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"241. Everyone who counsels a person to commit suicide or aids or abets a person to commit suicide, whether suicide ensues or not, is guilty of an indictable offence and liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding fourteen years." .
There is no special provision for euthanasia just because it is a special category of murder based on a motive of compassion. Therefore, legally, Euthanasia is considered murder, plain and simple. Suicide, however, is not a criminal offence. The bottom line is individuals who are physically able to end their own lives may do so legally in Canada, and those who are physically challenged and need physical assistance may not. While the Code is strict in its letter, actual cases of people being convicted after carrying out euthanasia or assisted suicide have been extremely rare in Canada. Although they were rare, the few cases related to euthanasia that did take place in court all upheld the laws mentioned above and at the same time sparked controversy and debate, creating a climate for legal change. .
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. ALS is a debilitating disease that attacks the central nervous system, eventually causing death. The Rodriguez case attracted national attention and opened a debate that would last for decades. The sensitive nature of the issue was underlined on October 24, 1993 when Robert Latimer intentionally killed his 12-year-old daughter, Tracy, with carbon monoxide in the cab of his truck. Tracy suffered from severe palsy and could not talk, walk, or take care of herself. At the time of her death she weighed 38 pounds.
