Anti-euthanasia groups alarmed by constitutional exemption

Another B.C. judge allows Gloria Taylor the 'right to die' after government appeals initial ruling

Gloria Taylor's lawyer Joseph Arvay tells reporters outside the B.C. Supreme Court his
client is relieved with the June 15 B.C. decision to grant Taylor a constitutional exception
for a physician assisted-suicide. Nathan Rumohr / The B.C. Catholic.

Concerns from anti-euthanasia groups are expressed in Deborah Gyapong's latest story after another B.C. judge reinstated Gloria Taylor's constitutional exemption to assisted suicide:

Taylor, one of the plaintiffs in the controversial Carter case decided last June, had been granted the exemption when B.C. Supreme Court Justice Lynn Smith struck down Canada’s laws against assisted suicide and euthanasia as unconstitutional on Charter grounds. Smith ruled the laws would be kept in force for a year so Parliament could react with new legislation, but allowed Taylor the exemption while the law is still in force. 

In July, the federal government appealed the Carter decision, including the constitutional exemption. 

On Aug. 10, B.C. Justice Jo-Ann Prowse, however, ruled removing the exemption would cause Taylor “irreparable harm” by taking away the solace and peace of mind of knowing she could obtain an assisted suicide and by removing her ability to have one before her symptoms became unbearable.

Read the full story at The B.C. Catholic website.