Quebec physicians call for euthanasia debate

The Quebec College of Physicians is calling for an open debate about euthanasia.

The college said Tuesday that existing legislation does not reflect the clinical reality of patients or their doctors and restricts the development of appropriate end-of-life care.

College officials said they would not take a clear stance on the issue of euthanasia but hoped to contribute to the debate about it.

"Limiting the question of end-of-life care to ‘Are you for or against euthanasia?’ is the wrong approach and will inevitably lead to the wrong answers and an impasse," said the college’s secretary, Dr. Yves Robert.

"It has to be considered in the context of appropriate care for those exceptional cases where the usual sedation is not enough to control the pain."

The college has been reflecting on the issue for three years, and its statement Tuesday comes after both the Federation of Medical Specialists and the Federation of General Practitioners also said their members wanted a debate about euthanasia.

Difficult question

Doctors working in palliative care acknowledge the question is not an easy one to address.

Though a doctor is frequently asked not to resuscitate a patient, Dr. Justine Farley, director of palliative care at Montreal’s St-Mary’s Hospital, said that only occasionally does a patient request euthanasia.

"I think it is really difficult for palliative care doctors to think of giving death to someone because to care is not to cut the relationship," Farley said.

Some patient advocates said experiences in other countries such as the Netherlands should serve as a warning.

"You start with a terminal cancer patient, but then a baby with a severe disability is born — and ooops!" said Joanne Ravenda of the group Handicap-Vie-Dignité.

The Quebec college is asking province's Order of Nurses, bar association and patients' rights groups to weigh in on the issue.