Local woman behind challenge to Canada’s assisted dying law

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – The ink is barely dry on it, but Canada’s new assisted dying law is already being challenged in court here in Vancouver.

A woman is fighting for the legal right to decide when and how she will die.

Julia Lamb believed the new law would allow her some control over her future, but restrictions mean it doesn’t apply to her or those suffering from diseases like Multiple Sclerosis or Parkinsons.

“If my symptoms develop in a way that cause me misery but I remain far from death, the government’s new law will force me to suffer. I, along with many other Canadians, are completely left out.”

“I don’t think it’s out of reach for the government to craft a bill that respects the rights of both terminal and non-terminal patients. This is about… choice and compassion. This is about the most fundamental values that define being Canadian,” she adds.

Lamb suffers from a degenerative disease called Spinal Muscular Atrophy, which has no known cure. She is in constant pain and has difficulty breathing.

The BC Civil Liberties Association is working with Lamb on her case and launching a crowdfunding campaign. Litigation director Grace Pastine says restrictions of the new legislation violate the rights of suffering Canadians.

“This law deliberately excludes a class of people — those who are suffering with no immediate end in sight. How can we now turn away and ignore their pleas?”

The new law applies only to patients whose death is reasonable foreseeable. Pastine says that excludes sufferers of diseases such as spinal muscular atrophy, multiple sclerosis, Huntington’s disease and Parkinsons.

Pastine says anyone enduring grievous, unbearable suffering should qualify for assisted death.

“This right was confirmed by the Supreme Court of Canada last year. But this federal government’s new law leaves many critically ill Canadians behind and now, they have no choice but to go back to court to fight for a right that they already won.”