Accessibility Statement Skip Navigation
  • Resources
  • Blog
  • Journalists
  • Webcasts
  • Data Privacy
  • Français
  • my CNW 
    • Login
    • Register
  • Client Login 
    • Online Member Centre
    • Next Gen Communications Cloud
    • Cision Communications Cloud®
  • Sign Up
  • Send a Release
Return to PR Newswire homepage
  • News
  • Products
  • Contact
When typing in this field, a list of search results will appear and be automatically updated as you type.

Searching for your content...

No results found. Please change your search terms and try again.
Advanced Search
  • News in Focus
      • Browse News Releases

      • All News Releases
      • All Public Company
      • News Releases Overview

      • Multimedia Gallery

      • All Multimedia
      • All Photos
      • All Videos
      • Multimedia Gallery Overview

      • Trending Topics

      • All Trending Topics
  • Business
      • Auto & Transportation

      • All Automotive & Transportation
      • Aerospace, Defense
      • Air Freight
      • Airlines & Aviation
      • Automotive
      • Maritime & Shipbuilding
      • Railroads and Intermodal Transportation
      • Supply Chain/Logistics
      • Transportation, Trucking & Railroad
      • Travel
      • Trucking and Road Transportation
      • Auto & Transportation Overview

      • View All Auto & Transportation

      • Business Technology

      • All Business Technology
      • Blockchain
      • Broadcast Tech
      • Computer & Electronics
      • Computer Hardware
      • Computer Software
      • Data Analytics
      • Electronic Commerce
      • Electronic Components
      • Electronic Design Automation
      • Financial Technology
      • High Tech Security
      • Internet Technology
      • Nanotechnology
      • Networks
      • Peripherals
      • Semiconductors
      • Business Technology Overview

      • View All Business Technology

      • Entertain­ment & Media

      • All Entertain­ment & Media
      • Advertising
      • Art
      • Books
      • Entertainment
      • Film and Motion Picture
      • Magazines
      • Music
      • Publishing & Information Services
      • Radio & Podcast
      • Television
      • Entertain­ment & Media Overview

      • View All Entertain­ment & Media

      • Financial Services & Investing

      • All Financial Services & Investing
      • Accounting News & Issues
      • Acquisitions, Mergers and Takeovers
      • Banking & Financial Services
      • Bankruptcy
      • Bond & Stock Ratings
      • Conference Call Announcements
      • Contracts
      • Cryptocurrency
      • Dividends
      • Earnings
      • Earnings Forecasts & Projections
      • Financing Agreements
      • Insurance
      • Investments Opinions
      • Joint Ventures
      • Mutual Funds
      • Private Placement
      • Real Estate
      • Restructuring & Recapitalization
      • Sales Reports
      • Shareholder Activism
      • Shareholder Meetings
      • Stock Offering
      • Stock Split
      • Venture Capital
      • Financial Services & Investing Overview

      • View All Financial Services & Investing

      • General Business

      • All General Business
      • Awards
      • Commercial Real Estate
      • Corporate Expansion
      • Earnings
      • Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG)
      • Human Resource & Workforce Management
      • Licensing
      • New Products & Services
      • Obituaries
      • Outsourcing Businesses
      • Personnel Announcements
      • Real Estate Transactions
      • Residential Real Estate
      • Small Business Services
      • Socially Responsible Investing
      • Surveys, Polls and Research
      • Trade Show News
      • General Business Overview

      • View All General Business

  • Science & Tech
      • Consumer Technology

      • All Consumer Technology
      • Artificial Intelligence
      • Blockchain
      • Cloud Computing/Internet of Things
      • Computer Electronics
      • Computer Hardware
      • Computer Software
      • Consumer Electronics
      • Cryptocurrency
      • Data Analytics
      • Electronic Commerce
      • Electronic Gaming
      • Financial Technology
      • Mobile Entertainment
      • Multimedia & Internet
      • Peripherals
      • Social Media
      • STEM (Science, Tech, Engineering, Math)
      • Supply Chain/Logistics
      • Wireless Communications
      • Consumer Technology Overview

      • View All Consumer Technology

      • Energy & Natural Resources

      • All Energy
      • Alternative Energies
      • Chemical
      • Electrical Utilities
      • Gas
      • General Manufacturing
      • Mining
      • Mining & Metals
      • Oil & Energy
      • Oil and Gas Discoveries
      • Utilities
      • Water Utilities
      • Energy & Natural Resources Overview

      • View All Energy & Natural Resources

      • Environ­ment

      • All Environ­ment
      • Conservation & Recycling
      • Environmental Issues
      • Environmental Policy
      • Environmental Products & Services
      • Green Technology
      • Natural Disasters
      • Environ­ment Overview

