Senate into a debate position as things are finalized. The committee will review the protocols, safeguards and guidelines for people with mental illness wanting to access MAiD and submit their review within a year.

“Pray for God’s help,” Guretzki urges churches across Canada. “Pray… for protection for those who are vulnerable, for God’s people to be wise and faithful and compassionate and for us to love our neighbours better in tangible and life-giving ways. This is a time to pray and to act.”

The original 2019 Quebec Superior Court ruling, declaring the unconstitutionality of the MAiD law, has corralled the parliamentarians into expanding the provisions of euthanasia once the ruling party declined to appeal. The Charter of Rights and Freedoms has been leveraged by progressives to steadily undermine the Judeo-Christian heritage of our legal system. A five-year parliamentary review should begin within a month of the legislation passing.

Disability rights activists have voiced strong opposition to the unspoken message of the bill declaring the lack of value or worth of the disabled. Gerard Quinn, a UN watchdog, thinks that people with disabilities may feel pressured to seek MAiD if minimal resources are available to support them. “We’re concerned that there might be issues there… undermining their autonomy and their capacity to make the right decisions. I don’t mean the lack of legal capacity. What I mean is subtle pressure being brought to bear by, for example, lack of services or lack of community living options.”

Several MPs introduced petitions that could influence the bill. Cathay Wagantall of Yorkton, SK brought a petition regarding the restoration of the ten-day reflection period for those with reasonably foreseeable deaths; restore the necessity of consent immediately before MAiD is performed; restore the requirement for the signature of two witnesses; require medical professionals to advocate for life-affirming services.

Ted Falk, of Provencher, MB quoted a colleague summarizing a Kathleen Harris interview with CBC. “I find it heart breaking that we are putting doctors and legislators in this position….The primary issue is protection of conscience rights for medical professionals, health care providers, and the rights of hospices and other institutions not wanting to cause the death of people in their care.” The move toward early retirement by medical professionals will be an inevitable consequence of this bill.

It is interesting to note that in the first report on MaiD (2019) we see that 263 of the 7,336 people who filed written requests for MAiD withdrew their request because they had ten days to think about it. Now, the government wants to take this last chance for reflection away. For some in life-limiting situations or tragedies, even 90 days may not be enough to regain perspective.

Theological reflection may also reveal that suffering and pain may not end with a needle. Not for the individual and not for those left behind.

The Liberals are likely to woo the Bloc Quebecois for support in passing the legislation.