Doctors against assisted dying hold one last protest before appeal date

Quebec's assisted dying law, only a few days old, will be challenged in the Court of Appeal on Friday. In the meantime, opponents of doctor-assisted death are speaking out.

The Coalition of Physicians for Social Justice says Quebec should offer patients more care instead of helping them end their lives. The coalition wants to see emphasis on palliative care rather than end-of-life, especially for patients facing long-term illness.

One opponent of Bill 52, which came into effect on Dec 10, is Sylvain Bourré. When his wife Shirley was in a coma, he says doctors suggested pulling the plug.

He refused, and she eventually recovered.

Dr. Paul Saba, the head of the coalition of physicians, says cases like the Bourre's are too common.

"Doctors cannot always know the outcomes, we cannot always be correct in our prognosticating. If euthanasia comes into effect there will be more stories like this," he said.

He says 70 per cent of Quebecers don't have access to adequate palliative care.

"The question is, is it a real choice for patients to have their suffering alleviated when they don't have any other options," he said.

Both sides will make their arguments in court on Dec. 18.