      • View All Environ­ment

      • Heavy Industry & Manufacturing

      • All Heavy Industry & Manufacturing
      • Aerospace & Defense
      • Agriculture
      • Chemical
      • Construction & Building
      • General Manufacturing
      • HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air-Conditioning)
      • Machinery
      • Machine Tools, Metalworking and Metallurgy
      • Mining
      • Mining & Metals
      • Paper, Forest Products & Containers
      • Precious Metals
      • Textiles
      • Tobacco
      • Heavy Industry & Manufacturing Overview

      • View All Heavy Industry & Manufacturing

      • Telecomm­unications

      • All Telecomm­unications
      • Carriers and Services
      • Mobile Entertainment
      • Networks
      • Peripherals
      • Telecommunications Equipment
      • Telecommunications Industry
      • VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol)
      • Wireless Communications
      • Telecomm­unications Overview

      • View All Telecomm­unications

  • Lifestyle & Health
      • Consumer Products & Retail

      • All Consumer Products & Retail
      • Animals & Pets
      • Beers, Wines and Spirits
      • Beverages
      • Bridal Services
      • Cannabis
      • Cosmetics and Personal Care
      • Fashion
      • Food & Beverages
      • Furniture and Furnishings
      • Home Improvement
      • Household, Consumer & Cosmetics
      • Household Products
      • Jewelry
      • Non-Alcoholic Beverages
      • Office Products
      • Organic Food
      • Product Recalls
      • Restaurants
      • Retail
      • Supermarkets
      • Toys
      • Consumer Products & Retail Overview

      • View All Consumer Products & Retail

      • Entertain­ment & Media

      • All Entertain­ment & Media
      • Advertising
      • Art
      • Books
      • Entertainment
      • Film and Motion Picture
      • Magazines
      • Music
      • Publishing & Information Services
      • Radio & Podcast
      • Television
      • Entertain­ment & Media Overview

      • View All Entertain­ment & Media

      • Health

      • All Health
      • Biometrics
      • Biotechnology
      • Clinical Trials & Medical Discoveries
      • Dentistry
      • FDA Approval
      • Fitness/Wellness
      • Health Care & Hospitals
      • Health Insurance
      • Infection Control
      • International Medical Approval
      • Medical Equipment
      • Medical Pharmaceuticals
      • Mental Health
      • Pharmaceuticals
      • Supplementary Medicine
      • Health Overview

      • View All Health

      • Sports

      • All Sports
      • General Sports
      • Outdoors, Camping & Hiking
      • Sporting Events
      • Sports Equipment & Accessories
      • Sports Overview

      • View All Sports

      • Travel

      • All Travel
      • Amusement Parks and Tourist Attractions
      • Gambling & Casinos
      • Hotels and Resorts
      • Leisure & Tourism
      • Outdoors, Camping & Hiking
      • Passenger Aviation
      • Travel Industry
      • Travel Overview

      • View All Travel

  • Policy & Public Interest
      • Policy & Public Interest

      • All Policy & Public Interest
      • Advocacy Group Opinion
      • Animal Welfare
      • Canadian Federal Government
      • Canadian Municipal Government
      • Canadian Provincial Government
      • Corporate Social Responsibility
      • Domestic Policy
      • Economic News, Trends, Analysis
      • Education
      • Environmental
      • European Government
      • FDA Approval
      • Federal and State Legislation
      • Federal Executive Branch & Agency
      • Foreign Policy & International Affairs
      • Homeland Security
      • Labor & Union
      • Legal Issues
      • Natural Disasters
      • Not For Profit
      • Patent Law
      • Public Safety
      • Trade Policy
      • Policy & Public Interest Overview

      • View All Policy & Public Interest

  • People & Culture
      • People & Culture

      • All People & Culture
      • Aboriginal, First Nations & Native American
      • African American
      • Asian American
      • Children
      • Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
      • Hispanic
      • Lesbian, Gay & Bisexual
      • Men's Interest
      • People with Disabilities
      • Religion
      • Senior Citizens
      • Veterans
      • Women
      • People & Culture Overview

      • View All People & Culture

  • Advanced Search
  • Overview
  • Multichannel Amplification
  • Monitoring
  • Distribution
  • Multimedia
  • Guaranteed Paid Placement
  • AI Tools
  • IR
  • Become a Client
  • Request a Demo
  • Editorial Bureaus
  • Partnerships
  • General Enquiries
  • Media
  • Worldwide Offices
  • Hamburger menu
  • Cision Canada
  • Send a Release
  • FR
    • Phone

