Hi. I am James Schutten. Thanks for the opportunity to speak to you about this important issue.
When I was two years old, I was diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy, which has left me with serious physical disabilities. I require someone to set up my feeding tube, suction my trach, turn me over in bed, take me to the bathroom, and scratch my head. I am not telling you this to make you feel sorry for me. I don't feel sorry for myself. However, you need to know that these professionals and family members need to care about my life and whether I live or die.
This is why I needed to talk to you about your draft law legalizing doctor-assisted death, and how that law will affect me and others like me.
I've gone to the hospital because of illness, and medical staff questioned whether extreme measures were worth it. This makes me very nervous, because I feel as if I am not worth the trouble. Thankfully, my family has my back to speak with the doctors on my behalf. If I have anxiety now, how much more if Bill C-14 comes into effect?
What if society started from the perspective that I do have value? What if people didn't view me as a burden for others to carry? I am one of those people who the Supreme Court of Canada thinks should have this right to doctor-assisted death. What if, instead, I had the right to palliative care or resources to help me continue to be a productive member of society?
I believe others like me feel the same way, but this right to die makes me feel as if society thinks I should choose to die.
Therefore, I urge you to add to proposed subsection 241.2(3) the requirement that palliative care is meaningfully made available to the patient.
Look past my wheelchair, and see that I am an asset in my community. I volunteer at a nursing home a few days a week and help out at an elementary school, all of which I really enjoy.
I don't believe that anyone has the right to choose exactly when to die. God alone decides, and he does not make mistakes. He has a purpose for everything. My faith and family add value to my life. Instead of investing money into a bill which normalizes the choice of death, our country should invest time and money into giving people with illness, disabilities, and old age a will to live.
I have one last thing to say. I want you to know that I am not a public speaker. I was very nervous to come here, but I feel that this goes far beyond just me and my insecurities and limitations. I need to speak up because this is so important. Please remember me when you make your decision.
Thank you.