Doctor-assisted dying panel asks Canadians to share thoughts online

After canvassing people from Switzerland, Belgium and the Netherlands for their thoughts on doctor-assisted suicide, Dr. Harvey MaxChochinov now wants to hear from Canadians.

Chochinov, the Canada Research Chair of Palliative Care at the University of Manitoba, is a member of theExternal Panel on Options for a Legislative Response toCarter v.Canada.

The panel's task, said Chochinov,is to come up with options for "a legislative response" by whichever government wins the upcoming federal electionto the Supreme Court of Canada's 2015 decisionto allow physician-assisted dying in limited cases.

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"This is a profound issue for allCanadians. This is an issue that's going to change the way we in Canada approach issues related to suffering," said Chochinov, speaking Tuesday to the CBC Radio's Robyn Bresnahan, host ofOttawa Morning.

Unanimous ruling in February 2015

In theirunanimous ruling from February 2015, Canada's highest court overturned a ban on physician-assisted euthanasia, determiningthat people withgrievous and irremediable medical conditions should have the right to ask a doctor to help them die.

The court's ruling only applies to competent adults with enduring, intolerable suffering who clearly consent to ending their lives.Federal and provincial governments were given12 months to craft legislation to respond to the ruling, with theban on doctor-assisted suicide standinguntil then.

If the government doesn't write a new law, the court's exemption for physicians will stand.

'With kindness, with wisdom'

"In Canada, it's no longer a question of if euthanasia-assisted suicide will happen, or when it will happen," said Chochinov, adding that his panel's task is to produce a report that will ensure the implementation of the court's ruling is done "with kindness, with wisdomand with integrity."

The report will be produced independently, and will not be "negotiated with whoever the government of the day is,"said Chochinov, one of three panelists appointed by Stephen Harper's government in July.

Before that happens, Chochinov hopes to hear a diverse range of opinions fromCanadians, who can contribute by sharing their thoughts and insightson the panel's website.

People have until Oct. 19 to submit their personal views to the panel, and until Nov. 1 to complete the panel's "issue book,"an online questionnaire that asks people to submit their opinions on a wide range of issues relating to doctor-assisted suicide.

"Our panel is listening with what we've called 'empathic neutrality,'" said Chochinov. "We understand that everybody coming to this has the well-being Canadians and how they die how they die well at heart."