There is no doubt that palliative care is very important and that what is currently being done in Canada in that area must be improved. However, I believe that Canadians have been very clear. Although quality palliative care is provided in Canada, Canadians want a separate right to have access to that service, where assisted suicide would be considered.
We have to remember that most palliative care in Canada is currently being provided by family physicians, that they are the ones incorporating that care into a complete and comprehensive scope of practice and the ones who have additional qualifications in palliative care. Those physicians are telling us that they do not want to see assisted suicide as the end of what is happening in palliative care. They really want to be able to keep things separate.