Discussion · Government Orders
Luc Thériault Bloc Québécois
“People should be allowed to make advance requests for medical assistance in dying. The Conservatives oppose this, even when someone is suffering from declining health. I want to know what other solution the Conservatives have to help these people.”
“Mr. Speaker, I would briefly like to mention a minor concern. I have sat on clinical ethics committees before. The last thing we would be allowed to do is make a decision based on reported cases without full and comprehensive knowledge of the situation in question. That said, I have been listening to the Conservatives since the debate started. They tell us that advance requests are not possible, even if a person is suffering, because that person could have other illnesses. It seems that they even object to advance directives. In a long-term care facility, there are different levels of care. If I have Alzheimer’s and I have a heart attack, and I am not resuscitated, I suppose they would object to that. What I want to know is what solution they have for people in declining health who are suffering, because suffering is part of it. What is the solution?”
Mr. Speaker, I would briefly like to mention a minor concern. I have sat on clinical ethics committees before. The last thing we would be allowed to do is make a decision based on reported cases without full and comprehensive knowledge of the situation in question. That said, I have been listening to the Conservatives since the debate started. They tell us that advance requests are not possible, even if a person is suffering, because that person could have other illnesses. It seems that they even object to advance directives. In a long-term care facility, there are different levels of care. If I have Alzheimer’s and I have a heart attack, and I am not resuscitated, I suppose they would object to that. What I want to know is what solution they have for people in declining health who are suffering, because suffering is part of it. What is the solution?