Skip to content

Details

As it's November, we meet on the SECOND Monday due to the Melbourne Cup 'long weekend' covering the first.

This month's text is a long form article rather than a book. Thanks to George for the following description:

The 'Canada is killing itself' article looks at some disquieting developments in the evolution of Canada's MAID (Medical Assistance in Dying) program.* MAID extols patient 'autonomy' above all else and this, many argue, has applied the 'customer is always right' principle to the approach to assisted dying when, as we all know, the customer is not always right. The numbers of deaths via MAID is now staggering (7% of all deaths in Quebec; and something like 5% across the country. This article teases out some of the dilemmas and challenges, and give real pause for thought, i.e. Should those with mental health conditions have access? how might Alzheimer's sufferers access MAID when they might forget or change their minds at a moments notice?' Should minors have access to it when they may not have capacity to apply perspective? why not increase expenditure on welfare and social services to ameliorate suffering, and help people cope?...all these issues are now being confronted as Canada expands the service.
*Our own program in Victoria was the first, but now regarded as the worst of such programs because it was/is so restrictive. That's changing a little, but it's still hard for people to access in many circumstances.

Events in Melbourne, AU
Book Club
Book Lovers
Non Fiction Book Club
Reading
Non-Fiction Writing

Members are also interested in