On February 2, Canada moved to delay the implementation of changes to its euthanasia (humanitarian) law, according to which the mental patients eligible for assisted suicide, citing the need for more time to develop protective measures.
Canada In 2016, it approved the suicide of psychiatric patients with the help of doctors after the country’s supreme court lifted the ban on assisted suicide for this group of people. The court ruled that the ban deprived Canadians of their dignity and autonomy.
The assisted suicide law has been expanded in 2021 to include adults with serious and chronic physical conditions that are not life-threatening, while the government has announced it will also allow patients mental request euthanasia.
[LHQ kêu gọi thế giới ưu tiên giải quyết khủng hoảng sức khỏe tâm thần]
However, Canadian Justice Minister David Lametti on February 2 introduced a bill to Parliament seeking to extend by one year, until March 17, 2024, for the law to take effect for medical conditions. qualified psychiatrist. Minister Lametti expressed confidence that this bill will receive broad public support.
Speaking at the press conference, Mr. Lametti said: “We need to be cautious. We need to take steps to ensure that people in the profession and Canadian society at large accept this.”
According to the latest figures from the Canadian government, more than 30,000 Canadians have been euthanasia from 2021 to present.
Opinion polls show Canadians generally support access to assisted suicide. However, some recent reports have raised concerns that some people are applying for euthanasia not because of health problems but because of poverty, lack of housing or extreme loneliness.
Minh Chau (VNA/Vietnam+)