Category Archives: Euthanasia

January 13, 2019 (National Review) My very first anti-euthanasia column,published inNewsweek, warned that societal acceptance of assisted suicide/euthanasia would eventually include organ harvesting as a plum to society. I was called an alarmist and a fear-monger, but alas, I was right. In Belgium and the Netherlands, mentally ill and disabled people are killed in hospitals at their request, and then, their bodies are harvested with the success of the procedures written up with all due respect in organ-transplant medical journals.

Our closest cultural cousins in Canada are enthusiastically following the same utilitarian path, not only allowing organ harvesting to be conjoined with euthanasia, but medically assisted death is being boosted increasingly as a boon. Note the celebratory ledein thisOttawa Citizenstory:

Ontarians who opt for medically assisted deaths (MAiD) are increasingly saving or improving other peoples lives by also including organ and tissue donation as part of their final wishes.

In the first 11 months of 2019, MAiD patients in the province accounted for 18 organ and 95 tissue donors, a 14 per cent increase over 2018 and a 109 per cent increase over 2017. (Figures for December 2019 are not yet available.)

According to Trillium Gift of Life Network, which oversees organ and tissue donation in Ontario, the 113 MAiD-related donations in 2019 accounted for five per cent of overall donations in Ontario, a share that has also been increasing. In 2018, MAiD-related donations made up 3.6 per cent of the provinces total donations[.]

Many of these killed organ donorswill not have been imminently dying. They will alsogenerally not have been provided suicide-prevention servicesas the suicidal ill and disabled who ask for euthanasia are increasingly abandoned to the death with dignity mindset in Canada.

It doesnt even have to be the patients idea. Trillium Gift of Life Network, Ontarios donation organization,actively solicitsthe organs of those soon to be killed by doctors!

Canada decriminalized medically assisted death in 2016, and Ontario, through Trillium, immediately moved to the forefront of organ and tissue donation through MAiD, becoming the first jurisdiction in the world to proactively reach out to those who had been approved for assisted death to discuss donation. When a death is imminent, whether through a hospital or MAiD, Trillium must by law be notified.

And, as part of high-quality end-of life care, we make sure that all patients and families are provided with the information they need and the opportunity to make a decision on whether they wish to make a donation, [Trillium CEO Ronnie] Gavsie says. That just follows the logical protocol under the law and the humane approach for those who are undergoing medical assistance in dying. And its the right thing to do for those on the wait list.

The clear message being sent to suicidal ill and disabled Canadians with the active support of the organ transplant community is thattheir deaths can have greater value to Canada than their lives. In other words, organ donation as an offshoot of euthanasia has indeed been defined as a plum to society.

Someday, Canada will probably dispense with the euthanasia part altogether and go straight to killingbyorgan harvesting already being proposed inbioethics and medical journals. That would make for more viable organs, dont you know. Once one gets past what bioethicists denigrate as the yuck factor, there is indisputable logic to that idea, which we could call fruit from a legally poisonous tree.

Those with eyes to see, let them see.

Published with permission from the National Review.

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Organ donation industry now reaping benefits from assisted suicide - Lifesite

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) UPDATE 1/13/19 @ 6:30 p.m.

A little dog that was found near death by a dumpster is now on the road to recovery and is gaining a large following on social media.

The Huntington Cabell-Wayne Animal Control Shelter says the dog was found next to a dumpster outside an apartment complex on Friday, just outside Huntington.

The people who found her believed she was dead. However, when rescuers got there, they found she was just barely alive.

"We really anticipated that she was so pathetic that she would need to be euthanized," said Courtney Proctor-Cross, with the shelter. "She wouldn't have made it through the night; I am convinced of that."

The dog has been given the name Shelby. Proctor-Cross says the name was "just fitting for her." She is believed to be about 8-years-old.

Shelby was rushed to the emergency room, where they quickly began treating her. She was later transferred to the Proctorville Animal Clinic, where Dr. Mike Dyer says they are trying to find the right balance for her care.

