There is No Slippery Slope

The Euthanasia Prevention Coalition has been heavily featured in the press this week with their talk of risks and slippery slopes.

John Warren, DWD Board Member, takes a closer look at that claim.

Between 70% and 80% of Canadians are in favour of having access to medically assisted dying, providing proper controls are in place to protect the weak and the vulnerable. Of course we should have the right to control our own bodies and of course we don’t want to impose that right on others who do not want to die in that manner.

The Euthanasia Prevention Coalition thinks otherwise. According to its website, its members believe that euthanasia and assisted suicide should continue to be treated as murder/homicide, irrespective of whether the person killed has consented to be killed. Hmmm. Let’s assume that I am paralyzed, unable to walk, talk or swallow and am in diapers all the time. I decide that I want to die and I plead for a doctor to end my pain and indignity. Members of the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition would want to put the doctor, who would be acting on my instructions into jail for 14 years. How can that attitude be justified?

The EPC is concerned that if we change the law to allow for medically assisted dying a ”slippery slope” will be created and we will soon start killing people against their will. The Royal Society of Canada has just released its report on the topic of End-of-Life Decision Making and it notes that medically assisted dying is available in the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxemburg, Switzerland, Oregon, Washington and Montana. All of theses jurisdictions have very stringent regulations that prevent coercion and abuse. In Switzerland, for example, every hastened death is reported to the police, the coroner and the public prosecutor.

After analyzing the results of those seven jurisdictions the Royal Society came to this conclusion…” Despite the fears of opponents, it is clear that the much-feared slippery slope has not emerged following decriminalization. Nor is there evidence to support the claim that permitting doctors to participate in bringing about the death of a patient has harmed the doctor/patient relationship.”

It is a fact that every Canadian wants control on what happens to them. They do not want the government or “society” deciding how, when or where they should die. If the day comes when you want help to die I hope that medically assisted dying is available to you. At this time it is not! To change this situation become aware of what’s happening, talk about it with family and friends, write to your M.P. and if you haven't already, become a member of Dying With Dignity.