Judge OKs first 'assisted death,' with help of physician, in Canada
For the first time in Canadian history, a judge has OK’d a plan for physicians to provide an “assisted death” to a patient, in this case a retired psychologist suffering from ALS.
The unidentified woman made her case last week in a private, in camera hearing before an Alberta Court of Queen’s Bench judge, reports the Globe and Mail.
An opinion by Justice Sheilah Martin made public this week quoted “Ms. S” as saying: “I would like to pass away peacefully and am hoping to have physician-assisted death soon. I do not wish to have continued suffering and to die of this illness by choking. I feel that my time has come to go in peace.”
Due to the degenerative neurological disease, the woman cannot speak. But she provided affidavits to the court about her wishes.
The Calgary Herald provides a link to the opinion.
