Peter Goldring calls for defeat of euthanasia bill

October 02, 2009

Edmonton – Edmonton East Member of Parliament Peter Goldring says a Bloc Quebecois MP’s Private Members’ Bill, C-384, on the right to die with dignity, is frighteningly naïve, and should not be supported.

The proposed legislation would amend the Criminal Code to allow a medical practitioner to aid a person who is experiencing severe physical or mental pain, or is suffering from a terminal illness, to die with dignity once the person has given his or her consent to die.

“It sounds noble,” Mr. Goldring says. “To end pain and suffering, to give individuals the opportunity to decide themselves to die with dignity sounds so caring. However, the reality is, once society starts deciding who is to live and who is to die, compassionate reasons can readily be replaced with criminal greed. Given the increase in elder abuse in Canada, this legislation could be used for an assault on the elderly, sick and infirm who have entrusted decision making to others. The bill will make them even more of a target for greedy, impatient opportunists, some of whom are their very own children.”

The Government of Canada has been working to increase awareness of elder abuse and taking steps to combat it.

“Should this legislation pass, it is not difficult to imagine the death of elderly Canadians who otherwise would have no desire for premature death – but whose close family members made the decision to encourage an early inheritance,” Mr. Goldring says.  “Many elderly people are susceptible to being influenced by others. This poorly worded legislation does not take into account the subtle and not so subtle abusive coercion that could cause a proud senior to ask for euthanasia as an escape from the abuse rather than face the shame of reporting close family members’ abuses.

“We need better, stronger laws to protect the elderly, not laws that put the elderly at greater risk.”