Carter v. Canada: What's Next for Physicians?

Abstract

On Feb. 6, 2015, the Supreme Court of Canada unanimously declared that the Criminal Code prohibitions on physician-assisted dying (both assisted suicide and voluntary euthanasia) violate the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The Court immediately suspended the declaration, which means that its decision does not come into effect for 12 months. Canadians therefore have a year to prepare for the reality of legal physician- assisted dying, assuming that the federal government does not invoke the notwithstanding clause. In the immediate aftermath of this decision, a key question for physicians is “what can and should physicians do over the coming months to help the country get ready?”

Keywords: assisted death, assisted dying, euthanasia, assisted suicide, law, Carter