Should anyone be eligible for medical assistance in dying? 

"Choosing Death: Assisted Dying, Assisted Suicide, Murder – Who Decides?"

Should the power to decide be granted to everyone when it comes to medical assistance in dying? A recent Canadian survey sheds light on the attitudes towards euthanasia and assisted dying, revealing startling statistics. Poverty, homelessness, mental illness, and disability – these factors, according to the Canadian survey, justify access to euthanasia for a significant portion of the population.  Shocking, but perhaps not surprising is that the younger generation, in particular, supports these views, with percentages reaching as high as 41% for reason of poverty, and 60% for being disabled.  

Death and dying have always been subjects that people tend to avoid discussing, but they demand our attention. Assisted dying, in particular, is a challenging and highly emotional topic that cannot be ignored. Each culture holds its own beliefs and attitudes towards the inevitable. Often, we are thrust into this discussion by circumstances – a close friend, a family member, or a beloved person falling severely ill, either gradually or suddenly. As Christians, it is crucial for us to engage in conversations about death. When is the right time to die?

Some argue that doctors should have the authority to provide medical assistance in dying. In Canada, laws surrounding assisted dying are expanding to include various situations where individuals have the right to choose death, even without a terminal illness. However, should doctors, who are meant to heal, be asked to take lives? And what does Christianity have to say about this contentious issue? Is it our prerogative to determine the timing of our own death?

Join Roger Bolton as he hosts this vital discussion, featuring UK-based Dr. Mark Pickering from the Christian Medical Fellowship and Canadian doctor Ellen Wiebe. 

Dr Mark Pickering is the Chief Executive of CMF (UK/Ireland). He is based in London where he also works as a secure environment GP (in prisons and similar institutions). He has a long term interest in bioethics and often speaks on behalf of the Care Not Killing Alliance. He has previously worked as a hospice junior doctor.

Links:

www.ourdutyofcare.org.uk; www.carenotkilling.org.uk; www.dyingwell.co.uk; www.cmf.org.uk

Articles:

Canada’s home MAiD disaster? | CMF Blogs – by Dr Trevor Stammers

People facing 'unjust' conditions have right to euthanasia: ethicists | National Post – recent Canadian article highlighting the issues of poverty and mental health that we discussed.

https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/canada-medical-aid-in-dying

Dr. Ellen Wiebe is a Clinical Professor in the Department of Family Practice at the University of British Columbia. After 30 years of full-service family practice, she now restricts her practice to women’s health and assisted death. She is the Medical Director of Willow Women’s Clinic in Vancouver and provides medical and surgical abortions and contraception. She developed Hemlock Aid to provide consultations for doctors and patients about aid in dying and provides assisted death. 

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