How Legalization of Doctor-Assisted Death 'Invites Coercion'

Radio Sputnik. The article as originally published can be viewed here.

Nearly 2,000 Canadians have taken their own lives with the help of doctors after the legalization of assisted suicide [and euthanasia] in the country. Apart from Canada, euthanasia is legal in the Netherlands, Belgium, Colombia and Luxembourg. Sputnik discussed the controversial law with Margaret Dore, an attorney standing against euthanasia legalization in the US.

Canada adopted a law permitting medically assisted suicide [and euthanasia in 2016] and since then doctor-assisted deaths have accounted for 1 percent of all deaths in the country.

In Oregon, Other Suicides Have Increased With Legalization of Assisted Suicide

By Margaret K. Dore, Esq.

Since the passage of Oregon’s law allowing physician-assisted suicide, other suicides in Oregon have steadily increased. This is consistent with a suicide contagion in which the legalization of physician-assisted suicides has encouraged other suicides. In Oregon, the financial and emotional impacts of suicide on family members and the broader community are devastating and long-lasting.[1]

Update: Saskatchewan nurse fined $26,000 for Facebook complaint about seniors' care

Carolyn Strom, RN

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/arts-and-life/life/health/saskatchewan-nurse-fined-26000-for-facebook-complaint-about-seniors-care-418702653.html

SASKATOON - A nurse who was found guilty of professional misconduct for criticizing the quality of care her grandparents received has been fined $26,000 by the Saskatchewan Registered Nurses Association.

Carolyn Strom of Prince Albert, Sask., was brought before a disciplinary committee after posting comments on Facebook.

Strom said her grandfather spent a week in palliative care before he died, and both he and her grandmother had received ``sub-par care'' in a long-term care facility for many years.

Ontario nursing home at heart of murder case cited for 'medication incidents'

http://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/ontario-nursing-home-at-heart-of-murder-case-cited-for-medication-incidents-1.3279889

Paola Loriggio, The Canadian Press

Inspection reports show an Ontario long-term care home where a former nurse is accused of killing seven seniors was taken to task by the province for dozens of "medication incidents" just before it was ordered to stop admitting patients.

The recently released reports, which are dated Jan. 24, indicate there were 41 drug-related incidents at the Caressant Care nursing home in Woodstock, Ont., between early August and late December of last year.

Nurse who vented about relative's care on social media found guilty of professional misconduct

Carolyn Strom - Don Healy, Regina Leader Post

http://www.mcknights.com/news/nurse-who-vented-about-relatives-care-on-social-media-found-guilty-of-professional-misconduct/article/577077/

Emily Mongan, Staff Writer

December 06, 2016

A Canadian nurse who took to social media to air her frustrations over a relative's skilled nursing care has been found guilty of professional misconduct by a nursing organization.

Carolyn Strom, a registered nurse in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, posted on Facebook and Twitter in February 2015 to express concerns with the care her grandfather received at an Saskatchewan skilled nursing facility prior to his death. Strom, who did not work at the facility, advised the management to “get all your staff a refresher” on end-of-life care, CBC News reported on Saturday.

Ontario nurse charged in deaths of 8 nursing home residents

http://www.torontosun.com/2016/10/25/ontario-police-hold-press-conference-about-multi-jurisdictional-death-investigation

WOODSTOCK - A Woodstock woman has been charged in the deaths of at least eight elderly residents in one of the biggest multiple death investigations in the region since the Bandido murders.

Elizabeth Tracey Mae Wettlaufer, 49, a former nurse with both Caressant Care in Woodstock and Meadow Park in London, was charged on Oct. 25 with the first-degree murder of eight residents aged 75 to 96 years old, seven who lived at Caressant Care and one at Meadow Park.

Brittany Maynard's Story Sends the Wrong Message to Young People

Will Johnston, MD

Dear Editor:

I agree with the Gazette editorial board that legal assisted suicide sends the wrong message to young people. ("Vote 'no' on more suicide," 09/26/16). I also write to describe the damaging impact of the highly publicized case of Brittany Maynard, on my young adult patient who became actively suicidal after watching her video. I understand that her story is now being used to promote assisted suicide legalization in Colorado.

Feds Say Carter Findings No Longer Necessarily True

Among the facts that the government suggests are no longer true are the top court's findings that:

• A permissive approach to assisted dying would not put Canada on a "slippery slope" in which disabled and other vulnerable Canadians are pressured to end their lives.

To read the full CBC News article, click here.

Justice minister hires academic who thinks Supreme Court erred on assisted dying

http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/justice-minister-hire-assisted-dying-adviser-1.3711684

Gregoire Webber,  photo Queens Law

Gregoire Webber has argued the court's rulings were effectively legislating

By Joan Bryden, The Canadian Press

Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould has hired a new legal affairs adviser who once argued that the Supreme Court over-stepped its bounds when it struck down the ban on medically assisted dying. . . .

Gregoire Webber is touted as a brilliant and highly respected legal scholar by fellow academics but his appointment has nevertheless raised some eyebrows given his past criticism of last year's landmark decision.