Summary of Bill C-384
• Bill C-384 would legalize euthanasia and assisted suicide in Canada.
(For the purpose of the analysis, euthanasia and assisted suicide
will be referred to as “intended death”.)
• Bill C-384 does not restrict intended death to Canadian citizens.
(The bill could make Canada a destination for Suicide Tourists and Suicide Clinics).
• The individual would need to be at least 18 years old.
• Bill C-384 does not limit intended death to the terminally ill
and it does not define terminal illness.
• The individual may refuse appropriate treatments and still die by an
intended death.
• Bill C-384 allows intended death for people who experience depression
or other chronic mental conditions.
• Bill C-384 measures competency based on “appearing to be lucid”. The term
“appearing to be lucid” does not assure that the individual is actually lucid.
• Bill C-384 would allow intended death for incompetent people who
stated their intentions while still competent.
• The language of the bill is not clear whether medical practitioners are the
only individuals who can intend the death of an incompetent individual.
• Bill C-384 would require at least two medical practitioners to confirm
the diagnosis in writing.
• Bill C-384 would require that all requests for intended death be made
free of duress. ( However, no assurances are built into the bill)
• Bill C-384 would require the medical practitioner to inform the individual
of all alternatives. (There is no requirement to try effective treatments).
• Bill C-384 would require the medical practitioner to provide confirmation
of the diagnosis to the coroner. This is a form of after-the-fact reporting.
The medical practitioner is only required to file a report after the individual has died.
This is to protect the medical practitioner and not the individual who is dead.
• The definition of medical practitioner is not limited to a physician.
