Discussion · Government Orders
Alexis Deschênes Bloc Québécois
“I want the member to explain why this bill bans medically assisted dying for people whose only illness is mental. Doctors disagree on physical illnesses too. Banning this may ignore the terrible suffering that mental illness causes.”
“Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleague for his contribution to this debate. I would like him to tell us more about excluding MAID altogether as an option for people whose sole medical condition is a mental illness. Even if we asked 10 different doctors, each of them might well come up with a different diagnosis. I get a sense that this can happen with any diagnosis. By closing the door on medical assistance in dying for people living with a mental illness, are we not moving too quickly and failing to take seriously a health condition that can cause immense suffering?”
Official Hansard
Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleague for his contribution to this debate. I would like him to tell us more about excluding MAID altogether as an option for people whose sole medical condition is a mental illness. Even if we asked 10 different doctors, each of them might well come up with a different diagnosis. I get a sense that this can happen with any diagnosis. By closing the door on medical assistance in dying for people living with a mental illness, are we not moving too quickly and failing to take seriously a health condition that can cause immense suffering?