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| Canada's Supreme Court |
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Text from email to: The Honourable Jim Prentice, Premier of Alberta
Dear Premier Prentice – I understand that on Friday February 6th 2015,
Canada’s Supreme Court is expected to deliver its decision in the Carter Case
concerning Canadian laws that protects people from assisted suicide and
euthanasia. As an incurably ill and disabled Canadian and Albertan, I fear they
may strike down sections of the federal Criminal Code prohibiting assisted
suicide and euthanasia. If this happens, federal and provincial governments
will be faced with a quandary:
In October 2012 the Canadian Parliament gave UNANIMOUS support to the idea
of a National Suicide Prevention Strategy. Healthy and able-bodied suicidal
Canadians should receive suicide prevention while incurably ill and severely
disabled suicidal Canadians should get help killing themselves? People like me
will get a clear message that our lives are worth less than the healthy
population – so much less that the highest court of the nation sanctions killing
us.
In the event that the Supreme Court decision is as I fear, it will be
inappropriate for provincial governments to wash their hands of the issue under the pretext that it is a federal matter. The actual killing of people will occur in the
provinces. I want Alberta’s government to publicly and unequivocally express its
disapproval and disappointment with the Supreme Court decision. Respond in a
number of life-affirming ways that do not directly contradict the high court yet do not contradict the higher ancient ideal of the sanctity of human life. This would
include:
1. Strengthening support for the establishment and expansion of suicide
prevention counselling – with specific intention to include individuals and families facing terminal or chronic illnesses or degenerative diseases.
2. Approach a number of community based social services agencies, mental
health agencies, faith communities, and humanitarian organizations (Lions,
Rotary, Knights of Columbus, etc.) to partner with the province to
sponsor/deliver counselling or support services such as respite or hospice services.
3. Establish an Internet website for physicians and health care providers
to consult when dealing with patients in difficult pain management situations.
Provide consultation stipends for pain-management specialists to advise in such
cases. Make the service well known in medical circles.
4. Have the Ministry of advanced education meet with university medical faculties and provincial nursing programs
to expand training in palliative medicine and up-to-date pain management
techniques.
5. Institute a province-wide media campaign informing Albertans of
palliative care options for their times of need that make euthanasia and
assisted suicide unnecessary, and counselling services available for incurably
ill and disabled Albertans contemplating suicide.
6. Despite massive shortfalls expected in oil revenues, stand firm in
maintaining (and expanding) home care services. It is less expensive to deliver
home-care than institutional care. (It’s also easy to govern and implement
policies in good times; the real test of leadership mettle comes in the hard and
lean times.)
7. Lastly, but certainly not least, establish a task force comprised of an end
of life medical specialist who has particular expertise in up-to-date pain
management, a palliative care nurse, psychologist, community social services
representative (Catholic Social Services?), government officials from the
pertinent departments and someone from the Premier’s Council on the Status of
Persons with Disabilities. This task force would hold a series of town hall
meeting across the province to answer end-of-life or disability concerns and
inform Albertans about services available to address their issues. ...
Respectfully,
Mark Pickup
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[1] A provincial premier is similar to a state governor.
1 comment:
Thank you, Mark. I'll be sharing this with my premier.
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