HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News Record, 2016-06-15, Page 5Wednesday, June 15, 2016 • News Record 5
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The theme for the evening was Kentucky Derby.
On Saturday, June 11, over 350 residents gathered for a massive fundraiser in support of the
Clinton Public Hospital. This bi-annual event usually raises around $100,000 for the cause.
Many ornate hats filled the arena.
Photos by Justine Alkema Clinton News Record
Huron -Bruce MP Ben Lobb was the auctioneer for the
live auction which took place after dinner. Guests choosing from a wide array of desserts.
Guests enjoying the evening.
Take time to improve assisted dying law
It is five days since Can-
ada entered the uneasy
new legal terrain that
allows patients with griev-
ous and irremediable med-
ical conditions to seek a
medically -assisted death
without threat of criminal
charges against the doctor
who helps them.
Canadians have known
this change was coming
since the Supreme Court of
Canada's Carter decision in
2015, which struck down
federal laws prohibiting
physicians from helping
suffering patients end their
lives. But June 6 was sup-
posed to arrive with new
federal laws in place that
conformed with the
Supreme Court's guidelines
and mapped a path forward
for what ill Canadians had
the right to ask of medical
professionals.
We all know that didn't
happen.
The Trudeau govern-
ment's answer to the Carter
ruling — laid out in Bill C-14
— passed the House of Com-
mons on May 31, but faced
amendments in the Senate
on Wednesday.
In every step of the pro-
cess toward decriminalizing
medically -assisted death,
there has been tremendous
concern that the change
would lead to a flood of
Canadians seeking to end
their lives or medical profes-
sionals over -reaching.
That hasn't happened
either.
There are reasons for this.
In the absence of a new law,
consensus among legal
experts seems to be that the
Supreme Court guidelines
spelled out in the Carter rul-
ing are in effect, offering a
modicum of a framework,
albeit a tricky one where
phrases like "grievous and
irremediable" conditions are
vague enough to worry some
doctors and their insurers.
Some provincial govern-
ments and regulatory bodies
have also stepped up to fill
the void with guidance,
although in some places that
clarity should have come
earlier.
In addition, in Alberta at
least, Monday's bulletin
from the Alberta Crown
Prosecution Services to all
police chiefs and prosecu-
tors that health profession-
als like nurses will not be
prosecuted for aiding in
assisted dying seems to
bring some measure of
comfort to organizations
such as the Alberta College
of Pharmacists.
Now that we've missed the
deadline, there's no crisis
imminent. The sense of
urgency tied to the deadline
has passed. That's a good
thing. C-14 is an important
bill that deals with complex
moral issues. It deserves
scrutiny and thoughtful
debate — however long that
takes.
It doesn't serve Canadians
to pass laws that will be struck
down with the first court chal-
lenge. There is a careful bal-
ance to strike that protects
both the vulnerable and the
rights of sick Canadians to die
on their terms. We ought to
take the time to get it right.
-Postmedia Network