Canadian Govt. To Pay For Euthanizing Those ‘Too Poor to Live With Dignity’
Savannah Hulsey Pointer
The policy opens their euthanasia allowance to those who are not terminally ill.
QUICK FACTS:
- The Canadian government will now pay for those who are “too poor to continue living with dignity” to kill themselves, or according to the medical term, be euthanized.
- Canada is expanding its medical assistance in dying (MAID) program, which has been an option for those with certain types of illnesses for years.
- The program includes health authorities providing a drug that will intentionally kill the person, at their request, according to The Post Millennial.
Author Charles Camosy criticizes Canada's euthanasia laws which allow for euthanizing people if they are "too poor to continue living with dignity":
"Canada's policies are seen for what they are." pic.twitter.com/QvzW1Rt67R
— The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) May 12, 2022
MORE ON CANADA’S MAID PROGRAM:
- The British Columbia government website, “Medical assistance in dying provides people, who are experiencing intolerable suffering due to a grievous and irremediable (incurable) medical condition, the option to end their life with the assistance of a doctor or nurse practitioner.”
- “Medical assistance in dying is provided only to legally eligible persons. To ensure this service is provided in a safe manner, a system of safeguards has been designed to protect vulnerable people and support all people to make an informed decision,” the site says.
- Up until recently, the person receiving the service must be eligible for the government-funded health program, at least 18 years of age and mentally competent, have made a voluntary request for assistance in dying, have given informed consent about potential palliative care, have a “grievous and irremediable medical condition,” and be enduring physical or psychological suffering that is “intolerable to them and cannot be relieved under conditions that they consider acceptable.”
BACKGROUND:
- In 2015, the Canadian Supreme Court struck down a long-standing ban on assisted suicide, and just a year later, its parliament passed legislation allowing “MAID.”
- The program was touted as a resource for those whose death was “reasonably foreseeable.” However, five years later, the “reasonably foreseeable” language was dropped, as was the requirement of a terminal illness.
