Doctors slam Canada's 'perverted' new law that allows people to be EUTHANIZED if they are suffering from mental health problems
Canadians will soon be able to seek assisted suicide for mental health conditions
The change was put in place in 2021 and will go into effect in March 2023
Theyhave been available since 2016, 10,000 were performed in 2021
Dr Trudo Lemmens called these operations a 'perverted concept of autonomy'
Canadians who are only struggling with mental health issues will be eligible for medically assisted suicides within months — despite huge ethical concerns.
The move will allow patients whose condition is deemed 'intolerable' to be euthanized within 90 days of receivingapproval from two doctors.
One doctor told DailyMail.com that he is worried about the expansion, as it will turn suicide into a standard treatment for mental health conditions with little oversight or guidelines.
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Others have warned that these types of policies open the door for society to start euthanizing the poor and disabled.
Assisted dying laws have become increasingly lax since the practice was legalized in 2016 — with 10,000 Canadians euthanized in 2021 alone, up tenfold in five years.
Originally, patients had to have a terminal condition where death was considered imminent - like cancer of Alzheimer's - to be eligible.
But a 2021 change to the law made it so someone whose symptoms were considered 'intolerable' by doctors could receive the suicide, even if death was not imminent.
This can include a person suffering from severe pain or disability, or a degenerative disease like Parkinson's.
There are already signs the system is failing some Canadians, with reports of people receiving approval for assisted suicides for diabetes or homelessness.
Dr Trudo Lemmens, University of Toronto professor of health law and policy, told DailyMail.com that the system might create an 'obligationto introduce [suicide]as a part of' mental health treatment.
‘Imagine that being applied in the context of mental health. You have a person suffering severe depression, seeks help from a therapist and is offered the solution of dying,' he continued.
He fears that vulnerable patients who aren't in the right state of mind could be convinced suicide is a reasonable option. Dr Lemmens called the entire system a‘perverted concept of autonomy'.
So, what do you think?
The change was put in place in 2021 and will go into effect in March 2023
Theyhave been available since 2016, 10,000 were performed in 2021
Dr Trudo Lemmens called these operations a 'perverted concept of autonomy'
Canadians who are only struggling with mental health issues will be eligible for medically assisted suicides within months — despite huge ethical concerns.
The move will allow patients whose condition is deemed 'intolerable' to be euthanized within 90 days of receivingapproval from two doctors.
One doctor told DailyMail.com that he is worried about the expansion, as it will turn suicide into a standard treatment for mental health conditions with little oversight or guidelines.
ADVERTISEMENT
Others have warned that these types of policies open the door for society to start euthanizing the poor and disabled.
Assisted dying laws have become increasingly lax since the practice was legalized in 2016 — with 10,000 Canadians euthanized in 2021 alone, up tenfold in five years.
Originally, patients had to have a terminal condition where death was considered imminent - like cancer of Alzheimer's - to be eligible.
But a 2021 change to the law made it so someone whose symptoms were considered 'intolerable' by doctors could receive the suicide, even if death was not imminent.
This can include a person suffering from severe pain or disability, or a degenerative disease like Parkinson's.
There are already signs the system is failing some Canadians, with reports of people receiving approval for assisted suicides for diabetes or homelessness.
Dr Trudo Lemmens, University of Toronto professor of health law and policy, told DailyMail.com that the system might create an 'obligationto introduce [suicide]as a part of' mental health treatment.
‘Imagine that being applied in the context of mental health. You have a person suffering severe depression, seeks help from a therapist and is offered the solution of dying,' he continued.
He fears that vulnerable patients who aren't in the right state of mind could be convinced suicide is a reasonable option. Dr Lemmens called the entire system a‘perverted concept of autonomy'.
So, what do you think?
