Dying with dignity act consultations begin

Consultations on the dying with dignity act began this morning at Quebec's national assembly, with various health professionalsand social groupsexpected topresenttheir thoughts in the coming weeks onwhether or not citizensshould have the right to choose when and where they die.

If bill 52 passes, Quebec would become the first province in Canada to allow doctors to help patients die in cases of terminal disease and uncontrollable pain.

Opponents and supporters of the controversial bill will be handing in their memoirs untilOctober 10.

• Dying with dignity legislation to be tabled at national assembly

Dr.GaetanBarettepresented a memoir today on behalf of the Quebec Federation of Medical Specialists in support of the bill.

"It's a situation where someone at the end of his life or her life will have the opportunity to decide with a doctor after an evaluation if he or she wouldlike to go down in that direction or not," said Barette.

Barette said when it comes to end of life care, how and when a patient dies is that person's decision and no one else's.

"So as opposed to euthanasia,it's notsomething that you do at the extremewithout the consent of the patient."

LindaVaillantspeaks for the Quebec hospital pharmacist's association andalso supports the bill, but saidit would be illegal for pharmacists to provide drugs to end someone's life.

Their professional responsibility,it's not to use the drugs to put anend to the days of apatientwho wants to actually die, said Vaillant.

Vaillantsaidthe law governing pharmacies wouldhave to change in order to give patients who want end of life care the necessary drugs.