Justice Minister, Irwin Cotler, in reference to assisted suicide, stated: “... it is time to go back to the drawing board in light of recent high-profile assisted suicides in Quebec and British Columbia.”

Alex Schadenberg, the executive director of the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition maintains that the Evelyn Martens case in BC and the Charles Fariala case in Quebec prove to us that the current laws concerning assisting suicide are correct and need to be enforced by impartial juries.

Monique Charest, who committed suicide on January 7, 2002, with Evelyn Martens at her side, was not terminally ill. Court testimony from her physician confirmed that she didn’t have any condition that would lead to her death but was being treated for symptom management and depression. Monique needed professional help, not suicide.

Charles Fariala from Montreal recently committed suicide, allegedly with the help of his mother Marielle Houle. Charles Fariala was in the early stages of MS and experiencing depression. He was not terminally ill. Charles needed professional help, not suicide.

We don’t need to change our current law, we need to protect and enhance the lives of people with disabilities, the elderly and other vulnerable Canadians.

The Euthanasia Prevention Coalition exists to establish a well-informed broadly based network of groups and individuals who support measures that will create an effective social barrier to euthanasia and assisted suicide.

For more information contact: Alex Schadenberg @ 1-877-439-3348 or Beverley Welsh @ 604-617-0038 or email: info@epcc.ca