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Loading...Gloria Taylor Regains Right to Die in Peace
Unless the federal government intervenes yet again, Gloria Taylor can decide in peace when her life with ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis or Lou Gehrig’s disease) has become unbearable. At that point she can ask a physician to ease her death. British Columbia’s highest court has granted Taylor a personal exemption.
In her decision B.C. Appeal Court Justice Jo-Ann Prowse wrote:
I am not persuaded that the harm to the public contended for by counsel for AG [Attorney General] Canada outweighs the harm to Ms. Taylor if she is left without a remedy pending the resolution of this appeal, and possibly at all. She may be a symbol, but she is also a person, and I do not find that it is necessary for the individual to be sacrificed to a concept of the “greater good” which may, or may not, be fully informed. The reasons for judgment in this case put squarely at issue the important public values with which this Court (and, likely, the Supreme Court of Canada) will ultimately have to grapple in determining whether, and in what circumstances, assisted suicide may, or may not, be in accord with the public interest, including the interest of that minority of the public in circumstances similar to those of Ms. Taylor. It is apparent there are competing arguments and interests on both sides of the issue which will be elaborated upon as the appeal progresses. The public as a whole will benefit from this process. In the meantime, if it should happen that Ms. Taylor is not present for the end of the story because she exercised her right to end her life in accordance with the exemption, I am not persuaded that the nature of any harm suffered by the public as a result offsets the likely final and irrevocable nature of the harm to Ms. Taylor if a stay is granted.
Next: Background and Opposing Reactions
Read more: assisted suicide, death, death with dignity, end of life, euthanasia, health policy, human rights, right to die, terminal illness
Photo credits: Thinkstock
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Recent Comments from Causes
Good to know what to trust.
Thank you! I just have to pray for the children and their families. No child should have to experience…
Wander on to the wrong thread to post your ramblings, Dale?
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84 comments
+ add your ownThe right to make the decision about right to die, is the last decision a person has. The government should have no say in it.
It is entirely up to her.
We end the suffering of our pets but we humans have to endure our pain. Why? I think Christianity has placed this idea in our culture. I think if you are dying you should have a choice if too end your life if there is no hope of getting better.
What is it about our society that pushes people to want to prolong life at all cost, even when there is no hope, much suffering and total dependancy? This, to me , is preposterous and cruel!
Everyone should have the right to decide weather or not to go on living! (living? - what a life!!!)
I believe that your life is Your only personal possession and that you should have the ability and right, to prolong Your life, or not, regardless of the reason.
Thanks for the info.
i would definitely like to have a choice
Anyone who is anyone, who suffers from a painful disease, should be allowed to die peacefully even if it is assisted by drugs that will kill the pain and make it quick, and not have to be afraid of suffocating because their lungs stop working or choking because their throat muscles stop working.
Now those that just want to die, and are healthy otherwise, needs to go get help from a professional.
We are willing to peacefully kill our pets through euthanasia, but not our own kind who are suffering painfully and cannot be cured?
Every human should have the right to decide how they want to die. the gov't. does NOT have the right to interfer or to dictate peoples right to die.
Why should anyone have to have a personal exception? As an adult I have the right to do what ever I want with MY body and life. Right now I live in alot of pain due to a policy by the VA to cut my pain meds in half. When the pain gets too bad I have already decided to kill myself. Sadly because of stupid laws I will have to do this while alone so that my family is not charged. I believe in reincarnation and do not fear death. I do however fear becoming a non functioning person. I've lived my entire life as an active and independent person. I've never understood why we can give our pets a merciful and easy death surrounded by the people they love yet we sentence humans we love to a horrible life or a solitary death.
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