Dr. Dyer says when Shelby came into the clinic, she was extremely malnourished, weighing just 5 pounds when she should weigh about 12-13, and she was dehydrated. However, he says she is showing signs of improvement.

"We don't want to bring them back too fast and upset their digestive system," said Dr. Dyer. "But the fact that she arouses and is that alert to want food and to eat it like that is a really good sign."

Proctor-Cross says when Shelby was first found, the dog couldn't even stand on her own she was so weak. Now, just days later, she is able to slightly move on her own and she is getting food every couple of hours. She is also hooked up to an IV getting fluid.

Dr. Dyer says they will be doing some further blood work and testing on Shelby. They will be continually monitoring her each day to make sure she is receiving the right treatment.

"She's a fighter," said Dr. Dyer. "She wants to be here and as long as that fight is there and she doesn't have some severely debilitating disease that would indicate euthanasia would be an option, we are going to give her a fighting chance. She is somewhat of a miracle though because often times when they are in this bad of shape it could easily go the other way."

Dr. Dyer says she will likely be in the clinic for several more weeks, depending on how she continues to do.

Proctor-Cross says that thousands of dollars of donations have come in from people locally and even as far away as France to help with the dog's medical expenses.

She says there is a long list of people that have already shown interest in adopting Shelby. "There's just one of her though," when asked about others wanting to throw their name on the adoption list.

Proctor-Cross says a donation even came in Monday morning of a blanket and sweater for her and a baggie of homemade dog treats for her to deliver during her visit to the clinic.

"We don't know what the eventual outcome will be," Proctor-Cross said. "But we are hopeful she will make a full recovery and when she does, will be placed in a wonderful home."

She also said they are investigating to try and determine how the dog got in this bad of shape. However, she said there are no surveillance cameras in the area so that will likely be difficult to figure out.

If you are interested in donating to help with Shelby's recovery process, click here.

The Huntington Cabell-Wayne Animal Shelter is caring for the dog they believe to be around 8-years-old. They say blood work shows that she was starving to death, and was not expected to survive.

The shelter says the dog is showing signs of improvements by eating and being more responsive, but she is not able to stand on her own.

Officials say she has a long road to recovery and will need to be hospitalized until she is stronger. She will also need dental surgery.

The shelter is looking for donations to help cover medical expenses. You can donate through their Facebook page.

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'She's a fighter:' Dog found starving to death on the road to recovery - WHSV

A raid by Belgian police has uncovered a professionally equipped site for holding illegal cockfights on a farm in Flanders, as well as several animals bred to fight.

The remote farm, in Hoeselt in the province of Limburg, also had a secluded parking lot for the participants of the illegal gambling, according to local media.

During the raid, about 15 to 20 cars were discovered, with drivers leaving behind wooden crates containing the fighting cocks for the illegal blood sport as they fled the police.

A total of 28 fighting cocks bred and trained to fight were recovered on site. The animals were eventually euthanised, due to safety concerns.

Normally we always look for another home for our animals, but for fighting cocks that is almost impossible, explained Rudi Oyen of the Bird and Mammals Relief Center (VZOC) who took on the animals. Either they cause animal suffering themselves or they have to suffer it. If fighting cocks are placed with other animals, problems will arise. That is why euthanasia is the only way out, he added.

Animal rights organisation Gaia has demanded severe punishment against the organisers and spectators of the ring. Although cockfighting shows up less and less, it turns out to be a difficult phenomenon to eradicate, the organisation said in a statement. Apparently, for some, the urge for bloody and cruel scenes is stronger than the observance of the law.

Jules JohnstonThe Brussels Times

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Professional cockfighting ring discovered on Flemish farm - The Brussels Times

New Zealanders will take part in a world-leading double referendum next year when they vote in the countrys general election. In addition to electing a new government, one referendum question will ask about the legalisation of cannabis for recreational use, and the other will ask whether euthanasia should be legalised in certain circumstances.

