Quebec’s Assisted-Dying Law Proceeds with Top Court Approval; Upholds Terminally-Ill Patients’ Dignity

The government of Quebec won its battle with the law for the legalization of 'Dignity Law'. Last December 22, the Court of Appeal overturned the February decision of a Superior Court about the laws conflict with the Criminal Code.

According to Global News, last February, the Supreme Court of Canada decided to rule the federal law as unconstitutional and prohibited the assisted suicide. The court then suspended its decision for one year to provide the government time to make a new law. Some doctors are against the law and requested the Superior Court to postpone the implementation of the law until February 2016. Quebec's assisted-dying law officially became a law last year December 10. It summarizes how lethally ill patients can end their lives with medical help.

CBC News reported that in the morning of Dec. 22, Court of Appeal with a three-judge panel overturned a Dec. 1 Quebec Superior Court judgment. In the ruling, the Court of Appeal said the Quebec law doesn't disregard sections of the Criminal Code connected to assisted-dying because the Canadian Supreme Court struck them down last February. The Court also said in its ruling that the provincial law filled up whatever the judicial negated by letting patients practice the rights granted to them by Canada's top court.

National Post stated how the public were overjoyed with the news of the decision of the Court. The 'mother' of the right-to-die law in Quebec expressed her happiness stating that her reaction was joy and a lot of emotion because collectively Quebecers have been working on this issue for six years. She added that they did it respectfully. They did it with the social consensus of the population. All of them together at the National Assembly and they did it.

Hivon also said there was a lot of frustration and doubt regarding the application of the law. "Today, the decision is clear: The court recognizes Quebec's jurisdiction and our medical aid to die lawfully applies." She also said that the people who they made the law for can now have an option of requesting medical assistance to die and end their intolerable sufferings.

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Quebec, Dignity Law, Canada, assisted suicide, Court of Appeal, Law, Quebec dignity law, Quebec supreme court, Quebec assisted-dying law

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