(ZENIT News / Canada, 02.07.2024).- St. Paul’s Hospital in British Columbia, Canada, refused euthanasia to a woman with a terminal illness. On June 17, the woman’s parents sued the Provincial Government and Providence Health Care — St. Paul’s proprietor –, before the Supreme Court of British Columbia, to eliminate religious conscientious objection. The patient was taken to another Center to be killed.
The case seeks to put an end to conscientious objection by Catholic Centers when carrying out euthanasia and abortions, and sink the Church’s hospitals. The couple’s lawsuit argues that the Bill of Rights and Liberties of their daughter was violated by not receiving medical assistance to die.
Some two years ago, the Irene Thomas Hospice, located in Delta, British Columbia, closed for refusing to practice euthanasia. Delta Hospice Society, the charitable organization on which it depended, refused to apply it to its patients and the Canadian Ministry of Health withdrew the public funds: all the staff had to be fired.
Shaf Hussain, Providence’s spokesman, said that the judicial presentation is being reviewed: “Providence commits itself to offer compassionate care to all patients and residents.” Adrian Dix, the Minister of Health, said he respects the positions of each side, but that he cannot opine on the matter as it is in the Courts.
Dying with Dignity Canada, plaintiff before the Court, published a survey that indicates strong public support for medical euthanasia. Moreover, a poll carried out last year by the Angus Reid Institute, in collaboration with Cardus, showed that the majority of inhabitants of British Columbia support the right of Health Centers with religious affiliation to reject medical assistance to die and to transfer patients for euthanasia to other institutions.
58% agreed with the transfer of patients, whereas only 24% said these hospitals should be obliged to offer medical death against their rights of conscience.
Archbishop Christian Lépine of Montreal, presented an appeal before Quebec’s High Court to halt the implementation of a 2023 amendment to the “Palliative Care Law,” which prohibits hospices to exclude euthanasia from their services. The Archbishop pointed out that the amendment interferes with the exercise of religious liberty and of conscience, and is a State imposition on ecclesiastical properties to disseminate euthanasia.
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