Dying With Dignity

Presenter: Wanda Morris, Executive Director, Dying With Dignity

Many people at the end of life suffer needlessly. In every jurisdiction where choice in dying legislation has been introduced, specific criteria have been adopted about who is eligible. The criteria for eligibility cannot be changed without changing the laws. The Dutch criteria (unbearable suffering) may be broader than that adopted in Oregon (terminal illness) but neither of them has been expanded. In Canada, we have a clean slate. We can introduce any criteria for eligibility we choose, and we can adopt whatever safeguards we feel are necessary.