Euthanasia
Written on 17 Feb, 1992 at 12:01 in
Euthanasia, Pro-Life, Religion, Society & Culture | Author:
KURT GAYLE Editor: On January 6, 1992 Mr. Justice Jaques Dufour handed down his ruling in favour of Nancy B’s request to discontinue her respirator. The following is a summary of his conclusions.
Judge Jaques Dufour
“It would be nature taking its course.”
Summary
The plaintiff, Nancy B., is twenty-five years old. She suffers from a progressive motor paralysis caused by Guillain-Barré syndrome. She is literally nailed to a hospital bed.
For almost two-and-a-half years since the onset of the disorder in June 1989, Nancy B. has ... (Continue reading)
Written on 17 Feb, 1992 at 11:43 in
Abortion, Euthanasia | Author:
I know of the Vatican Declaration on Abortion. Is there one on euthanasia? L.P., Belleville, ON.
The Declaration on Euthanasia was prepared by the Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and published in May 1980. It is very short, but it is invaluable.
I have used one paragraph to provide the answers to three questions from many people. (Editor: See centre pages for further reference)
Is mercy killing ever justified?
Answer: “It is necessary to state firmly once more that nothing and ... (Continue reading)
Written on 17 Feb, 1992 at 8:23 in
Euthanasia | Author:
Judith Snow This plea was broadcast on CBC’s “Metro Morning”, January 7, 1992.
“Nancy B. has the right to die…I agree. But I don’t think that’s the issue. The debate is about dying, but Nancy is living with a severe physical disability…like me and hundreds of other Canadians. Nancy has been made into a pawn for all the people who are interested in the issue of euthanasia.
“For months lawyers, doctors, courtroom clerks and reporters have discussed and debated euthanasia. Think about it…all that ... (Continue reading)
Written on 16 Jan, 1992 at 11:30 in
Euthanasia | Author:
David Dooley The case of Nancy B., a young Quebec woman of 24, exposed the confusion over euthanasia which exists among members of the legal and medical professions and the media.
Nancy suffers from a rare neurological disease called Guillain-Barré syndrome, which is curable in most cases but not in hers. The brain and spinal cord remain intact, but the disease attacks the central nervous system and paralyses the body’s muscles, including the lungs.
Thus, Nancy is paralyzed from the neck down, and kept ... (Continue reading)
Written on 16 Jan, 1992 at 11:17 in
Euthanasia, Politics, Religion, Society & Culture | Author:
David Dooley • A Commons committee holds hearings on the Robert Wenman bill (intended to protect doctors who might have hastened the deaths of terminally ill patients);
• The State of Washington holds a referendum on legalized euthanasia (it lost, but in a very close vote, 54 to 46 per cent);
• Derek Humphrey’s suicide book Final Exit, is a bestseller.
(A Montreal woman committed suicide after taking cyanide. The 48-year-old woman was found barricaded in her apartment with a copy of Final Exit on ... (Continue reading)
Written on 11 Dec, 1991 at 9:22 in
Euthanasia | Author:
Anthony Hawkins
Conservative MP Robert Wenman told a Commons committee on November 5 is private members Bill C-203, would not legalize euthanasia or doctor assisted suicide.
“Unnecessary and dangerous”
Others disagree completely.
Alliance for Life, the national umbrella for pro-life educational groups, appearing before the committee on October 29, stated in their position statement that it considers this legislation “unnecessary and dangerous.”
“We presume the real purpose,” the statement said, “is to give a veneer of respectability to the concept of euthanasia.”
Two days ... (Continue reading)
Written on 11 Nov, 1991 at 8:57 in
Euthanasia | Author:
Robert Eady
On May 11, 1989, John Gauthier, 26, died of cancer in Ottawa’s Civic Hospital. Prior to that he had spent nearly three months in the palliative care unit of the Elizabeth Bruyére Health Centre. The Centre is named after a religious sister and is run by the Sisters of Charity.
John’s parents, Roger and Irene Gauthier, are very upset. They charge that the care unit deprived their son of “food and water.” This, they say, violated their son’s ... (Continue reading)
Written on 11 Nov, 1991 at 8:06 in
Abortion, Euthanasia, Health Risks | Author:
Winifride Prestwich
Articles on euthanasia refer to patients in a persistent vegetative state. What exactly does this mean? P.M., Winnipeg, Man.
