The CBA’s End-of-Life Working Group – a working group with members from several CBA groups that has convened to study the legal and ethical issues surrounding end of life decisions – has wrapped up the consultation phase of its project. This group reviewed consultation responses and proposed an update to CBA statements on end of life issues by way of a resolution at CBA’s 2015 Midwinter Meeting of Council. This resolution passed with a large majority. Thanks are due to all of those who participated in the consultation, drafting and debate. The working group continues to consider and discuss the issue of physician-assisted dying. Watch for further developments in the summer of 2015.
Background
At the CBA’s 2014 Midwinter Meeting of Council, an expert panel of lawyers and doctors discussed the legal and ethical issues associated with critical care and end-of-life decisions. They examined the challenges for patients and their families as well as health providers and the health care system. Council members heard the panel’s insights into how the courts address these difficult issues, including who has the right to decide when treatment should be withheld or withdrawn and the ethical issues around physician-assisted dying. The panel consisted of Pierre E. Moreau, moderator and panelists Jocelyn Downie, Dr. Angela Genge and Hugh R. Scher. View the end-of-life panel discussion.
For more information see:
Quebec passes 'dying with dignity' bill
The Supreme Court and physican-assisted suicide
End-of-life: Q&A with Tracey Bailey
We were asking for input from the following groups:
- Health Law Section Executive
- Elder Law Section Executive
- Constitutional Law Section Executive
- Wills and Estates Law Section Executive
- Criminal Law Section Executive
- CCCA Advocacy Committee
- Aboriginal Law Section Executive
- Family Law Section Executive
- Privacy Law Section Executive
- Equality Committee