Advocates in favour of wider access to assisted suicide have dominated parliamentary committee hearings that will help craft a new assisted-suicide law, with little opposition so far from religious voices.

OTTAWA - Physician-assisted death legislation could include competent children under the age of 18, a legal expert told a Parliamentary committee Jan. 26.

OTTAWA - Legislation that tries to restrict assisted suicide and euthanasia to the terminally ill would likely fail a court challenge, a prominent constitutional lawyer told a Parliamentary committee.

After years writing about euthanasia as the religion reporter for the National Post, followed by two years of public talks to convince Canadians that government-sanctioned killing would be a disaster, I think I have finally figured out what bothers me the most about what is taking place in our country: the disturbing lack of imagination that has taken over the public psyche about how to deal with people who are suffering.

The federal government has been given four more months to come up with new laws and regulations to govern the practice of doctor-assisted suicide.

The first death by legal euthanasia in Canadian history has occurred, according to a Quebec healthcare spokesperson.

Widespread opposition to doctor-assisted suicide is beginning to reshape consultations on how Ontario should regulate the practice in the wake of last year’s Supreme Court decision to decriminalize voluntary euthanasia in some circumstances.

TORONTO - The fight over assisted suicide isn’t over yet. A day after a government advisory group released 43 recommendations calling for wide access to assisted suicide, the Catholic Civil Rights League (CCRL) held its annual general meeting Dec. 15 to discuss its concerns and plans for the year ahead, a year when it seems likely Canada will legalized assisted suicide.

OTTAWA - The battle to bring euthanasia to Canada heated up Dec. 22, when the Quebec Court of Appeal said the province could go ahead with its so-called 'medical aid' in dying law.

In 43 recommendations aimed at provincial and federal legislators, the Provincial-Territorial Expert Advisory Group on Physician-Assisted Dying has recommended the widest possible access to assisted suicide and very narrow exceptions for Catholic health professionals and Catholic hospitals, nursing homes and hospices.

MONTREAL - Euthanasia is now technically legal in Quebec following a Dec. 9 decision of the Quebec Court of Appeal. But whether that remains permanent is still a matter before the courts.

Finally, a victory for common sense. Justice Michel Pinsonnault of Quebec Superior Court sounded a rare voice of reason when he ruled that Quebec’s so-called “medical aid in dying” legislation is no more than a euphemism for euthanasia. As they say, if it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck . . .

OTTAWA - The federal government is seeking a six-month extension on the Carter decision that had struck down sections of the Criminal Code against assisted suicide.

MONTREAL - Quebec’s right to die legislation has been put on hold.  

MONTREAL - After 30 years in palliative care medicine, Dr. Bernard Lapointe is adamant that regardless of what the law says he will never euthanize a patient. He is among thousands of law-abiding Quebec doctors who are facing some of the most difficult days of their professional careers as the province hurtles towards Dec. 10 and the legalization of euthanasia.