Rónán Mullen (Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I was referencing a paper from the C.D. Howe Institute. I thought it was a very troubling, low level of physician home visitation and palliative home care. It suggests to me that all is not well. If I may just draw on what was asked by my friend and colleague, Deputy Gino Kenny, whether everybody there would be in favour of a more limited model of assisted suicide, such as is often cited here in respect of various American states such as Oregon, three out of five of our guests on the Canadian side would probably grab with open arms any attempt to row back on the law. The question I have is for those of our guests who do not support Canada's existing law. They have described the erosion of safeguards and restrictions through practice and vague regulation in the first place, through courts not acting where breaches are reported and the ignoring of regulations, the campaigning for the removal of safeguards and their eventual removal. One of the speakers described situations where those who do dissent in the medical profession are accused of trying to block access.

I recall Professor Theo Boer from the Netherlands, a person who was initially involved in monitoring and supported the Dutch euthanasia law, stating he has come to the point where he does not believe in any attempt to regulate this into existence because of the social impact and the effect it has. Do those witnesses who oppose the existing Canadian law feel in a position to reassure us in Ireland that were we to attempt to enact legislation along the Oregon lines, that is, assisted dying, with the doctor not directly doing the deed, if you will forgive my language, and with some assessment of prognosis in the context of terminal illness, the line could be held, in light of their experience?