{"id":17638,"date":"2025-10-27T07:02:04","date_gmt":"2025-10-27T11:02:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vivredignite.org\/?p=17638"},"modified":"2025-10-27T12:30:53","modified_gmt":"2025-10-27T16:30:53","slug":"newsletter-oct-27-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vivredignite.org\/en\/newsletter-oct-27-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"When suggesting MAiD raises concern, the story of a young Belgian requesting euthanasia for mental illness, and the consultation on Quebec\u2019s draft constitution"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Dear allies,<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>

A short introduction to this edition, in which\nwe look back on recent news, including a powerful column by Myl\u00e8ne Moisan in Le\nSoleil<\/i> and the troubling case of Siska De Ruysscher, a 25-year-old Belgian\nwoman whose story directly relates to Canada as Parliament prepares to debate\nBill C-218 and MAiD for mental illness.<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>


\nWe\u2019re also sharing the latest updates on the public consultation surrounding\nQuebec\u2019s draft constitution\u2014and the place that end-of-life issues may occupy\nwithin it. Of course, we plan to take part in the consultation on your behalf!<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>

Wishing you an excellent end of October,<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>


\nJasmin Lemieux-Lefebvre
\nCoordinator
\nLiving with Dignity Citizen Network<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>

\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/p>

Update: We\nhave learned of the passing<\/a> of Archbishop Emeritus Bertrand Blanchet of\nRimouski, author of La bio\u00e9thique, rep\u00e8res d\u2019humanit\u00e9<\/i> and biologist by\ntraining. Our Citizen Network honours his many contributions over the years in\ndefence of human dignity. <\/span>Our condolences to his family and loved ones.<\/o:p><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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\u201cMedical Assistance in Dying \u2014 Does That Speak to You?\u201d<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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That\u2019s the title of Myl\u00e8ne Moisan\u2019s column published\nin Le Soleil<\/i> on October 18th<\/a> (L\u2019aide m\u00e9dicale \u00e0 mourir, \u00e7a vous\ndit?).<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>

\n\n<\/p>

Excerpt: But the social worker came to offer\nhim something entirely different\u2014his end-of-life options. One in particular:\nmedical assistance in dying. (\u2026) The idea was, \u201cIf you decide to let go and\nsign for MAiD, you\u2019ll have a much better quality of life.\u201d<\/i><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Here\u2019s the comment written by our coordinator\nand published under the article (our translation):<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>

\u201cHats off to Nicolas and No\u00e9mie for filing a\ncomplaint. Such behaviour is unacceptable\u2014and, unfortunately, not exceptional.<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>


\nLet\u2019s remember that in December 2015, when Quebec\u2019s Act respecting\nend-of-life care<\/i> came into force, best practice required waiting until the\npatient mentioned MAiD before anyone raised the topic. Sadly, that\u2019s no longer\nthe case ten years later. Yes, I don\u2019t doubt that most mentions of MAiD by\nhealth professionals are meant to inform, but cases like this social worker\u2019s\nexpose a real problem that also affects people with disabilities.
\nThis column appeared four days after testimony by Krista Carr of Inclusion\nCanada before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance (FINA). Here\u2019s\nwhat she said: \u2018Persons with disabilities now very often fear going into the\nhealth-care system for ordinary health issues, because they are sometimes\noffered MAiD as a solution to what is perceived as intolerable suffering.\u2019<\/o:p><\/i><\/span><\/p>

Yes, that\u2019s where we seem to be now.<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>

And we should fix it.\u201d<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>

P.S. It\u2019s still possible to support Nicolas and\nNo\u00e9mie, who have now reached 65 % of their goal on GoFundMe: \u201cHelp Nicolas\nBergeron, 45, incurable cancer.\u201d<\/i><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>

You can\nhear Krista Carr\u2019s remarks at 16:45:15 here:
\n<\/span>https:\/\/parlvu.parl.gc.ca\/Harmony\/fr\/PowerBrowser\/PowerBrowserV2?fk=13158109<\/a>
\nor through this viral post by MP Garnett Genuis:
\n<\/span>https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/reel\/1380014227072784<\/a><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>

Two Days Later: Another Reaction in Le\nSoleil<\/i><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>

On October 20th, Le\nSoleil published an open letter by Louis\nCummins<\/span><\/a><\/i>, philosopher and retired teacher:<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>

Excerpt: Nicolas\u2019s story is a horror story.\nAfter being denied the attention and care he had a right to expect, he was\npersistently shown another door\u2014the one leading to services that would dispatch\nhim out of this world.<\/i><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>

