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The introduction of “medical aid in dying” through Bill 52 is “a good first step”, according to Véronique Hivon. As the minister responsible for the bill at the time, she gave an interview to the CBC radio show The Current last January.

First step

Those who deny the “slippery slope” effect should be aware that the very people who introduced Bill 52 and “medical aid in dying” intended a broader scope than that outlined in the bill tabled in the National Assembly.

When questioned about Belgium opening euthanasia to children, Mrs. Hivon explained that Bill 52 only focused on people of full age and competent to make a decision. She said:

“It was important to do that to reach consensus, to go forward, it was important to take this first important step”.

That statement makes it crystal clear that there was an intention to expand “medical aid in dying” after the adoption of Bill 52, and that the only reason the scope of the Bill was limited was to reach consensus.

No consensus

However, despite a strong effort and many claims, there is no consensus. As we recently wrote:

“There is no consensus among MNAs or among physicians. There is no consensus among people with disabilities. Nor is there unanimous agreement within the Quebec population. No consensus either among the groups that filed briefs during the special consultations in 2013 or during the Special Commission in 2010.”