Vol. 22

 Q u i - v i v e  

  Living With Dignity Newsletter

  Vol. 22

A Word from the Director

A recent survey published by the University of Sherbrooke has sparked general indignation as the results showed that 91% of the family caregivers surveyed would agree to extending euthanasia to terminally ill people who are incapable of decision-making.

As I had mentioned in my Huffington Post article, this serious attack on the humanity of incapable people also shows that euthanasia is insinuating into our collective thinking the notion that death – not good health care, quality support and adequate living conditions – is a solution to suffering for you and your loved ones.

Parallel to this shockwave, we learned that there is a shortage of doctors in CHSLDs, and that home care is declining in Quebec. Thus, beyond the beautiful discourse on autonomy and the “free and informed” choice, the situation on the ground seems to take the opposite shape of what was advertised to promote the Act Respecting End-of-Life Care, which was supposed to guarantee better healthcare for all.

However, the majority of public institutions around the world are not fooled by the social threat of euthanasia.

One the one hand, let us remember that literally all the bills that attempted to legalize this fatal practice in the United States have failed in 2017. Moreover, a bipartisan resolution has just been tabled in the US House of Representatives to express without ambiguity that “legalizing physician-assisted suicide puts the most vulnerable of our society at risk of deadly harm and undermines the integrity of America’s healthcare system.”

On the other hand, in September the American College of Physicians reaffirmed its opposition to assisted suicide and “the need to work to improve hospice and palliative care, including awareness and access.” In doing so, the American College joins the official position of the World Medical Association, which still considers euthanasia to be “unethical”.

In Canada, while studies are underway on extending the Canadian euthanasia law, the Canadian Mental Health Association has filed a position paper stating that “psychiatric-Medical Assistance in Dying should remain illegal, [because] people with a mental health problem or illness should be assisted to live and thrive.”

In other words, despite the impression of consensus conveyed in the media, opposition to euthanasia and assisted suicide is still alive and well. It goes without saying that Living with Dignity will continue to join its voice with those who want to build a caring society rather than facilitating death to people who need help.

We count on your support and encourage you to participate in the debates by calling open lines, writing to reporters, contacting your MP and writing your comments under the articles that defend our vision.

Thank you in advance for your support.

In solidarity,

______________________________

Aubert MARTIN, executive director, Living with Dignity

 

News in Quebec

  • August 30, 2017: A woman has filed a complaint with a Quebec agency alleging that her husband was denied antibiotics to treat an infection after doctors determined it was better to let him die because he had cancer. (>>)
  • September 21, 2017: According to a study led by Sherbrooke University, 91% of caregivers believe that Quebec’s medical aid in dying law should be extended to cover incapacitated people who are terminally ill, have signs of distress, and have a written. (>>) (>>)
  • September 21, 2017: Several doctors have stopped practicing in residential and long-term care centers (CHSLDs) in recent months, a consequence, according to some professionals, of the health reform of Minister Gaétan Barrette. (>>)
  • September 28, 2017: According to the most recent report from the Quebec Ombudsman, home care services have been reduced in Quebec. (>>)

 

News in Canada

  • July 28, 2017: The Ontario Palliative Care Network, an agency responsible for expanding Ontario’s network of hospice care, wants early and equitable access to assisted suicide. (>>)
  • September 24, 2017: The Nova Scotia Health Authority reports that of 64 referrals made for medical assistance in dying, 23 were completed between Jan. 1 and Canada Day. (>>)
  • September 9, 2017: The Canadian Mental Health Association says medical assistance in dying for psychiatric patients should remain illegal. (>>)
  • September 18, 2017: According to a report by the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer, patients who could benefit from palliative care could not be identified, assessed, and oriented early enough in the course of the disease so that appropriate care can be integrated as soon as possible in their care plan. (>>)

 

LIVING WITH DIGNITY AND THE PHYSICIANS' ALLIANCE AGAINST EUTHANASIA IN THE MEDIA (English and French)

  • Ne sacrifions pas l’humanité des personnes inaptes: Aubert Martin démontre que l'euthanasie est en train d’insinuer dans notre pensée collective que la mort – et non pas de bons soins de santé, un soutien de qualité et des conditions de vie adéquates – est une bonne solution à la souffrance, pour vous et pour vos proches. Selon lui, Il est devenu urgent de se demander, en tant que société, comment nous considérons les personnes devenues inaptes à cause de la maladie. Est-ce que nous leur accordons encore toute leur humanité? Lire l'article >>
  • Opinion: Let's do better for Quebecers with Alzheimer's: How did we get to the point, as a society, at which the only two options for a person with an advanced cognitive disorder would seem to be death or being warehoused in an impersonal institution? Article by Dr. Catherine Ferrier on the present inadequate efforts to care for Alzheimer’s patients. Read more >>

