Hëlène Bolduc from AQDMD reported from Quebec: : In an historic 94 to 22 vote at the National Assembly of Quebec, Bill 52 – An Act Respecting End of Life Care passed into law at 4:14 pm on June 5, 2014.
This is the first time in North America that medical aid to die becomes an option for adult citizens of Quebec who are capable of giving their informed consent, and who are suffering from a terminal, serious, incurable illness, in an advanced state of irreversible decline in capability, and suffering constant unbearable physical or psychological pain which cannot be relieved in a manner the patient deems tolerable.
There are likely to be legal challenges to the new law. But the courage of the people of Quebec and their elected representatives must be acknowleged today. They chose to have this difficult conversation in a non-partisan manner that respected all opinions, rather than letting the courts decide for them how to balance the overarching principles of respect for life, dignity of the individual and autonomy of the individual.