Mr. Speaker, recently the Dutch parliament passed a law that formally allows a medical doctor to euthanize a patient. This action will set back palliative care, which seeks to make the end of life as comfortable as possible and breaks the traditional role of doctor as helper.
My first duty as a surgeon was to do no harm. The Hippocratic oath forbids any physician from practising euthanasia. Having practised medicine for 25 years, I personally dealt with terminal patients over and over again. By creative use of drugs, companionship and kindness, we always found a way to comfort those patients.
Canada needs to concentrate its resources on palliation for terminal patients. Our patients deserve the best care, not the most expedient.