 

EUTHANASIA AND ASSISTED SUICIDE NEWS AROUND THE WORLD (English and French)

  • NEW ZEALAND: Report confirms a massive majority against euthanasia in New Zealand: A New Zealand parliamentary committee has issued a report showing that 80 percent of people submitting their views about euthanasia opposed “assisted dying”. Read more >>
  • THE NETHERLANDS: Suicide Group Membership Grows After Advertising ‘Death Powder’: Membership in a suicide advocacy group has doubled after the organization was featured on a TV show. Read more >>
  • UNITED STATES (NEW YORK) Assisted suicide push fails in New York: A New York Court has rejected a petition by three terminally ill patients to be allowed access to assisted suicide drugs. Read more >>
  • UNITED STATES (OREGON): Is fear of being a burden a good reason for assisted suicide? In Oregon, 48.9% of patients who ended their lives under the state’s assisted suicide act said that fear of being a burden was one of their reasons. We should be very worried by this, argues Charles Foster, a British medical ethicist. Read more >>
  • UNITED STATES: American College of Physicians Opposes Assisted Suicide: The American College of Physicians, after studying the issue, has issued a policy statement against the legalization of assisted suicide. Read more >>
  • UNITED STATES: Major US doctors group slams physician-assisted suicide: The American College of Physicians, the second-largest physician group in the United States with 152,000 members, has declared that physician-assisted suicide (PAS) is unethical. Read more >>
  • BELGIQUE : Euthanasie: un groupe belge défie les ordres du pape François : Une organisation catholique belge a décidé de défier le pape François, qui lui a ordonné le mois dernier de cesser d'offrir l'euthanasie dans ses hôpitaux psychiatriques. Lire l’article >>
  • BELGIQUE : Un nombre croissant de patients psychiatriques ou déments euthanasiés en Belgique : Une étude publiée dans le BMC Psychiatric détaille l’évolution régulière entre 2002 et 2013 de l’euthanasie des personnes ayant une maladie psychiatrique ou atteintes de démence. L’IEB commente. Lire l’article >>
  • BELGIQUE : Euthanasie : les Frères de la Charité en Belgique ont choisi de désobéir à Rome : L’organisation des Frères de la Charité en Belgique ne reviendra pas sur sa décision, prise en mars dernier, d’autoriser la pratique de l’euthanasie au sein de la quinzaine d’établissements psychiatriques placés sous sa responsabilité, a-t-elle déclaré le 12 septembre à l’issue d’une conférence de presse. Lire l’article >>
  • BELGIQUE : Maintien de la pratique de l’euthanasie : le supérieur des frères de la charité réagit : Suite à la décision de maintenir le texte d’orientation permettant la pratique de l’euthanasie chez les patients psychiatriques dans certaines conditions au sein de leurs établissements en Belgique, le frère René Stockman, Supérieur général des Frères de la Charité, ne mâche pas ses mots. Lire l’article >>
  • ÉTATS UNIS (NEW YORK) : L'interdiction du suicide assisté est maintenue à New York : La Cour d’Appel de New York a statué jeudi : l’interdiction du suicide assisté sera maintenue dans cet Etat. Trois malades en phase terminale réclamaient le droit d’obtenir d’un médecin des produits létaux, espérant une « mort douce ». Lire l’article >>
  • LA SUISSE: Enquête après le suicide assisté en Suisse d'un Italien souffrant de dépression : La justice italienne a ouvert une enquête pour "provocation au suicide" après la mort d'un Italien de 62 ans souffrant de dépression, dans une clinique suisse où il s'était rendu pour avoir recours au suicide assisté. Lire l’article >>
  • PAYS-BAS : Une pilule du suicide suscite le débat aux Pays-Bas : l'Association "Laatste Wil" prétend avoir trouvé un médicament pour "mourir dans la dignité" en une heure et sans assistance médicale. Lire l’article >>
  • PAYS-BAS: La pilule du suicide attire les Néerlandais: L'association "De Laatste Wil" (la dernière volonté) affirme avoir trouvé un moyen de provoquer la mort en une heure, sans nécessiter l’encadrement d’un médecin. Lire l’article >>

 

Take Action in October

  • SUPPORT OUR EFFORTS so that we can continue to speak on your behalf:
  • Support Project Value by liking their Facebook page (>>). This initiative offers videos made by people with disabilities to challenge the popular idea of what it means to have a disability. Each video begins with a description of the diagnosis and prognosis of the person and a description of their functional limitations. Then the person talks about their quality and value of life beyond their condition. Share!

