Advertisement
Unsplash
January 25, 2025
Share this article:
The Euthanasia Prevention Coalition (EPC) has submitted a petition to B.C. Health Minister Josie Osborne and the College of Physicians and Surgeons of B.C., urging an investigation into the euthanasia practices of Dr. Ellen Wiebe, a prominent and controversial Vancouver provider of medical assistance in dying (MAiD).
The petition, made public on the coalition’s website, cites multiple cases of alleged malpractice and non-compliance with MAiD regulations. EPC is calling for Wiebe’s medical licence to be temporarily suspended pending the outcome of the investigation.
EPC executive director Alex Schadenberg expressed concern over “systemic issues” in Wiebe’s practice, including cases that appear to contravene the requirements for MAiD eligibility. The coalition’s petition insists that a review is necessary to protect vulnerable individuals from potential harm.
In its letter, EPC alleges that Wiebe has been involved in several high-profile and contentious cases, including the MAiD death of a man on a psychiatric day pass from a Vancouver hospital. According to a Canadian Press report from Dec. 19, 2024, the man’s family has filed a wrongful death lawsuit, claiming his rights under the Charter were violated and alleging malpractice by Wiebe and her clinic.
None of these allegations have been proven in court.
Other cases highlighted include a court-ordered injunction last October that temporarily prevented Wiebe from performing euthanasia on an Alberta woman. According to court documents, the woman’s common-law husband argued she did not meet the eligibility criteria for MAiD. Additionally, EPC referenced an incident reported by The New Atlantis where Wiebe allegedly performed MAiD on a man rejected by other assessors for not meeting eligibility standards.
Wiebe has faced scrutiny for past actions, such as entering a Jewish care home in violation of its policy to perform a MAiD procedure in 2018. The College of Physicians and Surgeons of B.C. dismissed an official complaint in the matter.
She also drew criticism for comments published in The Economist, where she acknowledged the possibility of errors in assessments for euthanasia but defended the broader practice.
Neither Osborne nor Wiebe has commented on the petition. The College of Physicians and Surgeons of B.C. has not indicated whether it will initiate an investigation.
A version of this story appeared in the January 26, 2025, issue of The Catholic Registerwith the headline "EPC seeks probe into MAiD doctor".
Share this article:
Join the conversation and have your say: submit a letter to the Editor. Letters should be brief and must include full name, address and phone number (street and phone number will not be published). Letters may be edited for length and clarity.
