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                     Canada Announcing Assisted Suicide Law

   by Wayne Lee

   Canada is announcing a new assisted-suicide law Thursday, more than a
   year after the country's Supreme Court struck down measures that banned
   euthanasia, declaring that outlawing it deprives people of the ability
   to die with dignity and autonomy.

   The highly-anticipated legislation, to be announced by Canada's justice
   minister, will reveal who is eligible for physician-assisted suicide
   and under what circumstances.

   The measure will exclude mentally ill and psychiatric patients,
   according to a senior Canadian official speaking anonymously to the
   Associated Press because the official was not authorized to disclose
   details.

   After striking down the assisted-suicide law 14 months ago, the high
   court delayed the ruling in order to give lawmakers time to craft new
   legislation.

   The decision to strike down the law was prompted by cases related to
   two British Columbia women who have since died.The ruling reversed a
   Supreme Court decision in 1993, when justices were concerned that
   vulnerable people could not be adequately protected.

   The Canadian legislature has until June 6 to pass an assisted suicide
   bill.If it doesn't, there will be no such law.Quebec is an exception,
   since it has had its own measure on the books since December.

   Doctors may legally help people die in other countries including
   Albania, Colombia, Germany, Japan, Switzerland and in five U.S.
   states.Assisted suicide is also legal under certain strict conditions
   in Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands.
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   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/canada-assisted-suicide-law/3285673.h
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References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/canada-assisted-suicide-law/3285673.html