( Post Millennial )
A judge ruled Monday that a Calgary woman with autism can obtain Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) even if her father does not believe she should be eligible for the procedure.
He was successful in delaying his daughter’s euthanasia through an injunction but Justice Colin Feasby lifted it, arguing that living is causing “irreparable harm” “to the core of her being.”
Feasby said his decision will be stayed for 30 days in anticipation of an appeal by the father. The woman is identified as MV because of a publication bank.
Although the court was told that MV also suffers from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, mental illness is currently not a criteria for granting MAiD. The woman’s father does not believe she has any other conditions that would justify euthanasia.
Feasby said his decision was based on weighing the “harm” of denying MV euthanasia and the suffering of her parents who could see their daughter die.
“The harm to MV if an injunction is granted goes to the core of her being,” Feasby said in his written ruling.
“An injunction would deny MV the right to choose between living or dying with dignity. Further, an injunction would put MV in a position where she would be forced to choose between living a life she has decided is intolerable and ending her life without medical assistance.
Feasby declared that MAiD was a more humane suicide choice because “attempting to end her life without medical assistance would put her at increased risk of pain, suffering and lasting injury.”
The judge said he could empathize with MV’s parents wanting to keep their daughter alive.
However Trudeau Health Minister Mark Holland (L-Ajax) announced Monday that mental health will inevitably be a justification for granting euthanasia in Canada.
"Is your intention to still move ahead with MAiD for mental illness, just within a longer timeframe?" a reporter asked.
"That's correct," Holland replied at a news conference.
"There are people who have, for decades, been trapped in mental torture, being in a horrific situation where they have tried everything and exhausted all avenues and under their own recognisance are saying that they want access to MAID," he continued."What we're saying is that in order for someone in that intractable situation... that eventually they should have that right, but the system needs to be ready, and the system needs to get it right."
Official Opposition and Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre is committed to not expanding the parameters of MAiD to the mentally ill.
Poilievre told The Post Millennial that his party is "... against MAID for the sole reason of mental illness," and accused Justin Trudeau of having "once again pursued a radical agenda that is totally out of step with the values of Canadians."