A Canadian doctor has sparked controversy after suggesting that babies with severe deformities could be euthanized under the country's assisted suicide laws. Louis Roy, a member of the Quebec College of Physicians, made the comments during a 2022 parliamentary committee, which have recently resurfaced.
Doctor's Proposal Condemned
Roy stated that under current Canadian law, assisted suicide could be considered for infants up to one year old with severe ailments. Brandan Tran, Director of Public Affairs and Outreach for the Campaign Life Coalition, condemned the remarks, calling them 'the calculated killing of an infant.' Tran emphasized that these are not fringe concerns but statements from a member of a provincial medical college.
Context of the Statement
Roy was quoting a December 2021 Quebec College of Physicians statement that supported considering newborn euthanasia in cases of 'unrelievable extreme suffering.' He suggested that assisted suicide 'may be an appropriate treatment for babies' suffering from extreme pain, and that parents should have the opportunity to obtain this care for their infant.
However, Dr. Alain Naud, a family physician and advocate of assisted suicide, clarified that the proposal referred to infants with conditions incompatible with life in the short term—within days, weeks, or months.
Medical Aid in Dying (MAiD) Program
The Medical Aid in Dying program, known as MAiD, allows Canadian citizens with a 'grievous and irremediable medical condition' to end their lives with medical assistance. Currently, only those with physical ailments are eligible.
The controversy comes as former actress Claire Brosseau, 49, is pleading with the Canadian government for assisted suicide based on mental ailments, which are excluded. Brosseau suffers from manic depression, suicidal ideation, an eating disorder, bipolar disorder, substance abuse disorder, PTSD, and other illnesses. She has been battling to access euthanasia since 2021 and recently made a court appearance, stating, 'It's unbearable. Every morning I wake up I don't think I'm going to make it through the day.'
The Daily Mail has contacted the Quebec College of Physicians for comment.
