Canada Hosts First International Symposium on Euthanasia
Gudrun Schultz

Toronto was privileged to host the first International Symposium on Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide Nov. 30-Dec. 1, organized by the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition and co-sponsored by disability rights groups and medical associations from Canada, the US and the UK.

More than 300 participants traveled to Toronto for the Symposium, including many doctors and palliative care workers dealing fi rst-hand with the insidious encroachment of pro-euthanasia ideology in their health care environments. Disability-rights groups were strongly represented, with presentations from No Less Human (UK), the Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund (US) and Catharine Frazee, professor of disability studies at Ryerson University and former chair of the Ontario Human Rights Commission.

The first international gathering of euthanasia opponents brought together representatives from diverse backgrounds and interests to address the growing threat of legalized euthanasia and assisted suicide. Two days of intense presentations focused on the increasing utilization of covert euthanasia procedures in hospitals and nursing homes and outlined strategies for defeating euthanasia legislation. The theme of unity was repeatedly brought forward in presentations emphasizing the need for a united front among concerned groups working against euthanasia and assisted suicide.

Representatives of disability rights organizations played a key role in the Symposium, offering their distinctive perspective on combating pro-euthanasia legislation. Alison Davis, National Coordinator of the UK disability rights organization No Less Human, captured the essence of the disabled communities’ opposition to legalized euthanasia and assisted suicide in her presentation by acknowledging that she may have made use of such a law during a period of severe pain and depression in the early years of dealing with her disability, had the option been available—Ms. Davis made her presentation from a wheelchair.

Speakers from disability organizations were unanimous in encouraging pro-life groups to steer away from overtly faith-based language when establishing coalitions to oppose euthanasia or assisted suicide, in order to ensure the support and participation of non-religious\ organizations.

Dr. Peter Saunders, of the Care Not Killing Alliance in the UK, outlined the strategies employed by the Alliance in defeating assisted suicide legislation in 2006. Diverse support from disabled groups and top medical associations, along with pro-life and faith-based organizations, played an essential role in the success of Alliance. Pro-life organizations played a behind-the-scenes role in the campaign to ensure the effort was not sidelined by the media as a “pro-life” initiative. All spokespeople for Care Not Killing were representatives of either the disabled or medical communities.

Among the sessions emphasizing strategy and coalition-building were three presentations from the family members of vulnerable or disabled people who were victims of euthanasia, from the Netherlands, Canada and the United States. Henk Reitsema of the Netherlands told of the unauthorized death of his grandfather from morphine sedation and the withdrawal of food and water (euthanasia is legalized in the Netherlands), and the destructive effect on his family. Ontario resident Barbara Farlow lost her disabled infant daughter when unofficial hospital policy denied her appropriate and timely care. US disability advocate Bobby Schindler spoke on the death of his sister Terri Schiavo from court-imposed withdrawal of food and water.

Leading ethicist Dr. Margaret Somerville discussed the philosophical roots of society’s growing abdication from ethical treatment of the disabled and elderly. Presenters from the Netherlands and Oregon state emphasized the inevitable progression of euthanasia and assisted suicide when the practice is legalized and spoke of an increasing laxity among doctors and citizens toward abuses perpetuated under the laws.

The progression of pro-euthanasia and assisted suicide ideology in western society was made evident during the Symposium. Popular acceptance of language adopted by the pro-euthanasia movements, such as the increasingly wide-spread retreat from the use of the word “suicide” among medical and palliative care workers, was identified as a key indication of the growing influence of the movement. The adoption of such practices as “terminal sedation”, followed by death from dehydration, signifies an increasingly utilitarian approach to treating the elderly and terminally ill—terminal sedation is now common in palliative care facilities in North America. Th e pressures of providing health care services to an aging population may increasingly act as a spur to the further adoption of euthanasia and assisted suicide practices.