Arguement for the Legalization of Euthanasia in British Columbia

I am writing to you today in the hopes that at the coming meeting of the Legislative Assembly you will help make British Columbia one of the most progressive provinces in Canada. The issue I am talking about is, of course, the legalization of Euthanasia and physician assisted suicide. The awful inadequacy of our current laws, such as Section 241.(b) which states “Everyone who aids or abets a person to commit suicide, whether suicide ensues or not, is guilty of an indictable offence and liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding fourteen years,” leaves thousands of Canadians in agonizing pain without any escape or relief. I believe it is past time we leave these archaic laws behind and so do the majority of Canadians.

With our current medical knowledge there are still many extremely painful terminal illnesses that cannot be cured. Modern medicine may be able to prolong the patient’s life, but what is often resultant is a life with restricted motor skills, or lack of cognitive ability and excruciating pain. Along with that, often meds administered to patients to ease pain cause loss of mental alertness and intellectual ability. It is clear that there is some suffering that only death can end.

In addition to being the right thing to offer, it is the overwhelming will of Canadians. A recent Angus Reid poll showed that 80% of Canadians support the right of grievously ill patients to have medical assistance to die. Despite there being momentous support for the legalization of assisted suicide many MLAs and MPs have been too afraid to broach the subject in fear of polarizing voters; however, I encourage you to do the right thing and be a leader for this issue with knowledge that the majority of British Columbians support you. F...

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...rs who opposed assisted suicide were more than twice as likely to report a patient becoming upset or leaving their practice due to their position of support.

In conclusion, the legalization of Euthanasia is not only the will of Canadians but it is the humane thing to do. There is some suffering that only death can end, and it is nothing short of cruel to prolong one’s life who does not wish it. Assisted suicide has existed throughout history and it is ironic that in our modern and advanced society we have still have this backwards set of laws in place, based off a religion that more than the majority of Canadians do not associate with. It is time we update our medical laws and legalize physician assisted suicide. I hope you will be one of the few brave enough to start standing up for what is right. Please help end the needless suffering of thousands of Canadians.