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害羞草研究所檚 expansion of Bill C-7 to include people with non-terminal conditions is a violation of human rights 害羞草研究所� one that leaves them 害羞草研究所渟ad, scared and angry.害羞草研究所�

In a statement distributed Tuesday (April 13), (SALN) officials 害羞草研究所� representing a network of self-advocates from seven Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island organizations 害羞草研究所� say the move 害羞草研究所渉as further devalued people with disabilities and many other groups of Canadian citizens,害羞草研究所� and puts many people with disabilities at risk.

The legislation revision, the statement continues 害羞草研究所� citing United Nations human-rights experts 害羞草研究所� 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害羞草研究所檚 natural death must be 害羞草研究所渞easonably foreseeable害羞草研究所� 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害羞草研究所檚 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 害羞草研究所渇rightening.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淚f someone is not well (mental health) and feeling they are ready to die 害羞草研究所� they are vulnerable 害羞草研究所� this is dangerous.害羞草研究所�

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 害羞草研究所� a partnership of three organizations, including Semiahmoo House Society, that advocates for and supports people with disabilities and their families 害羞草研究所� expressed concern around influence and coercion, and said the system has no right to make judgment on a person害羞草研究所檚 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 害羞草研究所渁 huge step backwards.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淚t clearly tells us how they do not value people with disabilities/mental illness,害羞草研究所� 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害羞草研究所檚 newsletters are distributed across the province, including to federal representatives. The network, formed in 2019, aims to 害羞草研究所減romote a good life through positive and informed: actions, networking, and advocacy.害羞草研究所�

- with files from Canadian Press