Campaigners have slammed discussions in the Canadian parliament over whether 'assisted suicide' should be considered for children over the age of 14.
According to reports in The Telegraph and elsewhere, supporters of euthanasia have been lobbying government to consider bringing the age of assisted suicide to 14, to allow severely disabled children to have the right to end their own lives.
But the suggestions go further: the Quebec College of Physicians also made a statement in support of euthanasia for severely disabled newborn children (infanticide), as well as for children aged 14 to 17.
Speaking on behalf of the Quebec College of Physicians to the Special Joint Committee on Medical Assistance in Dying, Dr Louis Roy recommended euthanasia for babies with ‘severe deformations’ and ‘very grave medical syndromes’.
But campaigners have criticised the college’s comments and the Canadian government for facilitating such comments.
Alex Schadenberg of the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition, said, ‘If the child is not going to survive, the child can be kept comfortable and die naturally. There’s no reason for us to kill the child.’
