Royal Society Report Recommends Decriminalizing Euthanasia

But it might have to fall to the provinces to decide whether or not they want to prosecute those charged with assisting suicides.

An expert panel of doctors, ethicists, philosophers, and more released a report today recommending that the federal government amend the Criminal Code to decriminalize assisted suicide and euthanasia. The panel, put together by the Royal Society of Canada, said that if the federal government won't play ball, then it's up to the provinces to refuse to prosecute doctors accused of helping the sick and infirm end their lives. The report comes just as the B.C. Supreme Court opens hearings on assisted suicide, including the case of Peter Fenker, a 71-year-old man who recently succumbed to ALS. He had sought to have assisted suicide laws struck down so that he could die with the help of a physician, but died just two weeks before the legal review got underway. The B.C. Civil Liberties Association will represent Fenker and others, including Kelowna resident Gloria Taylor, who wish to be able to legally end their lives.