Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I just want to give you the government's position with respect to this amendment. The government opposes this amendment. There is no certainty or clarity around what is meant by “grievous and irremediable medical condition”. The Canadian Medical Association has stated that there is no shared meaning of what constitutes “grievous condition”.
If practitioners interpret it broadly, for example to apply to persons with permanent physical disabilities who are otherwise in good health or persons who have just been diagnosed with a degenerative disease, it could increase the risks posed by medical assistance in dying to vulnerable persons, could contribute to the stigmatization of the quality of lives of persons with disabilities, and potentially undermine suicide prevention.
This amendment is also fundamentally contrary to the government's policy choices as reflected in Bill C-14. As introduced, Bill C-14 contains the clarity that is needed to give confidence to medical professionals to undertake what is otherwise a criminal act.
Thank you, Mr. Chair.