Bill 11 could be passed by the end of work in the National Assembly on June 9th.
“I have tabled an amendment to ensure that medical euthanasia is done according to the person’s wishes, where they want it, that is, according to the person’s will,” said Minister for Health and Elders Sonia Bélanger.
Under the law that currently regulates medical euthanasia, it was agreed that end-of-life care should be provided in a hospital, in a palliative care home, or even at home.
But do we want to be, as Minister Bélanger described it, a society that forces people to die in a certain place? Instead of a society that allows free choice, allowing people to choose the ultimate memory they want to keep?
“In medical euthanasia, patients want to choose a date, time and place. »
– A quote from Sonia Bélanger, Quebec Minister of Health and Senior Citizens
However, the Quebec government advises that the location chosen must be approved by the doctor or specialist nurse (IPS) on file. The latter must obtain the authorization of the heads of the CISSS or CIUSSS serving the area concerned.
No Ads
For example, a funeral home cannot advertise that is directly or indirectly related to medical euthanasia.
The bill provides for a fine of up to $50,000 for anyone violating the law, or up to $150,000 in other cases, such as a corporation.
In the event of a recidivism, the fines are doubled.
With this extension of the law, the government of François Legault wants to delimit an already common practice: in mid-May, La Presse reported that a person received medical assistance in dying in a funeral home in the Haut-Richelieu region.
By enabling a patient to receive end-of-life care in a location that suits them best, the Quebec government wants to ensure respect for the dignity and autonomy of the person and the importance of that care.
In Quebec, medical euthanasia accounts for more than 7% of deaths, and more than 5,000 people could resort to it this year.
In this respect, Quebec ranks first in the world: the province as a whole responds to more requests for medical assistance in the event of a death than Belgium or the Netherlands.
caution and questions
Sonia Bélanger, Minister of Health and Elderly, accompanied by Christian Dubé, Minister of Health, at the presentation of Bill 11 expanding medical euthanasia. (archive photo)
Photo: The Canadian Press / Jacques Boissinot
During the review of the bill, members of the Citizens’ Relations Committee discussed the abuses that could result from this possible expansion of places to receive medical euthanasia.
Minister Sonia Bélanger spoke of the caution that parliamentarians must exercise, but recognized that the will of the individual must prevail.
Liberal MP Jennifer Maccarone said she was asking herself questions.
Without being for or against, the Westmount-Saint-Louis member indicated that we would open the door to end-of-life care elsewhere because we understood that it was still practiced (in a funeral home, etc.) . .
But, she argued, every time someone breaks the law, are we going to change things within our laws?
die in the zoo? Or in the museum?
To date there has been no discussion of the possibility of administering MAID anywhere other than in a hospital, hospice or home, Ms Maccarone recalled. Maybe because people thought it was still clear in the End-of-Life Care Act, she says.
“If someone wants to do it quietly, for example by a lake, in a national park, how can we avoid that there are no witnesses around? »
– A quote from Jennifer Maccarone, Liberal MP for Westmount-Saint-Louis
The MEP believes that we need to examine in a practical way how to respond to the wishes of patients who wish to receive MAID in the zoo or museum, among other places.
Ms Maccarone also questions the prospect of doctors or specialist nurses acting like lawmakers and saying yes, you play by the rules, it’s safe and doable.
Both Jennifer Maccarone and Joël Arseneau of the Parti Québécois also wonder what rules local authorities could impose. Do some of them have to decide whether or not to allow medical euthanasia? asks the member about Îles-de-la-Madeleine. And if they prohibit it, to what extent are they not committing a discriminatory practice?
A paternalistic approach
dr Georges L’Espérance, President of the Quebec Association for the Right to Die With Dignity, welcomes the planned expansion. But in an interview on Wednesday’s Tout un matin on ICI Première, he said he feared the government’s approach would bureaucratize this situation, which has always been done with respect, solemnity and serenity, whether at home or elsewhere.
“I don’t know what scares people. »
– A quote from Dr. Georges L’Espérance, President of the Quebec Association for the Right to Die with Dignity
dr In his opinion, L’Espérance also condemns the paternalism of the legislature. It seems like everyone chooses to seek medical attention when they die somewhere, in the middle of a mall. That’s not the case at all, he says.
Don’t die in the hospital
In an interview on Tuesday’s Le 15-18 program, a listener shared how important it was for her mother to receive medical help when she was dying in a calm, serene and appropriate place.
” Not me [voyais] it wasn’t my mother who died in the hospital; She was never hospitalized. »
– A quote from Nathalie Fournier
Nathalie Fournier’s mother had received confirmation in autumn 2020 that she was entitled to medical euthanasia. Her husband was not happy with the thought that she might die at home, so there were very few options. In addition, the department where the lady was supposed to receive MAID in the hospital was full a few days before the scheduled appointment.
The family finally found a suitable location and want it to remain a secret to this day.
“I have no regrets,” said Nathalie Fournier.