News NDP’s private members bill supports Rodriguez by Paul Wyke The Review Saanich-Gulf Islands MP Lynn Hunter says she has no hesitation in supporting a private member’s bill designed to amend the Crimi- nal Code to allow for physician- assisted suicide upon the request of a terminally ill person. In the case of Sue Rodriguez, Hunter said in a recent interview with The Review that “time is of the essence in her particular case.” Although Hunter hasn’t had a RODRIGUEZ: by Paul Wyke The Review “The time has come to let medicide extend a comforting hand to those slipping into the valley of death, and to let obitiatry extract from their ebbing vitality the power to illuminate some of its darkest recesses for those who come after them’ — Dr. Jack Kevorkian, Prescription Medicide. Dr. Kevorkian made national and intemational headlines when in 1990 he aided Janet Adkins, a mentally competent victim of rap- idly advancing Alzheimer’s dis- ease, in performing the first pub- licly acknowledged physician- assisted suicide — what he has termed as Medicide. Since 1990, Kevorkian has helped five other patients commit suicide. A recent Associated Press report by reporter Judy Daubenmier out- lined the latest developments in the case of physician-assisted sui- cide in Lansing, Michigan. On Nov. 26, one day after Kevorkian assisted a sixth termin- ally-ill patient to take her life, the State of Michigan government approved a temporary one-year ban on assisted suicides. _ Unlike 28 other U.S. states, boutiques casual €tiropean elegance chance to personally speak with Rodriguez, she has been in contact with Right to Die Society execu- tive director John Hofsess. The Cnminal Code, which cur- rently prohibits doctors to assist in a patient’s suicide “is a real dilemma for physicians,” accord- ing to Hunter. “Any doctor acting on the com- prehensive request of a patient shouldn’t have to face litigation,” she said. Hunter’s comments were in response to a bill introduced last “To have compassion when one is dying means everything in the world. | have no fear of dying.’ Kevorkian offers to help Rodriguez if she travels to state of Michigan Michigan has no law specifically banning assisted suicides. The bill, which passed 72-29, would make assisted suicide a felony punishable by up to four years in prison and a $2,000 fine, the report stated. Although it still needs approval of the Senate, they have passed measures twice to make assisted suicide a felony. In July, a judge threw out murder charges against Kevorkian stem- ming from the October 1991 deaths of two women. The case is now before the Michigan State Court of Appeals. One month after Kevorkian aided in the suicides of two Michi- gan women; one had multiple sclerosis and the other suffered from a painful — but not terminal — disease that required 10 pelvic operations, the Michigan Board of Medicine suspended his medical license. At that time, Kevorkian said he would help more people commit suicide even without his medical license. Last week, Kevorkian offered to help North Saanich resident Sue Rodriguez take her own life, pro- vided she travelled to the state of Michigan. SALE SELECTED MERCHANDISE "SURPRISE SPECIALS!” SIDNEY STATION HOUSE 9768 Third St. Wednesday by Burnaby-Kingsway MP Svend Robinson. In preparing the proposed legis- lation, Robinson stated that ‘the fundamental principle here is that we must give people the mght to make the decision for themselves. “This does not in any way diminish our respect for life. Indeed, it is a symbol of our request for the quality of life anda recognition that people should be allowed to die with dignity,” he said. - The proposed legislation would also ensure that a physician who did assist in a suicide could not be charged with some other offence under the Cnminal Code. “In Victoria, resident Sue Rodnguez has eloquently brought TERMINALLY-ILL Continued from Page Al voice is back somewhat but her energy level is extremely low,” Hofsess said in a recent interview. But giving testimony in court will certainly be a difficult task for Rodriguez, he said. “Sometimes it takes her the better part of a day just to focus around a single event. Testimony in court will take a great deal out of her but on the other hand, she’s fighting for her right and her life and she will no doubt do it.” The court doesn’t necessarily have to strike down an entire section of the Criminal Code. They can make a narrow ruling specific to the Rodriguez case, upholding her right as a disabled person to equality, Hofsess said. In his application to the court, Victoria lawyer Chris Considine Stated that Section 241 of the Cnminal Code violates Sue Rodri- guez’s rights under sections seven, 12 and 15. The proposed violations fall under the right to no cruel and unusual treatment, the right not to be discriminated against by reason of a disability and the right to life with liberty and freedom oO choice. ) : i -SIDNEY STORE ONLY- , CHRISTMAS HOURS _ TheReview Wednesday, December 16, 1992 — A15 to national attention the impor- pi tance of this amendment assisted by the Right to Die Society. ‘Any doctor acting on the comprehensive request of a patient shouldnt have fo face litigation’ “Tn B.C, the Seaton Royal Com- mission on Health Care unani- mously called for this amendment as well,’ Robinson added. 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