In
Truchon v. Procureur General du Canada, (Quebec Superior Ct., Sept. 11, 2019) [opinion in French], a Quebec trial court judge held that portions of the Canadian and of Quebec's assisted suicide laws are unconstitutional because they are too restrictive. As summarized by
Canadian Press:
Justice Christine Baudouin found in favour of two Quebecers struck by incurable degenerative diseases who'd argued they were denied a medically assisted death under laws that are discriminatory.
Baudouin ruled invalid the Criminal Code requirement that a natural death be "reasonably foreseeable" before someone can be eligible for assisted death. The condition has prevented some people from accessing the end-of-life procedure. She also invalidated a section of the Quebec law that says people must "be at the end of life."
But the court granted an exemption to Truchon and Gladu [the plaintiffs], allowing them to seek medical aid in dying during this period if they satisfy other conditions in the law.
