Self-advocates are expressing disgust over recent changes to federal Medical Assistance in Dying legislation.

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In short, they say last month香蕉视频直播檚 expansion of Bill C-7 to include people with non-terminal conditions is a violation of human rights 香蕉视频直播� one that leaves them 香蕉视频直播渟ad, scared and angry.香蕉视频直播�

In a statement distributed Tuesday (April 13), (SALN) officials 香蕉视频直播� representing a network of self-advocates from seven Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island organizations 香蕉视频直播� say the move 香蕉视频直播渉as further devalued people with disabilities and many other groups of Canadian citizens,香蕉视频直播� and puts many people with disabilities at risk.

The legislation revision, the statement continues 香蕉视频直播� citing United Nations human-rights experts 香蕉视频直播� is based on ableist assumptions about the quality and worth of the life of a person with a disability.

Canada first legalized assisted dying in June 2016 (it came into force in Quebec in December 2015). In September 2019, the Superior Court of Quebec ruled that parts of the laws on MAID were unconstitutional, namely, the requirement that a patient香蕉视频直播檚 natural death must be 香蕉视频直播渞easonably foreseeable香蕉视频直播� in order to qualify for the service. Government was given six months to amend it.

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Online consultation followed, including regarding whether new hurdles should be imposed to prevent abuse and protect vulnerable people from being pressured into ending their lives. The government香蕉视频直播檚 survey also asked whether the law should be expanded to include allowing people who fear losing mental competence to make advance requests for an assisted death.

The latter aspect prompted one SALN member to describe the new bill as 香蕉视频直播渇rightening.香蕉视频直播�

香蕉视频直播淚f someone is not well (mental health) and feeling they are ready to die 香蕉视频直播� they are vulnerable 香蕉视频直播� this is dangerous.香蕉视频直播�

The revised bill does include higher hurdles for those not near death, including a minimum 90-day period for assessments of their requests for an assisted death. They will also have to be able to give final consent immediately before receiving the procedure. As well, people suffering solely from grievous and irremediable mental illnesses will have to wait two years to gain the right to seek medical assistance in dying.

Nolda Ware, SALN supporter and manager of family support services and person-centred practices for UNITI 香蕉视频直播� a partnership of three organizations, including Semiahmoo House Society, that advocates for and supports people with disabilities and their families 香蕉视频直播� expressed concern around influence and coercion, and said the system has no right to make judgment on a person香蕉视频直播檚 quality of life.

And while an Ipsos survey conducted for Dying With Dignity Canada in January 2020 suggested overwhelming support among Canadians for expanding access to medically assisted dying, SALN chair Michael McLellan described the revision, given royal assent on March 17, as 香蕉视频直播渁 huge step backwards.香蕉视频直播�

香蕉视频直播淚t clearly tells us how they do not value people with disabilities/mental illness,香蕉视频直播� he said.

Government committed to setting up an expert panel to advise on safeguards and protocols that should apply to people with mental illnesses, and rejected a Senate amendment to allow people who fear losing mental competence to make advance requests for an assisted death. The latter issue and other unresolved matters are to be reviewed by a joint parliamentary committee.

SALN香蕉视频直播檚 newsletters are distributed across the province, including to federal representatives. The network, formed in 2019, aims to 香蕉视频直播減romote a good life through positive and informed: actions, networking, and advocacy.香蕉视频直播�

- with files from Canadian Press