Two Canadian senators are kick starting a national debate on the issue of physician assisted death. Conservative Senator Nancy Ruth and Liberal Senator Larry Campbell have brought forth legislation which, if passed, would, for the first time, allow for assisted death. The Supreme Court of Canada is currently studying the constitutionality of the country’s ban on assisted death, but the senators say whatever the top court decides, new laws will still be required.
The senator’s action comes after repeated attempts by Tory MP Stephen Fletcher to get private member’s bills on the issue debated in the House of Commons. Fletcher says with his bills languishing, it’s clear elected MPs don’t want to deal with a subject many Canadians, including CARP, a New Vision of Aging, want addressed. The senators say their goal is to get their bill passed by the Senate by the spring, at which point it would move to the House of Commons for review.