What do you think about bill C-7?
Consider this article posted Nov. 2020:
https://nationalpost.com/news/politics/conservatives-protest-new-assisted-dying-bill-argue-justice-minister-should-have-appealed-court-ruling
I have thought long and hard about the changes that bill C-7 proposes, keeping in mind this is a very sensitive topic and a decision not easily made. Speaking from having gone through the process with my dad, I have a very different perspective on it; one that is more open to individual choice. I also see how someone might feel threatened by what this bill is proposing, however, what about the thousands of Canadians that shared their thoughts in the recent online government survey, “more than 225,000 Canadians offer opinions as new poll suggests increased support for medical aid in dying“.
Hi Signy,
I feel as if I have so much to say on MAiD, and it’s hard to navigate through my thoughts on it.
I believe that pain is defined as a subjective experience – and if this is true, where do healthy government officials get off telling a person faced with their own suffering and mortality, what they can or cannot do about it? Is that not the purpose of an advanced directive? When the individual is unable to consciously make a decision about their level of medical intervention…. it can be done according to their wishes? Why would a terminally ill individual not receive the same experience, why are they being forced to live with a terminal illness, when death serves a purpose just as much as life does. How much hope can you give before the pain and suffering takes over?
To keep a dying person alive for hope of survival/a cure is equivalent to asking a person who is brain-dead how their day was, expecting a response. It’s mentally exhausting. It’s suffering that only a dying person will understand, to be fronted with hope from healthy individuals who are on the other side of the hospital bed. It’s unfair to tell a dying person “you can’t die yet because what if you get better?” The 2-week protocol for requesting MAiD ensures people are competent and aware of the autonomous choice they have between life and death.
I think death is a right. We will all die, and to tell someone who might be dying or suffering that they can’t die because of how you/others will feel; it’s selfish. Sadness is necessary to life, how could we know we are happy without experiencing sadness? I believe that the more aware and educated and supported people are in regards to grief, death and their own mortality – the better grasp people will gain on progressing through the stages of grief or emotionally traumatic events they undergo in life, like dying or losing loved ones.
Another random point……… I tend to think about malpractice and mistreatment as health care progressed in society a lot. I realize ethics may not be perfectly executed in the health care system, but when comparing a beautiful experience such as MAiD, to a more traumatic and invasive procedure such as a prefrontal lobotomy….. I can’t help but think why were invasive procedures common practice? Yet we are fighting against entitled conservative government officials for the right to death.
To sum it up, I believe humans are autonomous, capable of experiencing and describing their pain and suffering, and for that reason I believe humans should be allowed to cognitively decide about their mortality – with proper guidance, support and a thorough investigation of the benefits vs cons.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this blog Jill. And for getting this conversation going. Heartfelt thanks. You have made some very valid points. I’m wondering what your thoughts are today since our recent discussion, and if you have anything to add to what you wrote above?
All I know is that we as Canadians are very privileged to have Bill C-14/C-7, and that we have the right to die with dignity if we so choose. What a gift.