OTTAWA – The Supreme Court of Canada in a landmark ruling says that legislation against doctor assisted suicide are unconstitutional.
In a unanimous decision by the court, has declared the Criminal Code prohibition on physician- assisted death is unconstitutional.
The Supreme Court has proscribed set of conditions for persons asking a doctor to help them die: That they must be consenting, competent adults who have a grievous and irremediable medical condition causing enduring suffering that is intolerable to the individual”.
The Court has put in place a stay of one year to allow Parliament to come up with legislation. After twelve months, whether legislation materializes or not, physician assisted dying, under the conditions the court has proscribed will be legal in Canada
The court has further specified that a physician must be involved, deeming them competent to assess the validity of someone’s consent. The 9-0 decision does not demand that the medical condition must be terminal.
