(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – Most people in Canada support the legalization of euthanasia, according to a poll by Angus Reid Public Opinion. 67 per cent of respondents share this point of view, down four points since August.
(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – Most people in Canada support the legalization of euthanasia, according to a poll by Angus Reid Public Opinion. 67 per cent of respondents share this point of view, down four points since August.
Yesterday, legislators in the Canadian province of Quebec began hearings on euthanasia. Members of the standing committee on health and social services are expected to hear from about 30 people on the subject, and will later use the findings to launch a public consultation on euthanasia in the province.
Dr. Yves Lamontagne, president of the Quebec College of Physicians, offered his views on legalizing euthanasia, saying, "That the person has a choice, I respect that. But what we do not want is the physician becoming the executor of someone else’s choice."
Quebec lawmakers are not in a position to draft rules and regulations on euthanasia. Any legislation on the matter must be approved at the federal level.
The Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Albania and Thailand allow for some form of euthanasia, as well as the states of Oregon and Washington in the United States.
Polling Data
Generally speaking, do you support or oppose legalizing euthanasia in Canada?
|
|
Feb. 2010 |
Aug. 2009 |
|
Support |
67% |
71% |
|
Oppose |
23% |
21% |
|
Not sure |
10% |
8% |
Source: Angus Reid Public Opinion
Methodology: Online interviews with 1,003 Canada adults, conducted on Feb. 2 and Feb. 3, 2010. Margin of error is 3.1 per cent.
