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B.C. government lawyer warns against ‘abrupt’ ruling in assisted dying lawsuit

On Thursday, arguments continued in the Supreme Court of British Columbia as the family of Samantha Neill challenged the right of faith-based healthcare institutions to refuse MAID based on religious beliefs.
In 2023, Neill sought MAID while suffering from cervical cancer but was denied access at Paul Hospital, operated by Providence Health Care, prompting what her mother described as an "unbearably painful" transfer.
David Bell, a lawyer for Vancouver Coastal Health, stated its MAID policy "appropriately balances the rights and interests of patients with those of the organizations that choose not to deliver a service based on their sincerely held religious beliefs."
Government lawyer Alison Brown warned that forcing faith-based providers to offer MAID ignores that it was a "red line" for Providence, cautioning against a "sudden and abrupt" ruling that could disrupt patient care.
To prevent a "tragic irony" where patients are harmed by service disruptions, Brown urged the Supreme Court to suspend any findings of constitutional invalidity and allow for "targeted submissions" on an appropriate remedy.

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B.C. government lawyer warns against ‘abrupt’ ruling in assisted dying lawsuit

VANCOUVER - A lawyer for the British Columbia government has warned a court against a "sudden and abrupt" ruling in a lawsuit aimed at expanding access to medical assistance in dying in Catholic-run hospitals, saying it would be a "tragic…

2 hours ago·Toronto, Canada

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