 

PRESS REVIEW (English and French)

  • A momentum shift against assisted suicide: Momentum is finally shifting against the legalization and expansion of assisted suicide. Twenty-three states have rejected bills attempting to legalize assisted suicide since the beginning of 2017, and these bills are now considered dead for the remainder of the year. Read more >>
  • Are citizens being deceived about euthanasia? euthanasia and assisted suicide proponents frame their arguments around “facts” and declarations that there is a majority of citizens who support such legislation. Yet, when you take a closer look, their “strong” basis for support is based on misconceptions about such legislation – and misconstrued facts! Read more >>
  • Atheist pushes anti-euthanasia case in UK: The fight against assisted suicide has not been lost, says a Canadianborn liberal and atheist English academic who opposes medicalized killing. Read more >>
  • Because There Can Never be Enough Suicide: Availability of euthanasia continues to expand insatiably in the Netherlands and, if permitted, the same will happen here. Read more >>
  • Dutch right-to-die group confirms elder abuse risk – but doesn’t seem to care: The Netherlands legalised both euthanasia and assisted suicide in 2002. The data shows an overwhelming preference for euthanasia. In 2015, there were 6672 euthanasia deaths and only 150 assisted suicide deaths; the total comprising at least 4.5% of all deaths. Read more >>
  • Dying of despair: On November 4, 2014, ­­sixteen-year-old Cameron Lee, a popular, athletic, straight-A student at Henry M. Gunn High School in Palo Alto, California, leapt in front of a commuter train. His death is one of many in a number of clusters that are becoming increasingly common. Read more >>
  • Euthanasia and eugenics: A case in Canada demonstrates that people who are seriously ill or handicapped need to be accommodated, and doing that does not include a lethal injection. Read more >>
  • Doctors pressured this woman to die by euthanasia. One year later she is much better: Candice Lewis’s mother was urged by doctors to approve assisted suicide for her disabled daughter. One year later, Candice is no longer having seizures and is doing much better. Read more >>
  • Euthanasia and assisted suicide - contagion and corruption of compassion: Arthur Goldberg and Shimon Cowan have written an excellent analysis of euthanasia and assisted suicide laws from the point of view of Jewish scholars and start their article by referring to the quick expansion of euthanasia in Canada. Read more >>
  • The Nazis' First Victims Were the Disabled: An article by Kenny Fries on the killing techniques developed by the Nazis and their application to people with disabilities. Read more >>
  • How the media promote (some) suicides: There is a disturbing trend emerging in the zeitgeist. Today’s society asks us to support suicide in circumstances involving serious illness, disability, and even advanced age. Meanwhile, despite an increase in suicide rates, the intensity of suicide prevention campaigns has declined. Read more >>
  • Letter: Canadians sold a lie about euthanasia: Canadians have been sold a lie that euthanasia concerns individual autonomy and personal choice. Read more >>
  • Nurse Accused of Killing 84 Patients, Reportedly Euthanized Them to Impress His Colleagues: If you think that safeguards can control euthanasia or that legalizing euthanasia will eliminate medical killings, think again. Read more >>
  • Teenager’s Assisted Suicide Sends Horrible Message That Being Disabled is “A Fate Worse Than Death”: The recent death of 19-year-old Tommy Swales made headlines in the UK. He had been diagnosed with Friedrich’s ataxia – a rare genetic disorder that causes heart disease and a gradual loss of mobility – four years ago. The sudden change in his abilities caused him to become withdrawn, depressed, and isolated. Read more >>
  • The Science Behind Suicide Contagion: When Marilyn Monroe died in August 1962, with the cause listed as probable suicide, the nation reacted. In the months afterward, there was extensive news coverage, widespread sorrow and a spate of suicides. According to one study, the suicide rate in the United States jumped by 12 percent compared with the same months in the previous year. Read more >>
  • Why are assisted suicide bills continuously failing in the us? One could easily be forgiven for thinking that the whole world is experiencing a massive culture shift towards legislating for assisted suicide. The reality is that euthanasia and assisted suicide are only legal in a handful of countries and states. Read more >>
  • Canadians Seem Intent on Sanctioning Mass Suicide on Those Deemed a Burden to Society: Canadians, or at least Canadian media elites, seem intent on creating state-sanctioned mass suicide of the those deemed to be a burden to the rest of society. Read more >>
  • Euthanasie : « Cela demande du courage de l’aider à accepter cette mort » Axelle Huber, dont le mari est décédé à cause de la maladie de Charcot, souhaite faire entendre une autre voix sur l'euthanasie que celle d'Anne Bert, écrivain atteinte de la même maladie qui a décidé de s'exiler en Belgique pour être euthanasiée. Lire l’article >>
  • Euthanasie : les frères de la charité en Belgique passent outre les recommandations de Rome : Lors d’une conférence de presse tenue ce matin, l’organisation des Frères de la Charité en Belgique a déclaré qu’elle ne reviendrait pas « sur sa décision, prise en mars dernier, d’autoriser la pratique de l’euthanasie au sein de la quinzaine d’établissements psychiatriques placés sous sa responsabilité ». Lire l’article >>
  • Euthanasie: quand les mamans tuent leur enfant : Une neurochirurgienne renommée en Flandre est suspectée d’avoir tué sa fille atteinte d’un cancer. Ce probable infanticide désespéré questionne sur la fin de vie. Lire l’article >>
  • En état végétatif depuis 15 ans, il retrouve un état de conscience minimale : Un homme de 35 ans, plongé dans un état d’ « éveil non répondant » depuis 15 ans, a retrouvé des signes de conscience grâce à la stimulation électrique de son nerf vague. Lire l’article >>
  • L’euthanasie pour tous : Au moment de passer la loi sur le suicide assisté, pompeusement appelée « mourir dans la dignité », ses promoteurs soutenaient fièrement que les critères pour accéder aux « soins de fin de vie » étaient rigoureux et n’allaient pas changer de sitôt. L’euthanasie demeurerait une exception. Lire l’article >>
  • Maladie de charcot : « nous ne nous reconnaissons pas dans la demande d’anne bert » L’Arsla, l’association pour la recherche sur la SLA, regrette la médiatisation du geste d'Anne Bert associé à la maladie et déplorent un « raccourci Charcot-euthanasie ».  Lire l’article >>
  • Soins palliatifs: 14% de la population mondiale en bénéficient : Les exclus des soins palliatifs vivent dans les pays à revenu faible ou intermédiaire, et pâtissent du manque de formation des soignants et d’accès aux opioïdes. Lire l’article >>
  • Un anglais sort de son coma juste avant d'être "débranché" : Martin Jervis, britannique de 61 ans, a été victime d’un accident vasculaire cérébral qui a nécessité une lourde opération. Les médecins considéraient qu’il « avait des chances infimes de s’en sortir », et ses proches, en accord avec l’équipe médicale, refusaient tout acharnement thérapeutique et pensaient « abréger ses souffrances ». Lire l’article >>
  • Un demi-siècle de débordement des urgences: Lorsque je terminais ma formation en chirurgie à l’hôpital Notre-Dame vers la fin des années 60, il arrivait régulièrement que les urgences débordent. Lire l’article >>
  • Un nombre croissant de patients psychiatriques ou déments euthanasiés en belgique : Une étude publiée dans le BMC Psychiatric détaille l’évolution régulière entre 2002 et 2013 de l’euthanasie des personnes ayant une maladie psychiatrique ou atteintes de démence. L’IEB commente. Lire l’article >>

