Province won’t prosecute health-care officials involved in assisted deaths
Posted Jun 16, 2016 12:54:23 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
HALIFAX – Nova Scotia’s prosecution service has released its position on prosecuting health care professionals involved in a physician-assisted death.
The director of the prosecution service says no physician or member of a health-care team involved in an assisted death will be prosecuted, as long as the death falls within the scope of a 2015 Supreme Court of Canada ruling on the issue.
Martin Herschorn issued the directive to Crown attorneys across the province today, and it remains in effect until the federal government passes its legislation.
Herschorn says the prosecution service consulted with police before releasing the directive.
It falls in line with those issued by other provinces earlier this month, including Alberta, British Columbia and Newfoundland and Labrador.
The Senate has sent the federal government’s controversial bill on assisted dying back to the House of Commons with a major amendment that removes a key clause stating that only those who are near death should qualify for medical help to end their lives.
