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A question of life and death. The Carter decision will have a direct impact on the future and security of all Quebecers.

Quebec , October 10th 2013 – The British Columbia Appeals court has rendered today its verdict on the case Carter v. Canada (Attorney general), 2013 BCCA 435 regarding assisted suicide and overturned its initial decision by a majority vote, chief judge Finch dissenting.

The majority (comprised of judges Saunders and Newbury) noted that the cases' judge was bound by the Rodriguez Canadian Supreme court verdict that was rendered in 1993 and in which the court confirmed that assisted suicide was illegal despite the dispositions of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Liberties.

The majority concluded that "life" which is protected by article 7 of the Charter was considered in Rodriguez like a counterweight to liberty and security of the person. Since Rodriguez, the tribunals have continued to consider personal decision-making with regards to one's own body as deriving from «personal security» or of «liberty» while «life» has been interpreted in its existential sense, and not according to a qualitative point of view. While chief judge Finch has suggested in his motivations that «life» includes the possibility of profiting from various experiences and of making various decisions, the majority declared that those who have a limited capability of profiting from these benefits are no less «living» and have no less of a right to «life», than valid people who are fully competent. The court concluded that the protection from the Charter cannot be extended to include these situations.

Living with Dignity and the Physicians' Alliance against Euthanasia are opposed to any change in the Canadian Criminal Code which would permit assisted suicide, euthanasia, or medical aid in dying.

The decision in this case will have a direct impact for all Quebecers, particularly relating to Bill 52, a bill concerning end-of-life care. The public auditions for this bill will end today in Quebec.

Source : The Collective of Doctors for the Medical Refusal of Euthanasia and the citizen network Living with Dignity. Follow-us on Twitter at @collectifmed and @vivredignite

For additional information or to set-up an interview, please contact :

Nicolas Steenhout

General director

Living with Dignity

info@vivredignite.com

438-931-1233