 

VIDEOS TO WATCH (French and English)

  • The Euthanasia Deception: A trailer for the new documentary exploring assisted suicide and euthanasia in Belgium. Watch video >>
  • S'aimer jusqu'au décès et garder le sourire, le témoignage d'Axelle Huber - Mille et une vies : Après avoir accompagné son mari jusqu'à son dernier souffle, Axelle Huber s'efforce aujourd'hui de continuer à sourire. Regarder le vidéo >>
  • Capsule-annonce - Carpe Diem : un regard, une approche, un combat : Visionnez la capsule-annonce des 4 courts métrages de la réalisatrice-vidéaste Carolane Saint-Pierre portant sur l'approche Carpe Diem. Regarder le vidéo >>
  • Pénurie de médecins dans les CHSLD : Des médecins se disent forcés de quitter ces établissements pour respecter les quotas de patients qui leur sont exigés. Résultat : des milliers de patients en CHSLD ne seraient pas suivis par un médecin. Regarder le vidéo >>
  • Plaidoyer sherbrookois contre l'aide médicale à mourir pour les personnes inaptes : Un médecin à la retraite de Sherbrooke, Raymond Duperval, est contre l'idée d'étendre l'aide médicale à mourir aux personnes inaptes en phase terminale, avec signes de détresse et en présence d'une directive écrite. Son épouse, Mimose, est atteinte d'alzheimer depuis une quinzaine d'années. Regarder le vidéo >>

To make a donation is... to take action!

Our organization would not exist without the support of people who share our vision of human solidarity and our mission to promote good palliative care for all. With your contribution, we can act on your behalf by advocating in person (conferences, panels), in the media (interviews, articles, press releases), and on social networks (blogs, website, Facebook, Twitter).

Thus, by contributing, you are directly participating in defending future generations, especially vulnerable people, threatened by euthanasia and assisted suicide in Canada.

Thank you for your active support! 

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