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Canadian law on assisting suicide:
241. Every one who
whether suicide ensues or not, is guilty of an indictable offence and liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding fourteen years.
R.S., 1985, c. C-46, s. 241; R.S., 1985, c. 27 (1st Supp.), s. 7.
The question Canadian ashers are faced with is the applicability of this law to discussion on alt.suicide.holiday. The Special Prosecutor's Report in re the death of Susan Jane Rodriguez notes in part that there existed "considerable public debate on the moral and ethical issues raised by her application" to commit suicide. The Special Prosecutor found no culpability in the idea of public debate, or, moreover, in private comments that may have mirrored that debate. USENET is a public forum for the discussion of topics such as suicide.
Although, as with suicide itself, each person must find his or her own answers to what is right, posting general information about suicide methods on alt.suicide.holiday is a general publication of information, unless it is specifically directed at a person.
Special note: discussion of the possible implications of law are academic in nature. The author claims no license to practice law in any jurisdiction. This analysis and provision of links and statutory information is provided without remuneration or expectation thereof.
Last update: Saturday, August 19, 2000 10:27
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