The Cochrane Ideas discussion group will be exploring the right of people to die with dignity and societal attitudes toward physician-assisted dying at its next meeting. The meeting is scheduled for Feb. 12, at the King Solomon Lodge, 120 Centre Ave. in Cochrane. Doors open at 6.30 p.m.
Leading the discussion will be June Churchill, a retired social worker who has been an active member of the Calgary Chapter of Dying with Dignity for the past four years. The Calgarian has long studied and volunteered in the areas of grief counselling, palliative care, and other end-of-life issues.
The issue of physician-assisted suicide is currently very topical as a result of a Supreme Court of Canada decision a year ago, which struck down the ban on such activities and gave the federal government a year to draft new legislation that recognizes the right of clearly consenting adults who are enduring intolerable physical or mental suffering to seek medical help in ending their lives.
The Quebec government, unwilling to wait for federal legislation, went ahead with its own right-to-die legislation. The new Liberal government in Ottawa is working to have new federal legislation by June, 2016.
Churchill and other advocates are concerned about what kind of legislative patchwork could emerge during this interim period across Canada, particularly as some provincial physician associations have already proposed a variety of restrictive options. The Alberta College of Physicians and Surgeons, for example, is urging a cautious approach to the subject. Many members fear losing public trust if doctors are not careful how they take on this new authority.
“Besides being a social justice issue, this monumental decision touches on the moral and religious attitudes of each of us, and will impact each of us personally,” said Churchill.
All interested people are invited to attend at no charge, although small donations are welcome. For further information, call 403-932-5692.
