LEGAL ASSISTED SUICIDE

What kind of enlightened society pretends that our last days, weeks, months and in some cases even years are pain free, care free joys to behold and experience? How about a young society, a naive society or a society in denial. Yes some of us will enjoy life up to and including our last day only to die peacefully in our sleep. Others will die in pain, misery and hopelessness. Today's Waterloo Region Record carrys this story "Prepare for legal assisted suicide: MDs".

In 2012 the B.C. Supreme Court made a ruling that a ban on assisted suicide was unconstitutional. Good for them. A Dr. James Downar co-authored a report in the Canadain Medical Association Journal suggesting that doctors move on from debating the for and against arguments. he feels that they should be planning how medically assisted suicide will look and operate. Things like consent and safeguards should be debated sooner rather than the last minute after assisted suicide becomes legal which he feels is eventually imminent.

Somewhat on the other side of the fence is Dr. Louis Hugo Francescutti who would rather see thought and energy go into improving palliative care, including pain management. He believes that Canada lacks a national pain strategy. He may be right because when a senior's abilty to enjoy their last days are better in one Canadian jurisdiction than another; then something has gone off the rails. All seniors across Canada should have equal access to relief, support and when they choose an end to it. A 79 year old with terminal cancer should not have to prove anything in order to bring his or her life to an end. A 49 year old also with terminal cancer or a worse disease of which there are many also should not have to prove anything albeit that their disease is terminal and or their enjoyment of remaining life can not improve.