Breaking: Supreme Court to hear Dying with Dignity Appeal
- Details
- Published on Friday, 17 January 2014 14:00
- Written by editor
Dying with Dignity Timeline
Carter v. Canada
April 2011 The BCCLA files a lawsuit against the federal government, challenging the laws that make it a criminal offense to assist seriously and incurably ill people to die.
June 2012 The BC Supreme Court strikes down the ban on physician-assisted dying, giving Parliament one year to draft new legislation and granting plaintiff Gloria Taylor the right to seek a dignified death.
July 2012 The federal government announces they will appeal the BC Supreme Court’s decision.
March 2013 The BCCLA fights to defend our lower court victory against the government’s appeal at the BC Court of Appeal.
October 2013 The BC Court of Appeal releases its decision ruling that only the Supreme Court can overturn the 1993 Rodriguez decision on... physician assisted dying. The BCCLA asks the Supreme Court of Canada to hear our case.
January 2014 The Supreme Court of Canada announces it will hear the BCCLA’s appeal.
Read more about the case here.
BCCLA heading to the Supreme Court to appeal Dying with Dignity
Dear PAOV,
This morning the Supreme Court of Canada announced it will hear the BCCLA’s appeal of the Dying with Dignity case.
This is an extremely urgent case that affects gravely ill people. That’s why we’re so thankful for the opportunity to appeal and remain strongly committed to upholding the Constitution and making dying with dignity a right for all seriously and incurably ill Canadians.
Will you join with us by making a special gift today?
Elayne Shapray suffers from multiple sclerosis and is seeking the right to die with dignity. Elayne has filed an affidavit in support of our appeal. Today she shared:
“I am so relieved and overjoyed that the Supreme Court of Canada has decided to hear this case. I hope that the Court will allow me to choose a peaceful death surrounded by my loved ones and many friends. Unless there is a change in the law, I will be obliged to end my life without the assistance of a physician, and will have to act alone, while I still can. I do not want to traumatize my family by ending my life through self-starvation, over medication or some violent self-inflicted injury, but these are my only choices until the Supreme Court rules that the laws are unconstitutional.”
We could not have brought this case to the Supreme Court without the support of our members and donors like you. If you are able, please make a donation.
Thank you for your faithful support.
Sincerely,
Josh Paterson and the BCCLA Team
