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加最高法院历史性裁决:安乐死将合法化

家庭医生郑珉告诉51网记者,今天一大早医生微信圈里就吵翻了天,话题只有一个,那就是最高法院就“废除禁止安乐死的法律”会做出怎样的裁决?现在结果已经出来了,加拿大最高法院于今日作出裁决,一致主张废除禁止在医生协助下自杀或俗称“安乐死”的法律,给予精神上有决定能力、但身体上忍受极大痛苦并“无可救药的”病人死亡的权利。

医学史上一件大事

要知道,21年前当有人挑战这项法律时,加拿大最高法院曾作出完全不同的裁定。

加拿大禁止在医生协助下自杀的法律一直是法律界及医疗界争论不已的最大问题之一。而在世界上一些国家或地区,在医生协助下自杀合法,这包括比利时、荷兰和瑞士等。

最高法院的法官们一致认为,目前禁止安乐死的法律侵犯了人权和自由宪章(Charter of Rights and Freedoms)第七部分所有有关生命、自由和人身安全三大方面的定义。

最高法院也明确指示国会议员,目前的法律侵犯了宪章中的相关要义,因为该法律禁止在医生协助下有决定能力的成年人自杀,虽然这些人:1)明确同意终止其生命;2)他们有相当严重甚至无法救治的疾病或残疾等,从而导致持久的、无法忍受的痛苦。

安乐死:还有相当长的路要走

家庭医生郑珉说,加拿大最高法院的判决只是说现有禁止医生协助自杀的禁令解除了,但不等于说安乐死就是合法的了。因为法院不是立法机构,立法要由议会来做。最高法院给了议会一年的时间来讨论立法事宜,而立法的结果如何现在还是未知数。也就是说,在新的法律产生以前,没有医生可以帮助患者安乐死,法院的判决也强调没有例外。

据报道,在以往对加拿大医生进行的调查中,只有百分之十几的医生,愿意帮助病人进行安乐死。郑珉表示,这是因为一些病患选择安乐死,可能与其当时的精神和情绪因素有关,这样就容易造成一些错误的选择。如有的癌症病患在刚刚被确诊时,可能痛不欲生,觉得生命已经走到尽头,不想再活着。但有的当时都不想活的人,经过积极的治疗,过去了好多年都还活得很好。所以,在安乐死问题上,如何能做到保护那些精神和身体上都处于弱势的人,并防止误判的死亡是非常重要的。

在现有法律框架下,医生协助自杀是违法的,但是患者自杀是合法的。有的晚期癌症患者选择拒绝治疗是可以的,在这种情况下医生能做的就是用药物尽量减轻患者的痛苦,比如止疼,郑珉说。

华裔律师洪秉政“安乐死遗书” 成高院证言

多伦多市著名华人刑事律师洪秉政,因不堪忍受肌肉萎症对自己身体的严重损害,为保留自己的尊严,同时又不违反加拿大的法律,便抢在仍然有自主能力决定自己生死的时候,安排好自己的后事,远赴瑞士,以陪伴式自杀(accompanied suicide)﹐用较为安乐的方式结束了自己的生命,终年62岁。

据介绍洪律师被诊断患上了ALS病。该病的中文全称叫“肌肉萎缩性侧面硬化病”,也被称为“运动神经细胞病”,是一种无法治愈而且致命的病。洪秉政“安乐死遗书” 留下遗愿,希望加拿大能修正现有的法律,若再有人患上不治之症,应该被允许安乐死。

挑战安乐死的两名重病当事人均已离世

2011年卑诗民权协会和两名重病患者卡特(Kay Carter)与泰勒(Gloria Taylor)就安乐死提出上诉。可惜她们没能等到这一天,这两名妇女都已去世,其中高龄89岁的卡特甚至因此必须远赴瑞士结束自己的生命。

89岁的卡特远赴瑞士结束自己的生命

已经去世的泰勒(Gloria Taylor)

死得尊严组织执行长莫里斯说,她希望最高法院对这件案子进行裁决时能树立一个判例。加拿大死得尊严(Dying with Dignity Canada)组织最近做的调查显示,九成以上回复问卷者支持重病患者结束自己的生命,认为他们应可请医师协助自杀。

反对者改变立场

长期以来,加拿大医学协会(Canadian Medical Association)一致反对安乐死﹐但最近其立场也有所松动,同意在罕见情况下﹐若病人受到病痛的残酷折磨﹐在法律容许的情况下﹐可以实施医生协助的死亡。

