[...] the Panel was persuaded that the law in Canada [...] should be changed to allow some form of assisted suicide and voluntary euthanasia. Putting the philosophical analysis together with the lessons learned from [a] review of the paths taken in other jurisdictions that have moved to more permissive regimes, the Panel considered the options for the design of a permissive regime and suggests the following legal mechanisms for achieving the reform and the core elements of the proposed reform.
“The current legal status of assisted dying is inadequate and incoherent...” The Commission on Assisted Dying was set up in September 2010 to consider whether the current legal and policy approach to assisted dying in England and Wales is fit for purpose. In addition to evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of the legal status quo, the Commission also set out to explore the question of what a framework for assisted dying might look like, if such a system were to be implemented in the UK, and what approach to assisted dying might be most acceptable to health and social care professionals and to the general public.
The Commission on Assisted Dying, set up in September 2010 and chaired by former Lord Chancellor Charles Falconer, has issued its monumental report on assisted dying in England and Wales. The Commission was funded by two supporters of assisted suicide, author Terry Pratchett and businessman Bernard Lewis, and despite reassurances that the running and outcome of the Commission were independent, some individuals and groups opposed to the practice regrettably refused to give evidence to the Commission. Still, the range and quantity of the evidence, which included evidence gathered from international research visits, qualitative interviews and focus groups, commissioned papers, and seminars, is impressive and can be read and watched here.
Washington’s Death with Dignity Act allows adult residents in the state with six months (180 days) or less to live to request lethal doses of medication from physicians. In this report, a participant of the act is defined as someone to whom medication was dispensed under the terms of this law. This report focuses on the 103 participants for whom medication was dispensed between January 1, 2011 and December 31, 2011. It includes data from the documentation received by the Department of Health as of February 29, 2012.
Le professeur Didier Sicard a remis au président de la République, François Hollande, mardi 18 décembre, le rapport de la "commission de réflexion sur la fin de vie en France". Six mois n'auront pas été de trop pour explorer les conditions de la mort et envisager si, conformément à la proposition 21 du candidat Hollande, il faut ouvrir la voie à une "assistance médicalisée pour terminer sa vie dans la dignité". Il en ressort des propositions fortes esquissant "une solution à la française" au débat sur la fin de vie. Le constat du professeur Sicard est sans appel : il faut "mieux faire droit aux attentes et espérances des citoyens à l'égard de la fin de vie". Prenant acte que la majorité des Français souhaitent être aidés médicalement pour mourir (56 % selon un sondage réalisé par la mission), il propose que la loi Leonetti soit appliquée non pas à la lettre mais dans son esprit et qu'une sédation terminale (administration d'opiacés entraînant le coma puis la mort) puisse être ...
In June 2010 we announced that we would be working together to prepare a Private Member’s Bill to allow for voluntary assisted dying for terminally ill Tasmanians. We did so at that time because we believed that there was a compelling case for law reform in this area. As we demonstrate through this Consultation Paper, the case for legalising a form of voluntary assisted dying has continued to strengthen since our announcement to develop a new Bill, and we have good reason to believe that the case in support of law reform will only continue to grow. As legislators we believe that the law in this area has not kept up with changes in medical practice, social values or the views of the vast majority of the community. It is time for change. We believe it is important and necessary for the Parliament to enact legislation that fully demonstrates the compassion we all feel for people who are suffering in extremely difficult circumstances at the end of their lives. We know of too many terrib...