Other states in Australia allow physicians to initiate discussions about assisted suicide, Yuen pointed out, despite the existing federal euthanasia legislation in the country that creates certain obstacles to the practice.
“It’s only a matter of time before we slide further down the slippery slope,” she remarked, “but advocates for the sanctity of life will resist as much as possible.”
Paul Osborne, a spokesperson for the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, highlighted that “one of the most critical issues currently in Australia is the push to enable doctors to conduct euthanasia-related consultations remotely, either online or over the phone.”
“The Church strongly opposes this,” Osborne emphasized, “and the Australian government, at this point, agrees that it is a step too far.”
Osborne referenced a document released by the bishops’ conference last year concerning euthanasia. The manual is intended as “a resource for those tasked with addressing the spiritual and pastoral needs of patients who are accessing or seeking services aimed at ending a person’s life,” the document states.
The guidelines stipulate that priests providing sacraments to individuals contemplating suicide must make efforts to dissuade them from that course of action by elucidating how such a decision is “inconsistent with the reverence for God’s gift of life.”
“If a patient is determined to pursue a course of action, such as euthanasia, that starkly contradicts the teachings and values of the Church, then — even if the patient believes it to be just — the patient should acknowledge, or be guided to acknowledge, that it would not be appropriate to receive the sacraments,” the bishops outlined in the manual.
Dr. Moira McQueen, the executive director of the Canadian Catholic Bioethics Institute, expressed the view that the country’s euthanasia legislation “would need to be repealed” to prevent the expansion of euthanasia for mental health reasons, a prospect she deemed “highly improbable.”
Commenting on the matter, Daniel Zekveld, a policy analyst for the Canadian Association for Reformed Political Action, conveyed in a statement to CNA the organization’s opposition to the expansion of the country’s assisted suicide program since 2021 through its Care Not Kill initiative.
“Similar to numerous Canadians, healthcare professionals, and other groups, Care Not Kill has stressed the significance of suicide prevention over suicide assistance,” he stated. “Broadening euthanasia to include those with mental health conditions fosters a culture of neglect and diminishes the value of the lives of those undergoing suffering.”
Zekveld mentioned that Care Not Kill has undertaken extensive outreach efforts in this regard, including a campaign that disseminated 200,000 flyers. The organization has also promoted political involvement and has submitted reports to the government commission investigating the expansion.
“These endeavors will persist until the government halts the expansion of euthanasia for individuals with mental health issues,” he affirmed. “With a further postponement in place, we now have an additional three years to advocate for the care of, rather than the termination of, those with mental health challenges.”
Meanwhile, Fonseca reported that the Campaign Life Coalition recently played a role in passing a policy resolution at the National Convention of the Conservative Party of Canada, aimed at reinforcing the party’s opposition to euthanasia.
“We are against MAID [medical assistance in dying] for individuals with disabilities or mental health conditions who wish to end their lives due to poverty, homelessness, or lack of access to medical care,” the policy stated. “Euthanasia should not be a form of abandonment for individuals with genuine needs.”