协会主席辛普森医生(Chris Simpson)说﹐若最高法院裁定﹐目前的医助自杀与安乐死法律违背宪法﹐需要修订﹐“我们强烈希望参与”﹐帮助起草新法﹐及给医生、病人的指引。

他说﹕“我们需要知道﹐如何运用规则。是否只是某些特定疾病患者才可以﹖末期疾病的定义是什么﹖需要几名医生批准﹖是否需要冷静期﹐确保每个人意志坚决﹖

“我们是否仅允许有决定能力的病人﹐为自己作决定﹔或者﹐对于诸如患失智症的病人﹐允许家人等替代决定者作出决定﹖”

网友评论

网友评论仅供其表达个人看法,并不表明 51.CA 立场。
对病人有利 对那些寄生虫医生不利
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中国通奸党发来干涉加国内政的贺电: 坚决支持加拿大安乐死法案顺利通过! 《做鬼也做通奸党》 自入通奸党,快乐伴成长。 美女走马灯,哈男舔痔爽。 冬栖南海湾,夏住大连港。 嫔妃有定额,二奶随意养。 帝王常拮据,吾钱论斤两。 谢党赐极乐,砍头也勇往。 来世再选择,还入通奸党。
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在医学无能为力的时候, 人应该有权利选择自己的活法和死法.。。这个不仅能让病人获得这个自由, 并且至少全国范围省掉5%以上的医疗费用, 足够造几条高铁了。
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这项判决在环球邮报博得一片彩声,下面是中午看到的: Rationality over hysteria, dignity over dogma, and independence over intolerance. I applaud this decision and the judicial institutions who guide our country so wisely. A heroic decision by a heroic Supreme Court of Canada. Once again they lead the way while the cowards in parliament twiddle their thumbs to the dismay of the majority of Canadians who awaited todays decision. Efforts of our current government to the contrary, the supreme court has made a few ruling lately that show Canada's mature, thoughtful, kinder, gentler nature. Finally, our society will treat humans as kindly as we do our pets. This is a huge common sense humane breakthough in the collective thinking. Thank you. Bravo and about time Canadians can act as a compassionate and enlightened society! This is a compassionate decision. Many people will be grateful to be given the choice of ending their lives or seeing their lives to a natural end. Thank you Quebec, for showing the rest of Canada the way. Makes one feel better about the 8 judges Harper appointed to the supreme court, even if he doesn't have any integrity, those judges obviously do. They have proven they will not be Harper's puppets. I pray for the continuance of a Supreme Court that shows the wisdom and judicial breadth of knowledge as this one. As Harper personally attacks both the court and its judges, we should be thankful and supportive to the Supreme Court for continuing its work for all Canadians, prudently and above the fray of politics. Finally a decision that treats people like most of treat our animals when they suffer Long long overdue!!! Wish it had come in time to help my Dad who died horribly because any one who helped him die with dignity would have gone to jail for their compassion. A debt of gratitude and recognition of the trial judge is in order. That judge found reason to take the risk of going against the previous Supreme Court ruling. As far as the sanctity of life goes including religious prescriptions to that end, I think the court stuck the right balance. I also note, in this context, that much of today's suffering is due to man's ability to prolong life by intervening but not curing. The Supreme Court has agreed with most Canadians on this subject. Harper and "our Government" have given little recognition to the Charter of Rights and Freedoms from day 1 of their occupancy (mainly because it was Liberal approved) Harper would not even recognize its 25th anniversary. How many more times will this government spend taxpayers money trying to defend the undefendable??? If I weren't an atheist I would thank God for our Supreme Court. Harper is having a tough time finding dinosaurs to appoint to it. 9 - 0 is about right. Dying With Dignity might have just lost their charitable status, but their hard work was not in vain. Halleluyah. Some justice comes to Canada at last. So a little more freedom comes to Canadians, while the tyranny of Dogma is weakened. At 82 I am deeply grateful. What a relief.
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奉劝那些冠冕堂皇地反对安乐死的人,那种大病千万别落在您身上,您永远也体会不到病人的生不如死,和家人的无可奈何,你有权利全身插满管子遭罪,俺也有权选择安静泰然的安乐死!
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说得好!没有人能知道将来会发生什么?真到了那一天,多条路走总是好的。坚决支持安乐死合法化!!!
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支持,人性的回归,有尊严地活,也有尊严体面不遭罪地死 如果病重痛的生不如死,可以选择安死, 感谢加拿大法官!
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