Appeals court overturns decision aimed at thwarting Quebec’s assisted-dying law
Posted December 22, 2015 4:00 am.
Last Updated December 22, 2015 10:25 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Quebec’s top tribunal has overturned a lower court decision aimed at suspending implementation of the province’s assisted-dying law.
The Quebec Court of Appeal ruled Tuesday the law does not conflict with certain provisions of the Criminal Code.
The court says the sections of the Criminal Code that ban assisted suicide were not valid after the Supreme Court of Canada struck down the federal law last February.
Quebec’s legislation, which outlines how terminally ill patients can end their lives with medical help, was adopted by members of the national assembly in June 2014 and became law Dec. 10.
A Quebec Superior Court justice ruled in favour last month of a group of doctors who were seeking to postpone implementation of the law until at least February.
The appeals court says Quebec’s assisted-dying law fills a judicial void by allowing patients to exercise their rights granted to them by the Supreme Court.
