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Supreme Court strikes down ban on physician-assisted dying

February 09, 2015

The Supreme Court of Canada has held that the Criminal Code prohibition against physician-assisted dying violates the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

The Court held that the criminal prohibition was unconstitutional because it interfered with an individual’s ability to make decisions concerning bodily integrity and medical care, and did so in a manner that was overbroad. This constituted a violation of s. 7 of the Charter, which protects the right to life and security of the person and the right not to be deprived thereof except in accordance with the principles of fundamental justice.

Read a summary of the case here.

Lawyers

Kelly Doctor, Daniel Sheppard

Practice Areas

Constitutional Law, Criminal Law