Dr. Paul Saba: poll reveals Canadians oppose physician-assisted suicide for lack of health care

OTTAWA, Ontario - June 1, 2016 - PRLog -- The Angus Reid Poll (April 1 2016) reveals that the majority of Canadians are opposed to physician assisted suicide (PAS) and euthanasia because of lack of health care. Canadians oppose PAS because: "the cost of a patient's care is very expensive to the health care system (79%); "a person has no hope for the future and no meaning to their lives (69%); "a person has multiple health conditions and feels overwhelmed (64%); and "a person's care appears to be a burden to their family (74%)." A slim majority of 55% are in favour of PAS "because Canadians are unable to get access to medical care to treat their pain and suffering." http://angusreid.org/assisted-suicide-law/

"This reveals that Canadians want good health care and not euthanasia as the solution for the lack of access to medical care"-states Dr. Paul Saba, a family physician. "Many Canadians wait a long time for: physicians, specialists, screening, testing and treatments. Canadians' access to specialist and primary care is the lowest among 11 comparable countries."

Dr. Peter Blusanovics is a family, palliative and hospice care physician in Montreal. In reaction to Bill C-14 he states "we must first have quality health care services including palliative care before going down the dead-end road of euthanasia or physician assisted suicide. When people have health challenges and feel lonely, they may want to die even when they have many quality years left to live. We must keep people from being isolated, abandoned and left alone. We need to give our fellow citizens better choices than a lethal injection. The priority of a caring society must always be to provide the best medical care and support for all."

Presently the Canadian Federal Government contributes only 20 cents for each health care dollar spent on Canadians compared to 50 cents during the early years of Medicare. According to the Canadian Cancer Society 4 in 10 Canadians will get cancer in their lifetime. Better screening and treatment can prevent and cure cancer.

On June 1 before Parliament Hill, Dr. Saba calls on Prime Minister Trudeau and Parliamentarians to promote better health care and save lives for those who have many valuable years to live. He calls on the Canadian Parliament to set up nationally funded programmes for Cancer, Pediatric, Family, Pharma, Home, and Palliative Care. A Royal Commission on Health Care fashioned after the Romanow Commission (2002) should be launched. "Kill Bill C-14 and save lives. The urgency is to legislate for better health care and not euthanasia".

Attorney Natalia Manole, who represents Dr. Saba in his legal challenge against euthanasia, states that "In the absence of appropriate medical services, it is impossible to give a free and informed consent to receive physician-assisted suicide.  By not having access to the good care, a person may end his or her life prematurely."

Dr. Saba will be available for interviews on Parliament Hill in Ottawa during the rally against euthanasia June 1, 2016 from 12 noon to 1:30 PM