Dr. Fred Plum, who is said to be the creator of this term, gave this definition when he testified as an expert witness in the Jobes case. “Vegetative state describes a body which is functioning entirely in terms of its internal controls. It maintains temperature. It maintains heartbeat and pulmonary ventilation. It maintains digestive activity. It maintains reflex activity of ... (Continue reading)
Written on 11 Nov, 1991 at 7:59 in
Euthanasia, Religion | Author:
Washington (CNS) – The Administrative Committee of the U.S. National Conference of Catholic Bishops (NCCB) unanimously condemned legalized euthanasia in a statement released September 12. (See full text below). They urged Catholics and “all persons of good will” to reject euthanasia proposals such as Initiative 119, a referendum facing Washington state voters November 5. The Initiative seeks to legalize “aid-in-dying” as a “medical service” to be performed by a physician on request from patients suffering a terminal illness that ... (Continue reading)
Written on 11 Nov, 1991 at 7:39 in
Euthanasia | Author:
Winifride Prestwich A Bill intended to change the Criminal Code and allow physicians to kill their patients passed its first reading in the House of Commons, June 19, 1991. The Bill C-261, is the brainchild of the NDP member for Saskatoon-Clark’s Crossing, Chris Axworthy.
* * * *
Certain steps are required before a doctor inserts the needle and injects the poison.
The person must apply for a “euthanasia certificate.” There is a prescribed form for him which states that he has been ... (Continue reading)
Written on 11 Nov, 1991 at 7:38 in
Euthanasia | Author:
Winifride Prestwich Ontario MPPs would be prudent to learn from U.S. experience when they consider Bill 108, Substitute Decisions, and Bill 109, Consent to Treatment Act. Living Wills and Substituted Judgment in the United States directly threaten the lives of many handicapped people as well as the old and the “unwanted.” Today, many people are afraid.
The Association for Persons with Severe Handicaps (TASH), reacting to this fear, passed a resolution opposing the “approaches now taken…which authorize third parties exercising substitute ... (Continue reading)
Written on 3 Sep, 1991 at 7:14 in
Euthanasia, Politics | Author:
Sue Hierlihy
NDP MP Chris Axworthy (Saskatoon-Clark’s Crossing) has introduced a Private Member’s Bill to “legalize the administration of euthanasia under certain conditions to persons who request it and are suffering from an irremediable condition.” Bill C-261, which received First Reading in the House of Commons on June 19, would amend the Criminal Code to make it lawful for a qualified medical practitioner who has received a copy of a valid “euthanasia certificate” to “administer euthanasia to the applicant ... (Continue reading)
Written on 5 Jul, 1991 at 11:42 in
Euthanasia | Author:
Vitality Staff Addressing a hundred and ten participants in a one-day workshop on euthanasia, Professor Joseph Boyle of St. Micheal’s College, University of Toronto, denounced the hypocrisy surrounding euthanasia or mercy killing.
“There is no difference between passive and active euthanasia,” he stated. “Both end in the death of a human being.” Professor Boyle then went on to say that passive euthanasia, homicide by omission or the withholding of certain necessary treatments should not be confused with cessation of treatment when death appeared ... (Continue reading)
Written on 22 Jun, 1991 at 12:13 in
Euthanasia, Events | Author:
Interim Staff Some 110 pro-lifers received an education in the complex issues surrounding euthanasia at an April 21 conference sponsored by Campaign Life Coalition (CLC).
More complicated
Prof. Joseph Boyle, Ph.D, of St. Michael’s College, University of Toronto, and Dr. Barry De Veber, M.D., of London, Ontario, made it clear that the question of euthanasia is more complicated than that of abortion.
Professor Boyle thought pro-lifers should focus on those areas where euthanasia is most like abortion, namely in the defense of those too helpless ... (Continue reading)
Written on 22 Jun, 1991 at 11:43 in
Euthanasia | Author:
Winifride Prestwich The media are full of euthanasia propaganda. Do you have the list of the effects of dehydration quoted by the judge in the Paul Brophy case? C.N., Toronto.
Mr. Justice Kopelman noted these probable effects before Brophy died of starvation and dehydration:
- His mouth would dry out and become caked or coated with thick material.
- His lips would become parched, cracked or fissured.
- His tongue would become swollen and might crack.
- His eyes would ink back into their orbits.
- His cheeks ... (Continue reading)
