Doc. 9404 8 April 2002 Protection of the human rights and dignity of the terminally ill and the dying Recommendation 1418 (1999) Reply from the Committee of Ministers adopted at the 790th meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies (26 March 2002)
Recommendation 1418 (1999) Protection of the human rights and dignity of the terminally ill and the dying (Extract from the Official Gazette of the Council of Europe – June 1999)
THE NETHERLANDS AVT00/WS61419A Upper House of the States General 2000 - 2001 session 26 691 Review procedures for the termination of life on request and assisted suicide and amendment of the Criminal Code and the Burial and Cremation Act (Termination of Life on Request and Assisted Suicide (Review Procedures) Act) European Journal of Health Law 8: 183-191, 2001.
Ms. Francine Lalonde moved that Bill C-384, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (right to die with dignity) be read the second time and referred to a committee: Mr. Speaker, I first introduced a private member's bill on the right to die with dignity in June 2005 . . . In fact, I introduced this bill so that people would have a choice, the same right to choose that people in other countries have. My conviction has grown stronger, and that is why I am introducing an amended bill on the right to die with dignity, Bill C-384. Briefly, it amends the Criminal code so that a medical practitioner does not commit homicide just by helping a person to die with dignity if the person continues to experience severe physical or mental pain without any prospect of relief or suffers from a terminal illness.
On 25 February, the Director of Public Prosecutions, Keir Starmer QC, launched the Policy for Prosecutors in respect of cases of Encouraging or Assisting Suicide.
An attempt to change the law in Scotland to help terminally ill people end their lives has been heavily defeated in the Scottish Parliament. The End of Life Assistance Bill was proposed by the MSP Margo MacDonald, who has Parkinson’s disease, but was rejected by 85 votes to 16. It would have made it legal to help someone over the age of 16 years who is terminally ill or permanently incapacitated to take their own life. It follows a detailed examination of the issue by the Scottish parliament, which set up a special committee to investigate the proposal. It took evidence from doctors, religious groups, and legal experts from around the world including Oregon and the Netherlands where physician assisted suicide has been legalised.
Soutenu par le PS, le PCF et une partie de l'UMP, le texte a été adopté en commission. Les uns y voient une avancée notable, les autres une cause d'inquiétude. La commission des affaires sociales du Sénat a adopté, mardi 18 janvier, une proposition de loi visant à instaurer « un droit à demander une assistance médicale pour mourir » pour les patients en phase terminale. La proposition de loi, qui sera discutée en séance le 25 janvier, a été adoptée par 25 voix contre 19 et 2 abstentions. C'est la première fois qu'un texte autorisant l'euthanasie franchit cette étape parlementaire.