The Sue Rodriguez case documents a trial that to this day still effects the laws surrounding assisted suicide. Through this trial, questions about the right-to-die and quality of life arose. Sue Rodriguez caused a spotlight to be shined on the right-to-die debate in Canada by taking her case to the Supreme Court of Canada. Although Sue Rodriguez lost the case, she still followed through with the termination of her life with an anonymous physician, regardless of the four-to-five vote against her.
Facts.
Sue Rodriguez was a 42-year-old women that had been suffering from a terminal illness, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Rodriquez was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in 1991, a progressive, neurodegenerative diseases that causes weakening of the muscles and eventual atrophy. Sue Rodriguez had initially requested to be assisted by a qualified physician in order to terminate her life. Sue Rodriguez wanted her life to be terminated while she was still lucid and had a say in what happened to her, before the illness could take full course. Her request was denied due to a violation under The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Section 241 (b) of the Charter provides as follows, Everyone who (b) aids or abets a person to commit suicide, where suicide ensues or not, is guilty of an indictable offence and liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding fourteen years. Under these terms, the British Columbia court dismissed her case. Rodriguez then appealed the B.C. courts decision to a higher power, the Supreme Court of Canada. Rodriguez stated that section 241 (b) violated section 7, 12, and 15 of charter. and her fundamental rights as a Canadian citizen. The right to life, to not be subjected to cruel/unusual punishment, and an individual being equal before the law. In a 4 to 5 decision, Rodriguez's appeal was dismissed because the Charter section was constitutional. Although Sue Rodriquez's case was dismissed, she still carried through with her wish with the help of an anonymous physician.
Sue Rodriguez, a mother in her early thirties, died slowly of Lou Gehrig's disease. ... Physician-assisted suicide is illegal in the United State except in Oregon. ... Well, there are plenty of arguments againsst physician-assisted suicide. ... In the sense, assisted suicide would not be something new. ... Should assisted suicide be legalized? ...
Physician-assisted suicide should be legalized in Canada. ... Between 1992-1994 Canadians most important court case about physicians assisted suicide took place. ... Sue Rodriguez decided on seeking physician-assisted suicide at a time and fashion of her choosing. Sue Rodriguez's lawyer Christopher M. ... Rodriguez's case to lower court where it was denied. ...
- These were the words of the late Sue Rodriguez during her battle with the Supreme Court of Canada to legalize doctor-assisted suicide. ... In addition, the Supreme Court has also ruled in Sue Rodriguez's trial in 1993 that, "although other sections of the Charter are infringed due to prohibiting euthanasia, the law against assisted suicide is in accordance with the principles of fundamental justice- . ... One of these people who challenged these arguments in our highest court was Sue Rodriguez. Sue Rodriguez was a terminally ill patient suffering from a muscle deteriorating disease cal...
Another term used for euthanasia is assisted suicide. ... Perhaps two of the most widely discussed cases relating to euthanasia in Canada would be the Sue Rodriguez and Robert Latimer cases. On September 30, 1993, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled against Sue Rodriguez, ending her lengthy fight for the right to doctor-assisted suicide. Sue Rodriguez suffered from Amyotropic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. ... The Rodriguez case attracted national attention and opened a debate that would last for decades. ...
Pro-euthanasia people typically portray euthanasia as a case of individual liberty. ... Committing suicide is committing a sin. ... This directly appeals to the alienation of life itself by assisted suicide" (Forsythe). Although there is no law against suicide. ... He has assisted close to a hundred people since the early 1990's. ...
