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Summary A Canada judge has ruled that governments laws against assisted suicide are unconstitutional.
A judge in Canada has ruled that its laws against assisted suicide are unconstitutional because they discriminate against severely ill patients.Justice Lynn Smith of the British Columbia supreme court declared the laws invalid but suspended her ruling for one year to give Canadas federal parliament time to draft legislation with her ruling in mind.The federal government is expected to appeal against the decision. The case will likely go to the Canadian supreme court.Smith allowed the ailing Gloria Taylor, 64, to seek doctor-assisted suicide during the one-year period if she wants. Taylor was diagnosed in 2009 with Lou Gehrigs disease, also known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or ALS, which progresses rapidly and is always fatal.Smith said the provisions in Canadas constitution infringed on Taylors rights to life, liberty and security of person, and discriminated against grievously ill or physically disabled patients who wanted to have some control over their circumstances at the end of their lives.It has been illegal in Canada to counsel, aid or abet suicide and is punishable by up to 14 years jail.
