Canada's doctor-assisted suicide has been approved by its highest court on Friday. This means the ban that has hindered such practice has been lifted.
According to Yahoo! News, Canada's doctor-assisted suicide law aims to help mentally-competent adults suffering from incurable diseases enlist legal medical help in committing suicide.
The Canada Supreme Court has allowed doctors to assist people asking to end their own lives in specific situations.
CBC News has learned that the court has given federal and provincial governments up to 12 months to craft a legislation so that the ban on doctor-assisted suicide will be lifted.
"It has very far-reaching implications so we intend to take the time to look at this decision carefully, thoughtfully," Justice Minister Peter MacKay said.
The main issue now is whether the legislation will be completed before the next federal election, but MacKay says this is just a "consideration but not the primary consideration." He added, "The most important part of what Parliament will do is how we protect all Canadians' rights and interests in this particular case."
The fight to lift the ban against doctor-assisted suicide comes after families of two women in westernmost British Columbia province who have since died raised their concern, with support from civil liberties group, Aljazeera reports.
One of the two, Gloria taylor, reportedly died of an infection following a neurodegenerative disease.
The other woman, Kay Carter, died through a doctor-assisted suicide since she feared of "dying inch by inch" at the age of 89.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
