Supreme Court of Canada overturns ban on doctor assisted suicide

[Caged Great]

https://ca.news.yahoo.com/death-dock...093009610.html

thoughts?

[Canehdianman]

About time.

[FLAMESRULE]

Great decision. Its no one's business how we live our lives or how we would choose/want to die. It is the right of individual and whoever they so choose to council with (family, friends, doctors, lawyers).

I hope the government adopts this and then SERIOUSLY funds suicide prevention and mental health.

[Thor]

Absolutely terrific news!

[troutman]

The governments have one year to amend the laws.

Assistance is limited to cases where the patient is over 18, competent and suffering in the extreme.

[Thor]

Hopefully they have the bravery to enact legislation with proper restrictions and oversight to finally allow those suffering to go in peace.

[MarchHare]

Originally Posted by troutman

The governments have one year to amend the laws.

My prediction is The Harper Government will treat this exactly the same as they did with their prostitution bill from last year: that is, essentially ignore the Supreme Court ruling and table a new law that doesn't address the issues the SC told them to fix. I wouldn't expect anything to change on this issue until either this government is replaced or Harper's new, as-yet-unwritten law is also struck down by the SC.

[fatso]

We see so many claims/decisions pertaining to individual rights and often they pertain to a limited aspect of such rights or the narrow scope of their exercise. This, however, is a massive decision, going right to core of individuality. Glad to see it was a unanimous decision. Very proud of the SCC today.

I hope the gov't respects the decision in substance. As MarchHare points out, this gov't does have a history of ignoring or trying to circumvent the court.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by troutman

The governments have one year to amend the laws.

Assistance is limited to cases where the patient is over 18, competent and suffering in the extreme.

I assume there already is caselaw on "competent", but I wonder if there is case law defining "suffering in the extreme".

[Hockeyguy15]

Might be a weird question, but does anyone know if life insurance is paid out for assisted suicide or I guess suicide in general?

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by Hockeyguy15

Might be a weird question, but does anyone know if life insurance is paid out for assisted suicide or I guess suicide in general?

Great question.

I would suspect it doesn't. My very basic understanding is the life insurance is for sudden/unexpected/accidental deaths.

[Hockeyguy15]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

Great question.

I would suspect it doesn't. My very basic understanding is the life insurance is for sudden/unexpected/accidental deaths.

I don't know why it popped into my head, but if I was suffering I think I would try and hold out just so my wife would get some money at then end of it. Assuming the life insurance is still paid out after a death because of illness?

That would be quite a tough spot to be in, I really hope it never comes to that.

[troutman]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

I assume there already is caselaw on "competent", but I wonder if there is case law defining "suffering in the extreme".

From the OP, I think this is the language used by the court - "a grievous and irremediable medical condition (including an illness, disease or disability) that causes enduring suffering that is intolerable to the individual in the circumstances of his or her condition".

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by FLAMESRULE

Great decision. Its no one's business how we live our lives or how we would choose/want to die. It is the right of individual and whoever they so choose to council with (family, friends, doctors, lawyers).

I hope the government adopts this and then SERIOUSLY funds suicide prevention and mental health.

I agree that this is great news and in my opinion the right to decision to make.

Originally Posted by Hockeyguy15

Might be a weird question, but does anyone know if life insurance is paid out for assisted suicide or I guess suicide in general?

I believe that in most cases life insurance will still be paid if it is a suicide. The only stipulation I can recall from my life insurance policy regarding suicide is that any new coverage purchased 2 years prior to suicide will not be paid.

This is a brief quote from Manulife:

Are there any limitations or exclusions to the Term Life Insurance plan?
If you commit suicide, while sane or insane, within two (2) years from the Effective Date, the amount payable by us will be limited to the sum of the premiums paid. It is important that you read your Insurance Policy when you get it to understand exactly what you are covered for.

[CaptainCrunch]

I doubt that insurance would cover assisted suicide in any form. That's a huge pandora's box.

I think this is a positive first step, but I would have to understand the frame work of what defines the ability to go through with this.

I don't think mental health issues should be something that should be on the list of reasons to die.

I would have to understand what extreme suffering involves, I would also have to understand how they can define the choice of the individual versus the choice of a family for example.

[Senator Clay Davis]

The Harper Government must hate the Supreme Court pretty badly as they consistently rule against it.

[Mike F]

Originally Posted by MarchHare

My prediction is The Harper Government will treat this exactly the same as they did with their prostitution bill from last year: that is, essentially ignore the Supreme Court ruling and table a new law that doesn't address the issues the SC told them to fix. I wouldn't expect anything to change on this issue until either this government is replaced or Harper's new, as-yet-unwritten law is also struck down by the SC.

Agreed.

They'll likely honour the decision to strike down the prohibition on doctors providing life ending treatments, and instead make it illegal for people to solicit, or aid and abet the solicitation of, life ending treatments.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by Hockeyguy15

I don't know why it popped into my head, but if I was suffering I think I would try and hold out just so my wife would get some money at then end of it. Assuming the life insurance is still paid out after a death because of illness?

That would be quite a tough spot to be in, I really hope it never comes to that.

Insurance for illness would cover treatment, I think that you can buy terminal illness insurance.

But I doubt that an insurance company is ever going to cover suicide, it opens way to many way to game the system in terms of death for profit.

[crazy_eoj]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

The Harper Government must hate the Supreme Court pretty badly as they consistently rule against it.

The law struck down was in place well before the Harper Government took power, but nice attempt anyways?

[Canuck-Hater]

Now if the supreme court can strike down the proposed "anti-terror" legislation as well I'll be a happy man