B.C. judge strikes down law making physician-assisted suicide illegal - Judge finds law unconstitutional

By NEAL HALL, VANCOUVER SUNJune 15, 2012 11:42 AM

VANCOUVER - A B.C. Judge decided Friday that the Criminal Code provisions making physician-assisted death illegal are invalid.  B.C. Supreme Court Justice Lynn Smith ruled that the current law violates the constitutional rights of the three plaintiffs who led the landmark legal challenge. "They succeed because the provisions unjustifiably infringe the equality rights of Gloria Taylor and the rights to life, liberty and security of the person of Lee Carter and Hollis Johnson," the judge concluded in a 395-page written judgment released today. While declaring the law against euthanasia invalid, the judge suspended that declaration for one year. (more)