The Schiavo case got me to wondering

[hermetic]

Would this happen in Canada? How does "socialized" medicine affect patients rights? Do you have living wills and DNR orders? If a person was being sustained by machines without any written wishes on file would the spouse be the sole person to decide? Or would it all be entirely left up to the doctors? Would politicians try to interfere? Thanks in advance for your input.

[Lautremont]

1. The most important difference between Canada and the US

in this case is that we don't have that powerful network of right-wing religiosity obsessed with their own falsly-named "culture of life."

I believe the spouse would make the decision, and a Schiavo case, or anything close to it, would not be very likely to happen here.

[Spazito]

2. According to all the experts, this would not happen in Canada

the law is clear. Here is an article about Canadians and this issue:

Televised political battle over comatose woman's fate grips Canadians

OTTAWA (CP) - A political battle like the one over Terri Schiavo would not happen in Canada, where most voters believe "mere biological life" should not be saved at all cost, says bioethicist Arthur Schafer.

The University of Manitoba professor says right-to-life activists who front anti-abortion campaigns are fuelling the extraordinary fight in Florida over the comatose woman's fate. "The so-called culture of life - which is involved in the abortion debate . . . has led politicians to intervene quite inappropriately," he said of the latest twists in Washington.

"The so-called religious right doesn't have anything like that influence in Canada.

"Overwhelmingly, people of all religions - and none - accept that life should not always be prolonged."

more

http://www.canada.com/news/national/story.html?id=43244b3c-e7aa-403e-bf0a-7ebe9a38f852

[ninty]

3. Just put your decision

in your will and you won't have a problem

[ConcernedCanuk]

4. Wouldn't happen in Canada

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.
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we don't need to distract people from the fact we are murdering innocent people in a country we occupy

Our government has enough to do without interfering in established FAMILY decisions.

DNR orders are enforceable here, and I'm not sure if the Spouse would be the only person to decide, but I'm pretty sure it would at least be a family member, or an authorized guardian - but definitely NOT our Government (thank gawd)

and no, it wouldn't be left entirely up to the doctors, and I think only a politician with political suicidal ambitions would try to interfere . .

We're OK with gay people marrying - remember??

Interfering in peoples' lifestyles up here is a big no-no

We don't WANT everyone to be the same!!