A coalition of disability rights organizations has launched a Charter challenge against a part of Canada香蕉视频直播檚 law on medical assistance in dying, calling it an 香蕉视频直播渁bandonment香蕉视频直播� of people with disabilities.

The group announced Thursday that it had filed a notice of application to challenge what香蕉视频直播檚 known as track two of the MAID law, which it argues has resulted in premature deaths.

Under the law, patients whose natural deaths are not reasonably foreseeable but whose condition leads to intolerable suffering can apply for a track-two assisted death. Track one, in contrast, involves MAID applications from those whose natural death is reasonably foreseeable.

The group alleges some people with disability are seeking assisted death due to social deprivation, poverty and a lack of essential supports. It argues MAID should only be available to those whose natural death is reasonably foreseeable.

香蕉视频直播淎 law that allows people with disabilities to access state-funded death in circumstances where they cannot access state-funded supports they need to make their suffering tolerable is grossly disproportionate,香蕉视频直播� the coalition claimed in its filing against the federal government in Ontario香蕉视频直播檚 Superior Court.

香蕉视频直播淭here is no deprivation that is more serious and more irrevocable than causing someone who is not otherwise dying to die.香蕉视频直播�

A spokesperson for the Department of Justice called MAID a 香蕉视频直播渃omplex and deeply personal issue.香蕉视频直播�

香蕉视频直播淭he government of Canada is committed to ensuring our laws reflect Canadians香蕉视频直播� needs, protect those who may be vulnerable, and support autonomy and freedom of choice,香蕉视频直播� Ian McLeod wrote in an emailed response to The Canadian Press. 香蕉视频直播淲e will further present the government香蕉视频直播檚 position in our submissions in court.香蕉视频直播�

The coalition behind the Charter challenge includes national disability rights organizations Inclusion Canada, the Council of Canadians with Disabilities, Indigenous Disability Canada and the Disabled Women香蕉视频直播檚 Network of Canada. It also includes two individual plaintiffs.

Krista Carr, executive vice-president of Inclusion Canada, said track two of MAID has shown that people with disabilities need to be far better supported.

香蕉视频直播淭he law has led people with disabilities ending their lives with so much life left to live because Canada has failed and refuses to provide the support they need,香蕉视频直播� she said at a news conference where the groups detailed their legal challenge.

香蕉视频直播淭his isn香蕉视频直播檛 compassion. It香蕉视频直播檚 abandonment.香蕉视频直播�

The group does not oppose MAID at large, but is against the specific track two part of the law because it 香蕉视频直播渟ingles out香蕉视频直播� people with disabilities, Carr argued.

The coalition alleges in its legal application that because track two does not require treatment options to be exhausted before accessing MAID, it may 香蕉视频直播渋ncentivize death香蕉视频直播� over other options for people with disabilities.

香蕉视频直播淒eath should not be a solution for disabled people who experience intolerable suffering but are otherwise not at the end of their lives,香蕉视频直播� it argued.

Carr said there are deeper systemic issues people with disabilities face that the government should address, such as a lack of accessible housing, limited employment opportunities and discrimination in the health-care system.

香蕉视频直播淲hat we need is a right to readily available disability supports and funding, not a quick and readily available pathway to a state-funded death,香蕉视频直播� Carr said.

Heather Walkus, national chair of the Council of Canadians with Disabilities, said the government needs to do more to listen to people with disabilities.

香蕉视频直播淧eople with disabilities are being not just pushed to the margins, but driven off the cliff unless services and supports are in place,香蕉视频直播� she said in an interview.

Walkus, who has multiple sclerosis and vision loss, said she recently sought treatment for a hip injury and was asked by a medical professional, unprompted, if she香蕉视频直播檇 considered accessing MAID 香蕉视频直播� something she found 香蕉视频直播渟tunning.香蕉视频直播�

香蕉视频直播淚 don香蕉视频直播檛 suffer because of my disability,香蕉视频直播� Walkus said. 香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 other people香蕉视频直播檚 perceptions, it香蕉视频直播檚 the physical environment, the attitudinal environment, the policies and the support services, or lack of them 香蕉视频直播� that香蕉视频直播檚 what disables me and puts me in a position of suffering, not my disability.香蕉视频直播