Its going to be messy, emotional, and polarised. Theres already a lot of anxiety and negativity about the referendums across the political spectrum. Much of this is influenced by the ongoing fallout from the Brexit referendum, as well as a general fear of conservative populism.

On the left, many are worried that voters are not up to the task of these difficult questions, and that interest groups including social conservatives and churches will dominate the campaign. Theres also concern about misinformation and ignorance affecting the outcome.

The justice minister, Andrew Little, said this week that: The chances it will be a reasonably ugly election are reasonably high due to clearly egregiously factually incorrect statements. Hes therefore ordered his ministry to set up a unit to deal with misinformation on the referendum debates. And hes committed to fighting it himself, saying: I will do the best I can to make people alert to the possibility that half of what you might see on social media might be bullshit.

On the right, Nationals leader, Simon Bridges, is warning that the cannabis referendum will amount to New Zealands own Brexit. He argues the exercise has been badly set up, which will lead to uncertainty about the results.

All of these concerns have validity, even if they are somewhat over-egged. There will be plenty of problems with the referendums and the associated campaigns. Its true that the formulation of the referendums leaves a lot to be desired.

For example, only the euthanasia question is binding. If passed, the vote would allow terminally ill people with less than six months to live to choose assisted dying if approved by two doctors. The legalisation of cannabis for recreational purposes question, in contrast, will only provide an indicative vote. The public are expected to trust the politicians to sort out significant details of the legalisation after the vote, leaving the possibility of voter betrayal or confusion. Cannabis was legalised for medicinal purposes in 2018.

But thats what politics is all about an open contest of ideas, including bad ones. A referendum involves some of the messiest parts of democracy. But progressing difficult social change is best when it takes the people along with it, giving them the ultimate say.

The cannabis and euthanasia votes should also be celebrated as a chance for the New Zealand public to lead the world no other country has dealt with these issues via a full public referendum. The two issues have been pushed to referendum by the minor parties in the Labour-led coalition government. The Greens have negotiated for the cannabis question, and the populist New Zealand First party have demanded that a euthanasia decision go to voters. NZ First also favours abortion liberalisation being put to the public vote, too.

Theres been something of a backlash among the commentariat against the public being tasked with deciding these important issues. Many have lamented that a perhaps less informed electorate are doing the job that should rightfully be done by parliamentarians.

Cabinet minister Willie Jackson recently said I dont believe in referendums We are put there to make decisions if you dont like us, vote us out every three years.

And he argued that progressive accomplishments, such as same-sex marriage, homosexual law reform, abortion, womens rights would all have been lost if the public had been given the vote on them.

Thats why many politicians and pundits argue issues like these should be decided by conscience votes in parliament, in which individual MPs get to make their own personal decisions unencumbered by party lines. For the democratically minded, its hard to see how this is superior, as this process is simply involves an elite-driven outcome based on the peculiarities of unpredictable MPs, who cant generally be held to account for their vote.

This desire for MPs to take control generally reflects an elitist mood that seems to be growing in democracies around the world at the moment one that says the public are not to be trusted with too much power.

And yet, for every populist elected, there are examples of more socially progressive advances. Even in traditionally conservative Ireland, for example, theres now been a string of referendums with enlightened results: same-sex marriage in 2015, abortion and blasphemy law reform in 2018, and then divorce law modernisation this year. And in 2020, New Zealand might join this socially liberal trend.

Referendums should be celebrated for resolving difficult and divisive issues, as well as for their ability to draw the public into political decision-making and debate.

Putting questions to the public means that a much bigger societal debate occurs, and ultimately the decisions made have greater legitimately and endurance.

In an age of increasing suspicion of elites, as well as a growing public discontent with democracy, more devolution of power to voters on key issues is surely the way forward.

