Medical Assisted Suicide

Running Head: Medical Assisted Suicide
Medical Assisted
Suicide
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Medical Assisted Suicide
The Supreme Court of Canada held in Carter v Canada (Carter v Canada, 2015)
held that there is need to change or alter some parts of Criminal Code so that they are
supporting Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Those sections will be invalidated,
which are preventing medical assistance in dying. After the judgment, the government of
Canada passed the bill that was allowing citizens of Canada to seek permission of medical
assistance in dying. The concept of medically assisted suicide is slightly different from
euthanasia. The proper definition of euthanasia is the “intentional termination of life of a
person by other person so that the former person is free from suffering”. Any relative of the
person with his /her consent does it. Assisted suicide is when the permission is obtained or
gives medication that will result in patient’s death and it is given by medical practitioner.
Section 241 of Criminal Code states that it is a crime when anyone assists in suicide. The
language of Section 241 states says that every person will held responsible for the offence
and will held liable for imprisonment no matter if the person commits suicide or not
(Counselling or aiding suicide, 2019).
To administer the suicide of a patient, Section 26 of the act states that a patient should-
 He/she should have insurance under Health Insurance Act so that it can be conformed
that the patient is the resident of Quebec.
 He/she is a major
 He/she is on the verge of death
 He/she is suffering from a disease which cannot be cured.
 Suffering from continuous and heinous pain in mental and physical form which
cannot be relieved.
Section 29 of the Code states that prior to assist in medical in dying, then he or she
should-
 Make sure that the requirements set for the patient are fulfilled
 There is no pressure on the patient for asking for request to die
 Discuss the request of patient the fellow team members who are working in the
treatment of the patient and from the relatives after the consent of patient.
 Make sure that the patient is informed about therapeutic and prognosis options
 Can ask for suggestion from other doctor who is neutral to both patient and the doctor
seeking suggestion.
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