Canada wrestles with euthanasia for the mentally ill

[pellinore]

As Canada prepares to expand its euthanasia law to include those with mental illness, some Canadians - including many of the country's doctors - question whether the country's assisted death programme has already moved too far, too fast.

Dr Madeline Li can recall the first patient she helped die, about one month after Canada first legalised euthanasia in 2016. "I remember just how surreal it was," she said.

A psychiatrist at Toronto's Princess Margaret Hospital, she recalled checking on her patient that day, asking if she had the right music and final meal, and if she was sure she wanted to go ahead. The patient, in her mid-60s and suffering from ovarian cancer, said she was.

Five minutes later, the woman was dead.

Who can die? Canada wrestles with euthanasia for the mentally ill - BBC News

Edited January 14, 2023 by pellinore

[+and-then]

I cannot approve of giving the mentally ill the choice to end their lives, especially if the illness is chronic major depression.  Under NO circumstances should minors be allowed this choice unless they are in intractable pain that cannot be otherwise treated.  As for adults with terminal illness or again, intractable pain, I believe they should have the choice.  But it must be THEIR choice.

[Sir Wearer of Hats]

43 minutes ago, and-then said:

I cannot approve of giving the mentally ill the choice to end their lives, especially if the illness is chronic major depression.  Under NO circumstances should minors be allowed this choice unless they are in intractable pain that cannot be otherwise treated.  As for adults with terminal illness or again, intractable pain, I believe they should have the choice.  But it must be THEIR choice.

Exactly, it has to be their choice, and legally the mentally ill, especially those with a chronic mental illness, are not able to make a “in sound mind” judgment. 

[Jon the frog]

8 minutes ago, Sir Wearer of Hats said:

Exactly, it has to be their choice, and legally the mentally ill, especially those with a chronic mental illness, are not able to make a “in sound mind” judgment. 

Euthanasia law to include those with mental illness is clearly hard to put borders and also determine if it's a sound judgment or not. 

It's like a 5 years old asking for a sex change and going for chirurgical procedures. 

[pellinore]

44 minutes ago, Sir Wearer of Hats said:

Exactly, it has to be their choice, and legally the mentally ill, especially those with a chronic mental illness, are not able to make a “in sound mind” judgment. 

I agree. But it is possible people will make a judgement against their own interests even if they satisfy the legal requirements of capacity.

I'm thinking a hypothetical case: a mother in old age, physically infirm but mind as sharp as a razor- needs to go into a nursing home which will mean her house will be sold by the social services to pay for her care- she has a daughter who is in poverty and subject to domestic violence and would find the proceeds of the house sale life-changing if the nursing home wasn't required -  the mother insists she would rather end her life than go into care (without stating it is so her daughter can get the money). Should she be allowed euthanasia? And to complicate the case:  the daughter isn't really in poverty and need, she has just told mum that because she just wants cosmetic surgery and some home improvements. Would that change the medical view on euthanasia for the mother?

[pellinore]

1 hour ago, and-then said:

I cannot approve of giving the mentally ill the choice to end their lives, especially if the illness is chronic major depression.  Under NO circumstances should minors be allowed this choice unless they are in intractable pain that cannot be otherwise treated.  As for adults with terminal illness or again, intractable pain, I believe they should have the choice.  But it must be THEIR choice.

Exactly. Since the main symptoms of depression are anhedonia and antipathy towards life, the patient would be likely to choose euthanasia. On the positive side, it would make national mental health care cheaper.

[glorybebe]

Mentally ill people are easier to coerce and manipulate. They are vulnerable and that scares.  In instances where the person is terminal and only looking at a slow painful death, yes, I see this as an option.  But, a depressed person can turn their life around

 

 

 

 

[Jon the frog]

17 hours ago, glorybebe said:

Mentally ill people are easier to coerce and manipulate. They are vulnerable and that scares.  In instances where the person is terminal and only looking at a slow painful death, yes, I see this as an option.  But, a depressed person can turn their life around

 

 

 

 

We could give the option to sentenced to life convicts at this rate...