    • 877-269-7890 from 8 AM - 10 PM ET

    • ALL CONTACT INFO
    • Contact Cision

      877-269-7890
      from 8 AM - 10 PM ET

  • Send a Release
  • Sign Up
  • Resources
  • Blog
  • Journalists
  • Webcasts
  • GDPR
  • News in Focus
    • Browse All News
    • Multimedia Gallery
    • Trending Topics
  • Business
    • Auto & Transportation
    • Business Technology
    • Entertain­ment & Media
    • Financial Services & Investing
    • General Business
  • Science & Tech
    • Consumer Technology
    • Energy & Natural Resources
    • Environ­ment
    • Heavy Industry & Manufacturing
    • Telecomm­unications
  • Lifestyle & Health
    • Consumer Products & Retail
    • Entertain­ment & Media
    • Health
    • Sports
    • Travel
  • Policy & Public Interest
    • Policy & Public Interest
  • People & Culture
    • People & Culture
  • Send a Release
  • Sign Up
  • Resources
  • Blog
  • Journalists
  • Webcasts
  • GDPR
  • Overview
  • Multichannel Amplification
  • Monitoring
  • Distribution
  • Multimedia
  • Guaranteed Paid Placement
  • AI Tools
  • IR
  • Send a Release
  • Sign Up
  • Resources
  • Blog
  • Journalists
  • Webcasts
  • GDPR
  • Become a Client
  • Request a Demo
  • Editorial Bureaus
  • Partnerships
  • General Enquiries
  • Media
  • Worldwide Offices
  • Send a Release
  • Sign Up
  • Resources
  • Blog
  • Journalists
  • Webcasts
  • GDPR

The Coalition of Physicians for Social Justice: Euthanasia - dangerous for patients not at the end of life, illegal for doctors and a conflict of interest for the government Français


News provided by

Coalition of Physicians for Social Justice

Sep 24, 2013, 12:15 ET

Share this article

Share toX

Share this article

Share toX

MONTREAL, Sept. 24, 2013 /CNW Telbec/ - At the end-of- life public hearings in Quebec City on September 24, 2013, the Coalition of Physicians for Social Justice criticizes the very foundations of Bill 52, which aims to promote an illegal and criminal medical procedure that contravenes medical ethics. In support of this assertion, Dr. Paul Saba, co-chair of the Coalition of Physicians for Social Justice, fiercely criticizes the lack of ethics of the law, which deviates from the basic principle which guarantees the safety and life of each person. "We must remember that 9, 000,000 doctors, who are part of the World Medical Association in 100 countries, reject euthanasia as a medical practice." The risks are real and apparent in four countries allowing euthanasia or assisted suicide (Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, and Switzerland) and in two American states (Washington, Oregon). We must not forget that there are 192 countries where euthanasia is illegal and not allowed.

The slippery slope is real. Dr. Saba cited the increase of euthanasia in Belgium where death by injection has increased substantially from 235 in 2003, rising to 1,432 in 2012. During a visit to Montreal, Professor Tom Mortier severely criticized the death of his mother by euthanasia at the age of 64 years on April 19, 2012. His mother suffered from depression. Without prior notification to the family Mrs. DeTroyer was euthanized, leaving two adult children and three grandchildren in grief and in shock. According to Dr. Mortier, "In Belgium, we are ten years ahead of Quebec. Originally, the criteria and restrictions for the euthanasia were similar to those of Bill 52. What is happening currently in Belgium offers a perspective of what can happen in Quebec in ten years if Bill 52 is adopted. "

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=TwCLxV9L6v0

Currently, the Belgian Senate is discussing the possibility of extending access to euthanasia for minors suffering and affected by severe disease. In the Netherlands, the Groningen Protocol was passed into law in 2005 allowing euthanasia for newborns and young children who are "without hope of a good life." (35 BMJ, 2006).

International studies clearly demonstrate that safeguards and controls don't work.  32% of patients euthanized in Belgium did not give free and informed consent (J Medical Association Canada, 15 June 2010). Also in Belgium, almost 50% of euthanasia cases were not reported to the authorities (British Medical Journal, October 5, 2010). In the Netherlands, many patients were not evaluated by a second doctor (BMJ, 24 September 2005). In Oregon, 20% of depressed patients do not have access to a psychiatrist or psychological evaluation before being euthanized (BMJ, 2 August 2008).

After analyzing 57 reports and studies in Current Oncology in 2011, Dr. Jose Pereira, director of palliative care at the University of Ottawa Hospital, concluded that safeguards and controls for euthanasia are an illusion.

