Discussion · Government Orders
Sean Fraser Liberal
“I support keeping the ban on medically assisted dying for people with only a mental illness. Experts do not agree on whether mental illness can be cured, and too many people cannot get mental health care in their communities.”
“Mr. Speaker, I have had many conversations on the issue of mental health as the sole basis for authorizing medical assistance in dying. Following these conversations, I reflected on the issue. I do not think there is unanimity on whether mental illness is irremediable. I have also had many conversations with people who have no access to mental health care services in their community. I have listened to different points of view. I want to make sure that care services are available in communities before the government considers moving forward with the bill in the way that the member suggests. In my view, respecting the opinions of the people who need to use these services is essential; they have a lot of questions about the nature of mental illness. I take seriously those perspectives. I thought deeply about it, and in the presence of a lack of consensus on the irremediable nature of mental illnesses and a lack of mental health services in communities, we have determined that maintaining the existing exclusion on an indeterminate basis is the correct path forward.”
Mr. Speaker, I have had many conversations on the issue of mental health as the sole basis for authorizing medical assistance in dying. Following these conversations, I reflected on the issue. I do not think there is unanimity on whether mental illness is irremediable. I have also had many conversations with people who have no access to mental health care services in their community. I have listened to different points of view. I want to make sure that care services are available in communities before the government considers moving forward with the bill in the way that the member suggests. In my view, respecting the opinions of the people who need to use these services is essential; they have a lot of questions about the nature of mental illness. I take seriously those perspectives. I thought deeply about it, and in the presence of a lack of consensus on the irremediable nature of mental illnesses and a lack of mental health services in communities, we have determined that maintaining the existing exclusion on an indeterminate basis is the correct path forward.