Bryce Edwards is a senior associate at the Institute for Governance and Policy Studies at Victoria University, Wellington

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New Zealand's euthanasia and cannabis referendums will rightly give power to the people - The Guardian

December 18, 2019 (Euthanasia Prevention Coalition) Canada's Justice Minister, David Lametti, was reported in aRadio Canada interviewas considering extending euthanasia to teenagers and people who are incompetent but made a previous request.

Lametti, who voted against Bill C-14 in 2016 because it didn't go far enough, has been ordered byPrime Minister Trudeau to expand Canada's euthanasia law.

All of this is based on the fact that theLiberal government did not appealaQubec court decision that struck downthe section of Canada's euthanasia law requiring that a person's "natural death must be reasonably foreseeable."

The Liberal government double speak is particularly concerning. Last Spring the government announced that no changes will be made to the law until after the government completed a five year review, that would begin in June 2020.What is the purpose of a five year review if the government eliminates the restrictions in the law previous to the consultation?

Christian Nol reporting for Radio Canada explains what Lametti said in the interview (Google translated):

... the Minister of Justice said he was juggling the idea of allowing people who suffer from a neurodegenerative disease, such as Parkinson's disease, to seek medical aid in dying early, before being unable to express their consent.

The possibility that seriously ill young people between the ages of 14 and 17 may seek medical assistance in dying, with psychological tags in place, is also being considered.

We will have to see if we have a strong consensus. The Canadian and Quebec societies of 2019 are not the same as in 2015. There is an evolution, a greater acceptance of assisted dying in Canada.

Lametti did recognize that he could simply amend the law based on the Quebec court decision.Radio Canada reported:

The other option on the table is to settle the question of reasonably foreseeable death in time for March 11, while keeping an in-depth review of the law for this summer. The government had promised to review the law every five years, a deadline that arrives in June.

The Globe and Mail suggested a more cautious approach in itsDecember 16 editorial. It suggested that legislation require that before MAiD is done, all other options be tried first and that the government assure better services for people with chronic conditions that cause suffering. The Globe and Mail editorial concluded:

But Ottawa should not just throw up its hands and enforce no precautions. That could tilt the balance too far in the other direction. Making access to assisted death too difficult is undesirable, but so is making it too easy.

The federal government announced that there would be a five year review of the euthanasia law beginning in June 2020 and yet it is now considering amending the legislation before the review is done.

Canada's euthanasia law does not provide oversight and control. EPC would like the government to step back and agree to an honest analysis of what is the actual happening with euthanasia in Canada.

Published with permission from the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition.

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After promising 5-year review, Trudeau govt instead moves to expand euthanasia now - Lifesite

Submitted by the Animal Protection Society of Friday Harbor

Many of you in the community know about Cowboy, but for those who dont, he has been a long-term resident at the Animal Protection Society of Friday Harbor. Cowboys journey home has taken almost two years. He was originally brought in as a stray, with no information about his history, to a shelter in Modesto, California, where shortly after he was scheduled to be euthanized. Around this time, Lead and Love Dog Rescue in Bend, Oregon, saved over 10 dogs from euthanasia at that shelter, Cowboy being one of them. On March 27, 2018, he was transferred to APS-FH through connections with Becky Pohlad, one of our Advisory Board members. Cowboy has been at our shelter since. Although he had been labeled an intimidating dog, everyone who took the time to get to know Cowboy couldnt understand why such a wonderful dog was overlooked time and time again. Eventually, he became an honorary staff member and won many hearts along the way, but none-the-less he sat. And waited.

Little did we know Cowboy had a secret admirer all along, and it started with a kiss. Cowboy was out on a walk one day and was introduced to Susan Mazzarella, APS-FH board president. When she put her hand out to let him smell her, he reciprocated with a gentle lick. After that she was a solid member of his fan club. Time went by, and soon Susan was ready to add to her fur family. She immediately turned to Cowboy. They started things off slowly, with gentle walks and many treats, which eventually led to an overnight stay. Cowboy never came back from that overnight visit. Susans family welcomed him in with warm arms, cozy couches and lots of love. The adoption was made official, and Cowboy had found his perfect home just in time for the holidays.

