Urge your MP to Support Palliative Care as an Alternative to C-384

As Christians, we’re called to be advocates for those who have been robbed of a voice. Our leaders need to hear from Christians whose interest is justice, and who wish to see government use its authority to ensure that all people flourish. We hope you’ll join us in a unique opportunity to do that kind of speaking to the Canadian government regarding a bill that could adversely impact people with disabilities: "Right to Die with Dignity Act" (C-384) would legalize euthanasia and assisted suicide and threaten the lives of Canadians with disabilities.

CRC Position on Life Issues

The CRC is clear in its position on the subject of euthanasia and assisted suicide – we affirm that life is both a gift and a commitment, even in times of great suffering. The role of the church is to reach out to those for whom the gift of life has become a burden, to show the compassion of Christ in those times, and to link hands as a community with the suffering and dying (see End of Life Issues, Synod 1997). The CRC Synod has asked members to “encourage government initiatives that will promote life-affirming legislation and oppose legislation that endorses assisted suicide or mercy killing” (Acts of Synod 2000, p. 708, Article 59.3.e).

Bill C-384 is clearly contrary to the beliefs of the CRC, and it provides members with the opportunity to advocate for life-affirming alternatives. The time to speak is now.

Right to Die with Dignity Act (C-384)

Bill C-384, An Act to Amend the Criminal Code (right to die with dignity), is a Private Member’s bill introduced by Bloc Québécois MP Francine Lalonde. It seeks to amend two parts of the Criminal Code: Section 222 to legalize euthanasia and Section 241 to legalize assisted suicide.

If these changes were made, anyone could opt to die who meets the following criteria:

• is over 18
• is terminally ill or is experiencing mental or physical pain without relief
• appears lucid
• when lucid, designates who will act on his/her behalf when he/she is not lucid
• presents to a medical practitioner ten days apart two written statements that he/she is opting to die

No Protection for Vulnerable People

Bill C-384 contains appealing notions such as dignity and relief from suffering, which makes euthanasia seem like an act of compassion. However, degrees of dignity and suffering are impossible to define. Consequently, there can be no quantifiable standard for too much suffering or too little dignity. Without measurable standards, the most vulnerable in society, including those with disabilities, are left without protection. Protection is crucial in a society where well-intentioned people often mistakenly assume that those with disabilities are suffering.

“Subtle, and not so subtle pressures, can be placed upon vulnerable persons with a disability to motivate them to seek a death sanctioned by Bill C-384,” states the Council of Canadians with Disabilities (CCD). “Assisted suicide is not a free choice as long as [those with disabilities] are denied adequate healthcare, affordable personal assistance in their communities, and equal access to social structures and systems.”

A Life Affirming Alternative: Improving Medical and Palliative Care

The CRC calls its members to not only "oppose legislation that endorses assisted suicide," but also advocate for public policies that "encourage the allocation of health-care funding for adequate palliative services, home care, and medical support services for all people" (Acts of Synod 2000, p. 708, Article 59.3).

This position is consistent with the recommendations of the Senate-established Special Committee on Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide. After holding extension hearings with citizens across Canada, the Committee strongly endorsed enhancing palliative care in 1995 and again in 2000. However, the government has not acted on these recommendations: palliative care is still not readily available across Canada.

Our compassionate response to those who are suffering should not be to legalize assisted suicide but instead to increase the quality of medical and palliative care. When optimal health care, personal assistance and equal access is not available to those with disabilities, assisted suicide is not free choice.

Take Action

According to the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition, "The second hour of debate for Bill C-384, the bill that would legalize euthanasia and assisted suicide in Canada, is tentatively scheduled for Tuesday, April 20, with the vote being scheduled for Wednesday, April 21. It is anticipated that Francine Lalonde, the Bloc Québécois MP that sponsored Bill C-384, will once again trade backwards in the order of precedence to delay the vote, but we are preparing for the possible vote on April 21. The time to contact your MP is now. If you have contacted your MP, then do it again to remind your elected representative that you are opposed to Bill C-384."

Call or write your MP to express your concern about Bill C-384. Advocacy makes a difference—your MP takes into consideration the number of constituent calls or letters for or against a bill.

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MP's Name
House of Commons
Ottawa, ON
K1A 0A6

Calling or writing your MP is easy! Just use these helpful talking points:

• I want to express my concern about Bill C-384, An Act to Amend the Criminal Code (right to die with dignity). I urge you to uphold the current prohibitions against euthanasia and assisted suicide, and to support end-of-life care programs and the establishment of national standards for palliative care.
• As a person of faith and an advocate for those with disabilities, I firmly believe in the intrinsic value and dignity of every human life, which is protected in Canadian law and in the Charter.
• I encourage you to stand by the recommendations of the Special Senate Committee on Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide. The Committee recommended that euthanasia and assisted suicide remain criminal offenses, and it strongly endorsed palliative care. A strong public commitment to palliative care and community supports at the end stages of life is a critical alternative to C-384.
• Our compassionate response to those who are suffering should be increasing the quality of medical and palliative care. When optimal health care, personal assistance and equal access is not available to those with disabilities, assisted suicide is not free choice.

For more helpful tips about how to contact your MP, check out this Office of Social Justice advocacy guide.

Want to know more?

• Read additional in-depth talking points
• Learn more about the issue of euthanasia in Canada and what Christians can do
• Read an analysis of C-384 by the Centre for Cultural Renewal
• Read articles on physician assisted suicide in a special issue of the Disability and Health Journal
• To learn more about advocacy and social justice, visit www.crcjustice.org

Thanks to Catherine Cooper from the Christian Reformed Office of Social Justice and Hunger Action for preparing this action alert for Disability Concerns.