The Quebec College of Physicians recently told the Daily Mail that it still regards euthanasia as an “appropriate treatment” for infants with disabilities and severe medical syndromes — confirming that the physicians would be in support if Canada were to steer its euthanasia program down this dark path.
This proposal was initially brought up in 2022 by Louis Roy, who spoke on behalf of the College to the Special Joint Committee on Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID), according to Right to Life News.
The Daily Mail reported Aug. 25 that in 2022, Roy proposed euthanasia for infants up to 1 year old “who are born with severe deformations, very grave and severe medical syndromes, whose life expectancy and level of suffering are such that it would make sense to ensure that they do not suffer.”
The Quebec College of Physicians confirmed to the Daily Mail last month that it still holds this position.
“The CMQ reiterates that medical assistance in dying may be an appropriate treatment for babies suffering from extreme pain that cannot be relieved and who have severe malformations or serious polysymptomatic syndromes that destroy any prospect of survival,” the college told the outlet.
The college also referred to euthanasia as “care” for the child.
“The CMQ believes that parents should have the opportunity to obtain this care for their infant under these well-defined circumstances,” it told the Daily Mail.
Reacting to the reignited push for such expansion, Catherine Robinson, a spokesperson for Right to Life UK, condemned the suggestion as horrific.
“Advocating for euthanasia for disabled children is appalling and a clear form of eugenic discrimination,” Robinson said in an Aug. 28 press release. “Babies with severe disabilities deserve care, and their families need support. Canada should not be considering euthanising its most vulnerable citizens.”
In recent years, Canada’s MAID laws have continued to expand, and a new report by the Atlantic suggested that there is such a “high” demand for euthanasia in the country that doctors who commit it are struggling to keep up, the Daily Mail reported. CatholicVote reported last year that euthanasia is the fifth-leading cause of death in the country.
In November 2024, Quebec enacted a law enabling “advance requests” for MAID, meaning patients with dementia, for example, can request to be euthanized at a later point in life when they may be unable to give consent.
The Daily Mail reported that within two years, those with mental illnesses will “qualify” for MAID, and Parliament has also recommended expanding access to those under 18. It is already legal in Canada for persons with certain non-terminal illnesses to be euthanized.
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