The APS-FH team would like to thank everyone who believed in Cowboy and provided the support to make his holiday wish come true.

Our mission is to provide compassionate care and brighter futures for homeless animals, with a commitment to providing a safe haven for homeless and lost animals; reuniting lost pets with their owners; placing animals in our care into qualified and loving homes; reducing pet overpopulation through spay/neuter education and assistance; advising and advocating for the protection of animals; networking with other shelters and pet rescue groups impacted by overcrowding or natural disasters to decrease euthanasia rates to save lives; advocating for animal welfare through education, outreach and assistance; promoting a stronger sense of the animal-human bond; and always adhering to our no-kill philosophy for adoptable animals.

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Home for the Holdiays - Journal of the San Juan Islands

Updated December 15, 2019 15:11:40

Laura Henkel is about to embark on the last journey of her life.

While pain and exhaustion have become an inescapable part of this 90-year-old's life, she has not been diagnosed with a terminal illness.

"I think old age is a terminal illness because you can't cure it like a disease, you can't mend it like a broken bone," she said.

"It's only going to get worse and there's nothing you can do about it.

"I don't want to put my family through the terrible experience that I had with my own mother, where she suffered for 15 years with dementia and loss of dignity.

"I vowed 40 years ago that I would not die like that."

Voluntary assisted dying in Australia is not an option for Ms Henkel.

While Victoria and Western Australia have passed assisted dying laws, they only apply under a strict set of circumstances.

In both states, applicants must be terminally ill with intolerable pain, and likely to die within six months, or 12 months for neurodegenerative diseases.

It is illegal in all other states and territories.

Determined to end her life on her own terms, Ms Henkel is packing her bags for Switzerland.

"I want to end my life with dignity," she said.

"I would far rather stay here in my home and die here in my home with my family around me, but here in New South Wales I'm not allowed to. I'm not allowed to die."

Ms Henkel's daughter, Cathy Henkel, and granddaughter, Sam Lara, are supporting her decision and will be by her side when she dies.

"Well, of course it conflicts when your mum tells you she wants to die," Cathy Henkel said.

"But she very quickly explained to me that her quality of life had declined to such a degree, and she told me about her own mother and not wanting to end up like her, and I could see that daily suffering."

Ms Henkel has asked her filmmaker daughter and granddaughter to document her euthanasia journey.

It is a challenging task for a loved one grappling with her grandmother's decision.

"I feel a million emotions on an hourly basis," Ms Lara said.

"But in the long-term, I think the upsides to this choice are definitely going to outweigh the challenges.

"The best aspects of Laura's choice have definitely been the chance to say goodbye.

"We've been able to do a lot of bucket-list things."

The three generations of women hope the film will start a dialogue in Australia about the laws around voluntary assisted dying.

"What Laura is doing is forcing us to talk about death and to talk about the end of life for the elderly and what options they have and what options they don't have," Ms Lara said.

"It is incredibly challenging, and I know because I've lived it.

"It is going to bring up a lot of emotion and conflict in people [but] I don't know if that's necessarily a bad thing."

While Ms Henkel has made her position clear, the issue of voluntary assisted dying in Australia is a complex and often divisive issue.

Margaret Sommerville is a professor of bioethics at the Catholic University of Notre Dame in Sydney.

"People believe it's their right, it's their decision and this is what they want to do, but we also have to think about what impact would that have in our society in general," Professor Somerville said.

"We know that people who feel like that, when they get fully adequate care and support, a very large number of them change their mind.

"This is even people who have asked for and consented to euthanasia in jurisdictions where it's legal."

The Australian Medical Association's statement position is that doctors should not be involved in ending a person's life.