\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/p>

In New Zealand, health professionals are not\nallowed to suggest assisted dying to their patients. It\u2019s up to the individual\nto raise the issue with their care team. That is an important safeguard in\ntheir law\u2014one that should inspire us.<\/span><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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MAiD and Mental Illness \u2014 Siska\u2019s Story Should Make Canada Think<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Siska De Ruysscher, a 25-year-old Belgian\nwoman, has been granted approval for euthanasia due to psychological suffering.\nOn October 3rd, she posted a long open letter on Instagram that has sparked\ndebate in the Flemish media. Supporters argue that her decision reflects her\nright to autonomy and that Belgian law imposes strict safeguards (multiple\nmedical opinions, lengthy procedures). Opponents counter that at age 25,\nincurability is difficult to assert\u2014and worry that euthanasia risks becoming a\nresponse to gaps in care rather than to illness itself.<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>

As of now, Siska\u2019s open letter is available\nonly in Dutch on her Instagram page. We have translated it into English and\nFrench on our blog, with additional content from Flemish media:
\nhttps:\/\/vivredignite.org\/siska-story<\/a>.<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>

Siska\u2019s\nstory should prompt reflection among Canadian lawmakers as debate resumes this\nfall on Bill C-218, a private member\u2019s bill (introduced in a non-partisan\nspirit by Conservative MP Tamara Jansen) that would amend the Criminal Code<\/i>\nto specify that a mental disorder is not a grievous and irremediable medical\ncondition for which a person may receive medical assistance in dying.<\/i><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>

This is an\nimportant initiative to block the scheduled expansion of Canada\u2019s MAiD law on\nMarch 17, 2027, when MAiD would otherwise become available if a person\u2019s sole\nunderlying condition is a mental illness.<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>

\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/p>

Do we\nreally want a young woman like Siska to be eligible for MAiD in Canada?<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Quebec\u2019s Draft Constitution: \nConsultation and Open Letter\n<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Should a future Quebec constitution address the issue of the \u201cright to die with dignity\u201d? While government communications mention only the right to receive \u201cmedical assistance in dying,\u201d the draft bill instead refers to the right to receive \u201cend-of-life care\u201d\u2014a broader term that includes palliative care, palliative sedation, and MAiD.<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n

Contrary to some early media reports, we now have more time than expected to prepare briefs responding to the draft constitution\u2014until November 24th instead of November 12th. Public hearings will begin on December 4th (instead of November 25th).<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n

To read the National Assembly\u2019s press release and find out how to participate:
<\/span>https:\/\/www.assnat.qc.ca\/fr\/actualites-salle-presse\/communiques\/CommuniquePresse-7511.html<\/a><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n

Public commentary is also welcome, such as Monique Khouzam Gendron\u2019s letter \u201cAssisted dying\u2014How far will we go?\u201d<\/i>,
published by Le Soleil and the Coops de l\u2019info<\/a> on October 14th
(also available on her Facebook page<\/a>).<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n

Here is our coordinator\u2019s comment, also posted under her open letter:<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cUnder the current proposal (Bill No. 1, Constitutional Act, 2025 on Quebec<\/i>), the Quebec Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms<\/i> would be amended to add the following article:<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201839.2 Every person whose condition so requires has the right to receive end-of-life care, subject to the specific requirements set out in the Act respecting end-of-life care (chapter S-32.0001).\u2019<\/i><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n

Yet, all of the government\u2019s communication materials about the draft constitution (visuals, press release, news conference, and interviews) refer solely to the \u2018right to die with dignity\u2019 and to \u2018receiving medical assistance in dying\u2019.<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n

This approach has led most Quebecers to now associate MAiD with the best\u2014or only\u2014way to \u2018die with dignity\u2019 (69 % of people aged 55 and older, according to a L\u00e9ger poll on perceptions of end-of-life services, commissioned by the PalliAmi Foundation last March).<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n

Palliative care is at the heart of the Act respecting end-of-life care.<\/i><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n

\n<\/p>

I invite Minister Jolin-Barrette and members of the National Assembly not to forget that as they move forward with Quebec\u2019s constitutional project.\u201d<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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CIRAMM: Focus Groups with Health Professionals<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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The Interdisciplinary Research Consortium on Medical Assistance in Dying<\/i> (CIRAMM) is launching focus groups with health-care professionals from Quebec \u2014including those working in palliative care (medicine, nursing, social work, ethics, spiritual care, etc.)\u2014who are affected by MAiD but have never participated or have since stopped doing so.<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n

\n<\/p>

We encourage you to take part in this study, led by Catherine Perron. To register, please fill out this form: <\/span>https:\/\/bit.ly\/CIRAMM<\/b><\/a>.

Official communication in French below.<\/i><\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Dear allies,
\nA short introduction to this edition, in which
\nwe look back on recent news, including a powerful column by Myl\u00e8ne Moisan in Le
\nSoleil and the troubling case …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[290,607],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-17638","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-blog","category-qui-vive-living-with-dignity-newsletter"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vivredignite.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17638","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vivredignite.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vivredignite.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vivredignite.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vivredignite.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=17638"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/vivredignite.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17638\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":17653,"href":"https:\/\/vivredignite.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17638\/revisions\/17653"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vivredignite.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17638"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vivredignite.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=17638"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vivredignite.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=17638"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}