The founder of Les enfants d’amour, known for adopting and raising 37 disabled children in Saint-Anselme, fears a “slip” in expanding medical euthanasia.
• Also read: Louise Brissette: a life dedicated to her 37 sweethearts
During a press conference organized on Wednesday at her Bellechasse estate, Louise Brissette, who has dedicated her life to the cause of people with disabilities, expressed her reservations about Bill 11.
This would allow patients diagnosed with a serious and incurable incapacitating disease, such as Alzheimer’s, to have advance medical assistance in dying (MAD) requests approved.
“Help Is Not Enough”
In addition, severe and incurable neuromotor disabilities such as paraplegia or cerebral palsy would be considered for MAID.
“It is for me the opening to slingshot… unconditionally,” worried Ms. Brissette, insisting “that there are other solutions than medical assistance in dying.”
She believes that we should rather rely on the support and companionship of those who are suffering, but regrets that “it is very difficult to find good services”.
“When you have moments of happiness it doesn’t mean you don’t have difficulties, it doesn’t mean you don’t have pain, but you go beyond that. But you have to have people around to help you.”
At his side, the coordinator of the citizens’ network Vivre dans la Dignité, Jasmin Lemieux-Lefebvre, pleaded that “life support in Quebec is not enough”.
Photo Dominique Lelievre
Jasmin Lemieux-Lefebvre, coordinator of the citizens’ network Vivre dans la Dignité, Louise Brissette, founder of L’oeuvre des Enfants d’amour, and Félix Pageau, geriatrician.
“Assisted living must be a priority, not medical euthanasia. Our context in Quebec shows us that there is so much to do,” he said.
The group also denounces that the bill would force the minority of palliative care homes that do not offer MAID to offer this type of care.
A doctor expresses his “discomfort”.
Quebec geriatric physician Dr. Félix Pageau also expressed his “discomfort”. He worries the bill reflects some stigma towards people with neurocognitive disorders, or people’s fear of not receiving appropriate treatment if their condition worsens.
According to him, MAID “should be a last, last resort, but given the state of our system, it’s now becoming the first resort for far too many people.” He also doubts Quebec has sufficient resources to handle all the expected requests.
The timing of the press conference was not accidental as the public hearings ended on Wednesday. The three speakers regretted not being able to attend.
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