It recognises the broad range of views within the medical profession and the broader community, but says laws relating to euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide are, "ultimately a matter for society and government".

For Laura Henkel, the fear of losing autonomy through a stroke or dementia outweighs the fear of death.

"I don't want to die in hospital, [and] I don't want to die in an old-age home," she said.

"A sportsman is allowed to say, 'Look, I've had enough'. You may say, 'Oh, but he can still play beautifully why does he want to retire?' But he suddenly feels he's had enough, so you accept that, so why not accept that life is the same thing?

"Just about everybody says, 'I would like to die in my sleep', and that's precisely what I'm going to do.

"I'm going to go to sleep, and then I will die."

Topics:aged-care,health-policy,euthanasia,death,pain,community-and-society,ballina-2478,lismore-2480,switzerland

First posted December 15, 2019 09:11:44

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With voluntary assisted dying not an option, Laura Henkel is heading to Switzerland to 'die with dignity' - ABC News

Irish pro-lifers have been embattled ever since the repeal of the Eighth Amendment last year, which legalized abortion. Now pro-lifers in the country are readying themselves for a fight on a new life issue, as a poll by the Journal shows that three in five support legalizing euthanasia.

President of the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children (SPUC) lamentedthe creeping erosion of pro-life protections in the Republic of Ireland:We have witnessed dreadful changes in Ireland in recent years in relation to abortion. Now we are seeing a further threat to innocent lives looming on the horizon. We need to combat these threats by exposing the reality of assisted suicide. Evidence from around the world shows that the so-called right to die quickly becomes the duty to die.

The recent media spotlight on euthanasia comes from Vicky Phelan, who is known in Ireland for her exposure of massive deficiencies in a government cervical cancer screening program. Because of these mistakes, she missed a critical diagnosis window and is currently suffering from terminal cervical cancer. Now, 45-year-old Phelan has emerged as the latest face of the euthanasia movement in the country. According to the Journal, the mother of two told the Irish Mail on Sunday that she would avail herself of the procedure, and that she would campaign for others who want it. Euthanasia and assisted suicide are currently illegal in Ireland.

READ:Three reasons a Dutch ethicist changed his mind about assisted suicide

As reported by Extra.ie, Phelan explained that she believes she only has two years left to live. I would be pro-euthanasia, definitely. I would hate to be in a position where I was in a lot of pain or lingering, as can happen a lot, that people are waiting for four or five days for somebody to die, she said. She portrayed terminal illness as intolerable for both family and patient: Its terrible for the patient. Its terrible for the family having to sit and watch their loved one [dying in pain]. Its not a nice sight to see people when theyre dying.

Unfortunately, Phelan isnt a minority here. According to a poll conducted by the Journal, 63% are in favor of assisted suicide or euthanasia, making it the next major pro-life target in Ireland. Just 16% reported they would not support the legalization of euthanasia in Ireland.

What Phelan and supporters dont understand is that legalizing euthanasia always ends up hurting societys most vulnerable. In countries like The Netherlands, euthanasia legalization nearly two decades ago initially began with hard cases like Phelans in mind. But the slippery slope of legalizing euthanasia has led to the endangerment of those with mental illness, the elderly, and even children. Its why former euthanasia activists like Dutch ethicist Theo Boer so ardently warns other countries to avoid going down this path.

A similar case before the high court failed in 2013, but the conversation has since re-emerged and with major countries like New Zealand putting it on the table, it could force the issue in Ireland.

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Pro-lifers gear up for fight against legalization of euthanasia in Ireland - Live Action News

Fr. Prudencio Operiano calls on the public to honor the sanctity of life during the fourth day of Misa de Gallo on Thursday, December 19, 2019, at the National Shrine of Saint Joseph in Mandaue City. CDND Photo / Raul Tabanao

MANDAUE CITY, Cebu Thursday mornings homily on the fourth day of Misa de Gallo here centered on the Catholic Churchs teachings against suicide, abortion, and euthanasia or mercy killing.

