The Minister of Health, Christian Dubé, takes a step back in the matter of medical assistance in dying. The article of his bill on neuromotor disabilities – described by the opposition as a “surprise” – will be withdrawn.
This shift occurs less than 24 hours after the presentation by the CAQ Minister of Bill 38 “amending the Act respecting end-of-life care and other legislative provisions”.
“I have heard the objections since yesterday. My goal is to have a bill that brings everyone together,” said Mr. Dubé during a press scrum.
The government proposed that, in its new legislative framework, a person affected for life by a serious traumatic brain injury could apply for medical assistance in dying. Just like a paraplegic or quadriplegic person, as long as he experienced “constant, unbearable physical or psychological suffering which cannot be appeased”.
This idea, described as a “rabbit out of the hat” by the opposition parties, threatened the timely adoption of the text, according to PQ MNA Véronique Hivon. “Disability is an issue that has never been discussed in Quebec,” she observed Wednesday afternoon.
Further details will follow.
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