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  Canada plans new law on assisted suicide

Canada plans new law on assisted suicide

AP
Published : Apr 15, 2016, 12:04 am IST
Updated : Apr 15, 2016, 12:04 am IST

Canada’s new assisted suicide law will only apply to Canadians and permanent residents, meaning Americans won’t be able to travel to Canada to die.

Canada’s new assisted suicide law will only apply to Canadians and permanent residents, meaning Americans won’t be able to travel to Canada to die.

A senior government official said visitors will be excluded under the new law to be announced Thursday, precluding the prospect of suicide tourism. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to discuss details ahead of the announcement.

The official said to take advantage of the law the person would have to be eligible for health services in Canada.

The law also excludes the mentally ill and does not permit advance requests to end one’s life in the future.

Canada’s Supreme Court in 2015 struck down laws that bar doctors from helping someone die, but put the ruling on hold while the government came up with a new law.

New Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Liberal government asked for a four-month extension to come up with the new law. Canada’s justice and health ministers are due to announce details on Thursday.

Assisted suicide is legal in Switzerland, Germany, Albania, Colombia, Japan and in the US states of Washington, Oregon, Vermont, New Mexico and Montana.

Location: Canada, Ontario, Toronto