Friday, June 6, 2014

Euthanasia Law Approved in Quebec

"It is also unclear how Ottawa will react to Quebec's initiative. Euthanasia is considered homicide under the Criminal Code, which is federal law, but Quebec has said its attorney general will instruct prosecutors not to press charges against physicians who respect Bill 52. Quebec is claiming jurisdiction over euthanasia on the grounds that it is a medical act, and health is a provincial jurisdiction."

From Today's National Post

The difficulty with Quebec's position, legally, is that there is no limitation on murder charges in Canada. So today's government may well instruct no charges - but five years hence? A new government could decide to go ahead with a prosecution.

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