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Physician-Assisted Suicide

By Michael D. Brophy
July 02, 2015

On Feb. 6, 2015, the Supreme Court of Canada issued a landmark ruling, overturning precedent only two decades after it held that Canadian citizens have the right to end their lives, but if done with the assistance of a physician, that physician could be held liable. This highly anticipated decision is expected to encourage the efforts of right-to-die advocates in the United States and abroad. This article considers the history of similar efforts in the United States, the reasoning behind Canada's high-court decision, and its potential impact on future litigation.

The Case

In Carter vs. Canada (Attorney General), a unanimous court held that Canada's criminal ban on physician-assisted suicide unjustifiably infringed upon individual rights.

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