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| Anti-euthanasia protesters stand outside the B.C. Supreme Courthouse June 15. Nathan Rumohr / The B.C. Catholic. |
The B.C. Supreme Court has ruled that outlawing physician-assisted suicide goes against the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
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| Dr. Will Johnston, coordinator of the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition B.C. speaks to reporters outside the B.C. Supreme Courthouse. Nathan Rumohr / The B.C. Catholic. |
Judge Lynn Smith ruled in favour of a coalition of pro-physician-assisted suicide plaintiffs, June 15, and found that a prohibition of physician-assisted suicide "deprives the plaintiffs of their section 7 rights inconsistently with the principles of fundamental justice." She continued:
First, the legislation is overbroad. Second, the legislative response – an absolute prohibition – is grossly disproportionate to the objectives it is meant to accomplish.
Smith's ruling gives Parliament one year to draft legislation as the ruling suspends declaration of invalidity.
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| Gloria Taylor's lawyer Joseph Arvay tells reporters his client is relieved with the court's decision. Nathan Rumohr / The B.C. Catholic. |
Gloria Taylor, who suffers from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and one of the five plaintiff`s, was emotional and relieved with the decision, as she was granted an constitutional exemption. She is allowed to seek physician-assisted suicide under "specified conditions."
Read more at The B.C. Catholic website.
The Catholic position on this question [physician assisted suicide being legal] is clear, human life is a gift from God. Therefore, as taught in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, no. 2280, “We are stewards, not owners, of the life God has entrusted to us. It is not ours to dispose of.”
ReplyDelete~ Richard W. Smith (born: 1959-04-28 age: 53), Archbishop of Edmonton, head of the CCCB (Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops)
Smith freely admits his motivation is purely religious. He wants to force Catholic catechism on non-believers. Surely the constitution gives me freedom of religion and the freedom to reject his religion.