The risks to euthanatized patients are real because of the inaccuracy in terms of "prognosis ". Under Bill 52, the patients with severe and incurable disease associated with significant and irreversible deterioration in their medical condition are candidates for euthanasia. For those patients with severe and chronic diseases, the prediction of life expectancy for the next six months is about 50 %, which corresponds to a coin toss. Even for patients with cancer, the prediction rate of death is not always that accurate. A case in point; Dr. Kenneth Stevens, radiation oncologist at Oregon Health and Science University in Portland, Oregon, presented an affidavit to Superior Court in Trois Rivieres, Quebec (2012). One of his patients, Jeannette Hall, then in her fifties, asked to die by assisted suicide 13 years ago because of a newly diagnosed cancer rather than undergoing cancer treatment Fortunately for her, Dr. Stevens refused the request, and Mrs. Hall agreed to treat her cancer. Today, Ms. Hall is still alive and happy.

In 2002, euthanasia was legalized in the Netherlands. Initially it was reserved for people with cancer and other physical illnesses. However, in the case of one Dutch woman, she convinced her doctors to take her life just because she was deeply depressed after a divorce. In another case, a young anorexic woman insisted on dying, and the committee of doctors decided that it was acceptable under the new law.

In such cases, it must be concluded that these two women lost their lives mainly on the ground that they could not find effective solutions to their problems in their health care system.

In Quebec, treatments in many cases are not sufficient or timely enough due to a lack of financial resources.

Dr. Farquhar describes in his analysis, how the system is discriminatory to patients suffering from mental health problems and is concerned that Bill 52 will impact negatively on psychiatric patients. As a psychiatrist he is concerned that people with mental illness could choose euthanasia because they lack medical and psychiatric care.

In his legal brief, Mr. Dominic Talarico is concerned that the proposed law disregards the intrinsic value of human life of its citizens both from a legal and medical perspective. The right of access to euthanasia creates significant risks, such as death in those who suffer from potentially reversible conditions.

In his advocacy for patients' rights, he claims that the proposed Bill 52 presents a high risk of causing human tragedies and it should not be passed.

Hélène Beaudin related how she lost her father in 2010 through chronic illness and is now accompanying her mother diagnosed with terminal cancer in a palliative care unit. She clearly does not want euthanasia for her mother or others,

Active euthanasia, framed in the present legislation, may appear as a choice in a society open to bold and new changes in its orientations and policies. In fact, the proposed law 52 illustrates the lack of coherency on the part of the government and reflects a disregard for human life. A question must be raised. Is the government in a conflict of interest by benefiting from millions of dollars saved by reducing health services and promoting euthanasia at the same time?

Finally, Dr. Saba asks doctors not to perform euthanasia or refer anyone for euthanasia because euthanasia contravenes legal and ethical practice of modern medicine. Despite this, the government wants to force doctors to do what is illegal and unethical.

SOURCE: Coalition of Physicians for Social Justice

Dr. Paul Saba 514-886-3447 or 514-249-8541
[email protected]
Web: Coalitionmd.org

Modal title

Organization Profile

Coalition of Physicians for Social Justice

Contact Cision

  • 866-245-2317
    from 8 AM - 10 PM ET
  • Become a Client
  • Request a Demo
  • Editorial Bureaus
  • Partnerships
  • General Enquiries
  • Media

Products

  • Cision Communications Cloud®
  • Media Monitoring
  • Content Distribution
  • Multimedia Distribution
  • Measurement & Analytics
  • Investor Relations

About

  • About Cision Canada
  • About Cision
  • Media Partners
  • Careers
  • Accessibility Statement
  • APAC
  • APAC - Simplified Chinese
  • APAC - Traditional Chinese
  • Brazil
  • Canada
  • Czech
  • Denmark
  • Finland
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Indonesia
  • Israel
  • Japan
  • Korea
  • Mexico
  • Middle East
  • Middle East - Arabic
  • Netherlands
  • Norway
  • Poland
  • Portugal
  • Russia
  • Slovakia
  • Spain
  • Sweden
  • United States
  • Vietnam

My Services

  • All News Releases
  • Online Member Centre
  • Next Gen Communications Cloud
  • Cision Communications Cloud®
  • my CNW

Do not sell or share my personal information:

  • Submit via [email protected] 
  • Call Privacy toll-free: 877-297-8921

Contact Cision

Products

About

My Services
  • All News Releases
  • Online Member Centre
  • Next Gen Communications Cloud
  • Cision Communications Cloud
  • my CNW
877-269-7890
from 8 AM - 10 PM ET
  • Terms of Use
  • Information Security Policy
  • Site Map
  • Cookie Settings
  • Accessibility Statement
Copyright © 2025 CNW Group Ltd. All Rights Reserved. A Cision company.