Evelyn Martens has recently been charged with counselling Leyanne
Burchell of Vancouver BC, to commit suicide on June 26, 2002; and Monique
Charest of Duncan BC, to commit suicide on January 7, 2002.
Evelyn
Martens is a leading member of the Canadian Right to Die Society where she
assists John Hofsess, founder of the Right to Die Society of
Canada.
Information as to what Martens did or how she did it is
unknown due to a court ordered publication ban but police are reviewing
other unexplained sudden deaths.
In Canada it is illegal to
counsel, aid or abet someone to commit suicide. Section 241 of the
Criminal Code states: Every one who (a) counsels a person to commit
suicide, or (b) aids or abets a person to commit suicide, whether suicide
ensues or not, is guilty of an offense and liable to imprisonment for a
term not exceeding fourteen years.
The Right to Die Society of
Canada is not just a lobby group that attempts to change the minds of
politicians and the Canadian public. They are an organization that
outwardly thwarts and ignores our Canadian laws in order
to extend
their views about radical individual autonomy.
From our knowledge
Evelyn Martens does not have a degree in Psychology, Psychiatry and is not
a social worker who’s expertise is depression and suicide counselling. She
is not concerned with directing depressed or suicidal persons toward other
options. She is an activist who has decided to take the law in her own
hands.
In the same way, Ruth von Fuchs of the Canadian Right to Die
Society is involved with producing and distributing the "Exit Bag -
Suicide Bag" world-wide. This plastic bag has been designed for optimum
effectiveness in
killing persons who wear the bag. To aid or abet
suicide is illegal in Canada.
The suicide bag is not only
tailor-made for committing suicide, but it is also useful as a device to
be put over the head of your unsuspecting elderly mother-in-law or a
person with a disability. The production of suicide
gadgets directly
threaten vulnerable persons with disabilities or elderly Canadians who’s
care is considered too onerous or expensive.
When Ruth von Fuchs
was featured on a call-in television show on January 15, 2002 she stated
that her training to assist people commit suicide was that she was a:
‘caring, non-judgmental person.’ In other words she is not trained to help
people and is primarily concerned about recklessly disregarding the laws
and safeguards that exist to protect vulnerable Canadians in order
to
effect a fanatic vision.
The Euthanasia Prevention Coalition
supports our current laws. Our legal counsel and disability activist, Hugh
Scher stated that: "These are criminal code offenses for good reasons.
Particularly they are there to protect the
vulnerable, they are there
to protect the victims whose lives will be taken with or without
consent."
Disability Rights Activist Mark Pickup from Alberta
reacted by stating: "Is the issue one of choice in dying? No, its
something larger. The bigotry of utilitarianism. If Granny Martens helped
a depressed suicidal but healthy teenager commit suicide, she would be
universally reviled. Are the incurably ill or disabled lives not worth
living? Is it OK to assist them in death?"
Interestingly, just this
week researchers in Oregon have released a study that states that almost
90% of those who request assistance in suicide in Oregon, change their
minds. Dr. Susan Tolle, director of the Center for Ethics in Health Care
at Oregon Health & Science University stated that: ‘most seriously ill
people who ask about doctor-assisted suicide are actually afraid
of
pain or other issues and need to be reassured.’ Dr. Tolle said that: "The
doctor should ask, ‘What are you afraid of? What are you worried about?’"
They should then provide the proper care.
Did Evelyn Martens ask
her suicide victims what they were afraid of, or what they were worried
about? Did she direct them to where they could find the care that they
needed?
Assisted suicide does not care for the needs of the
individual nor does it bring a death with dignity.
The Euthanasia
Prevention Coalition is committed to maintaining the current laws that
protect all Canadians and we will demand that the full weight of the law
be used to stop other death zealots from murdering and pressuring others
to kill themselves. We will continue to direct people toward the
compassionate care they need.
By Alex Schadenberg
Executive
Director, Euthanasia Prevention Coalition
Email: info@epcc.ca
yet more: VM141 - Euthanasia Continued |