Update 3/28/2024: A Calgary judge has ruled that a 27-year-old woman with autism can be killed via Canada’s Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) despite her father’s attempts to stop the physician-assisted death from happening.
According to CBC, Justice Colin Feasby said that while the father, identified as W.V., would suffer “profound grief” at the loss of his daughter, identified as M.V., her right to die was more important.
W.V. argued that his daughter “is vulnerable and is not competent to make the decision to take her own life,” according to Feasby’s ruling Her only known diagnoses are autism and ADHD.
“M.V.’s dignity and right to self-determination outweighs the important matters raised by W.V. and the harm that he will suffer in losing M.V.,” wrote Feasby. “Though I find that W.V. has raised serious issues, I conclude that M.V.’s autonomy and dignity interests outweigh competing considerations.”
Feasby also issued a 30-day stay of his decision so that W.V. can take the case to the Alberta Court of Appeal, which means a previous interim injunction will remain in place during that time, preventing M.V. from accessing MAiD.
3/16/2024: A Canadian father is currently fighting a court battle to stop his autistic daughter from receiving Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD).
According to CBC, the man, identified as W.V., has asked a judge to intervene after his 27-year-old daughter, identified as M.V., was inexplicably approved by the mandated two doctors for assisted death, though he says she has none of the regular qualifications.
M.V. is said to have received approval for assisted suicide in December. Her death was scheduled for February 1 before her father intervened and was granted a temporary injunction on the basis that he says she should not qualify.
“M.V. suffers from autism and possibly other undiagnosed maladies that do not satisfy the eligibility criteria for MAID,” W.V. told the judge, adding that he believes his daughter also suffers from mental illness.
Though M.V. has not provided the court with any medical documentation that would justify the approval, her lawyer said she’s not trying to hide anything. “She’s saying ‘it’s none of [W.V.’s] or the public’s business, I’ve been approved by two doctors, I am entitled to this and, court, it’s none of your business either.'” M.V.’s lawyer Austin Paladeau said.
READ: ‘Faces of MAID’ social media campaign opposes Canada’s euthanasia program
At issue in the court is whether or not W.V. has a right to intervene in his daughter’s wish to die – a right Paladeau said he doesn’t have. “He’s at risk of losing his daughter and while this is sad, it does not give him the right to keep her alive against her wishes,” said Paladeau.
“One of the real challenging parts of this process … is what’s actually happening,” he added. “I completely understand [W.V.] does not want his daughter to die … I represent [M.V.], I don’t want her to die either but that doesn’t play into account here. Even though we have or may have very strong views … at the end of the day this is [M.V.’s] decision.”
Canada is notorious for its lax MAiD laws and approvals for death for things like poverty, inadequate housing, or insufficient health care. The country’s rapid expansion of assisted suicide and euthanasia since it was first legalized in 2016 is an important warning to other governments that claim that legalized assisted death will only be used within certain parameters.
Once a government supports the killing of some of its citizens, it will inevitably begin to view death as a convenient solution to many of life’s difficulties.