Fr. Prudencio Operiano of the National Shrine of Saint Joseph in Mandaue City reminded parishioners on Thursday, December 19, that taking ones life in any way is a sin because it disregards the sanctity of human life.

Ang kinabuhi gikan sa Ginoo. Ang kinabuhi sagrado ug sumala pa ni (Life comes from God. It is sacred and according to) Pope Saint John Paul II: All stages of life, from womb to the tomb, is sacred,' Operiano said.

While it is the mothers who carry unborn children, Operiano said their lives still belong to God.

The priest also emphasized that ending ones life is also a sin.

Tungod kay sagrado ang kinabuhi sa tawo, angay kining tahuron. Dako kaayong sala ang paghikog. Dako kaayong sala ang pag-abort o ang pagkuha sa kinabuhi sa bata,Operiano said.

(Because life is sacred, it must be respected. Its a mortal sin to commit suicide. Its a mortal sin to abort or end the life of a child.)

Operiano also called on families to refuse to perform euthanasia or mercy killing for their sick family members.

The priest also called on parishioners to give value to every life in the society regardless of economic status and other social standards.

As Christmas Day draws near, Operiano said one of the greatest blessings a person could receive is the guidance to see how valuable other persons are.

Makakakita gani ta sa atong silingan nga tawo, atong hinumduman nga siya angay respetohan, angay higugmaon, tabangan ug kaluy-an, Operiano said.

(When we see our neighbors as fellow men, let us remember that he deserves respect, love, help and compassion.) / celr

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Priest reminds public: 'Honor the sanctity of life' - INQUIRER.net

The government of the Canadian province of Qubec is considering allowing doctors to euthanize people suffering from Alzheimer's, dementia, and other disease where the patient is unable to provide their consent.

According to LifeSiteNews, a Canadian health minister, Danielle McCann, said at a press conference earlier this month that the recommendation to allow the practice of euthanizing patients without their consent came from an "expert panel" that spent 18 months studying the issue.

However, McCann says that Qubec will launch its own non-partisan public consultation process before deciding whether to allow the practice.

"We have heard the the heartfelt appeal of Quebecers who are suffering and calling for a widening of the rules," McCann said, the Montreal Gazette reported. "Qubec society is evolving on this sensitive issue and we have a moral duty to respond. all together."

The advance assisted death directed would have to be authorized by the patient while they are still mentally able to decide. However, family members who disagree with their loved one's decision would "not have a veto," a committee member said at the meeting. Opponents of the measure also say that if someone were to change their mind, they could have no way of stopping their own death.

In the event a person suffers from a disease where they could lose their decision-making abilities, the Canadian panel recommended that patients formally designate a third party while they are still mentally capacitated who would inform doctors of the existence of a prior consent to be euthanized. The third party authorization would be kept in a government registry.

That third party would represent the patient should they lose their faculties due to diseases like Alzheimer's or dementia, but the final decision to euthanize the patient would rest in the hands of a physician.

The Gazette noted that a person in good health would be ineligible for requesting in advance to be euthanized should they were to suffer an unforeseen health incident, such as a heart attack or a car accident that leaves them paralyzed.

Under Qubec's current law, residents can only be euthanized if they meet all of the following criteria, according to LifeSiteNews:

McCann said the new measure gives patients "the freedom to decide and we do this while respecting their will, values and dignity."

Alex Schadenberg, executive director of the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition, disagreed and warned that the new policy may result in people being killed against their will.

"This is absolutely crazy, because it will allow euthanasia of someone who may never have wanted it, who might have in fear in an earlier state felt this was what they wanted, and when the time comes, they lose their right to change their mind," he told LifeSiteNews.

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New policy could allow doctors to euthanize Alzheimer's patients without their active consent - TheBlaze