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'''Sue Rodriguez''' (née Shipley; August 2, 1950 – February 12, 1994) was a [[Canadians|Canadian]] woman who became an [[Activism|activist]] for the legalization of [[assisted suicide]] in the country. She was diagnosed with [[amyotrophic lateral sclerosis]] (ALS or [[Lou Gehrig]]'s disease) in August 1991 and given two to five years to live. As the disease progressed and knowing the often grim fates of other sufferers, Rodriguez asked to be [[Assisted suicide|assisted to die]], which was illegal in Canada under section 241(b) of the [[Criminal Code (Canada)|nation’s Criminal Code]]. A conviction for a violation carried a 14-year prison sentence.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/apr/14/canada-proposed-assisted-suicide-law-excludes-tourists Canada's proposed assisted-dying law to preclude suicide tourism ]</ref>
'''Sue Rodriguez''' (née Shipley; August 2, 1950 – February 12, 1994) was a [[Canadians|Canadian]] woman who became an [[Activism|activist]] for the legalization of [[assisted suicide]] in the country. She was diagnosed with [[amyotrophic lateral sclerosis]] (ALS or [[Lou Gehrig]]'s disease) in August 1991 and given two to five years to live. As the disease progressed and knowing the often grim fates of other sufferers, Rodriguez asked to be [[Assisted suicide|assisted to die]], which was illegal in Canada under section 241(b) of the [[Criminal Code (Canada)|nation’s Criminal Code]]. A conviction for carried a 14-year prison sentence.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/apr/14/canada-proposed-assisted-suicide-law-excludes-tourists Canada's proposed assisted-dying law to preclude suicide tourism ]</ref>


In 1993, represented by [[Lawyer|attorney]] Chris Considine, Rodriguez filed a [[lawsuit]]. [[Rodriguez v British Columbia (AG)|Her case]] challenged section 214b of the nation’s [[Criminal Code (Canada)|nation’s Criminal Code]]. She alleged it violated sections 7, 12, and 15 of the [[Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms]]. She famously asked, “If I cannot give consent to my own death, whose body is this? Who owns my life?”<ref>[http://windsorstar.com/life/who-owns-my-life-sue-rodriguez-changed-how-we-think 'Who owns my life?': Sue Rodriguez changed how we think]</ref> Rodriguez's case ultimately reached the [[Supreme Court of Canada]], which ruled against her 5-4.<ref>[https://scc-csc.lexum.com/scc-csc/scc-csc/en/item/1054/index.do Rodriguez v. British Columbia (Attorney General) - SCC Cases (Lexum)]</ref>
In 1993, represented by [[Lawyer|attorney]] Chris Considine, Rodriguez filed a [[lawsuit]]. [[Rodriguez v British Columbia (AG)|Her case]] challenged section 214b of the nation’s [[Criminal Code (Canada)|nation’s Criminal Code]]. She alleged it violated sections 7, 12, and 15 of the [[Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms]]. She famously asked, “If I cannot give consent to my own death, whose body is this? Who owns my life?”<ref>[http://windsorstar.com/life/who-owns-my-life-sue-rodriguez-changed-how-we-think 'Who owns my life?': Sue Rodriguez changed how we think]</ref> Rodriguez's case ultimately reached the [[Supreme Court of Canada]], which ruled against her 5-4.<ref>[https://scc-csc.lexum.com/scc-csc/scc-csc/en/item/1054/index.do Rodriguez v. British Columbia (Attorney General) - SCC Cases (Lexum)]</ref>


On February 12, 1994, with the assistance of an anonymous physician, Sue Rodriguez took her own life<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1994/02/15/world/woman-who-lost-a-right-to-die-case-in-canada-commits-suicide.html Woman Who Lost a Right-to-Die Case in Canada Commits Suicide]</ref> by an [[Drug overdose|overdose]] of the drug [[secobarbital]].<ref>[http://www.cbc.ca/firsthand/m_features/the-twenty-year-battle-for-medical-assistance-in-death-legislation-in-canad The Twenty Year Battle for Medically-Assisted Death Legislation in Canada]</ref> Then-[[Member of Parliament|MP]] [[Svend Robinson]], a [[Socialism in Canada|socialist]] member of the [[New Democratic Party]] (NDP), helped facilitate it. Robinson was regarded as one of Sue Rodriguez's most prominent supporters and was present at her death.<ref>Joan M. Gilmour, "Death, Dying and Decision-Making about End of Life Care" in Jocelyn Downie et al (eds), ''Canadian Health Law and Policy'' (Canada: LexisNexis, 2007), page 471</ref> Her ex-husband Henry and their son Cole were not by her request. Robinson has vowed to never reveal the identity of the physician who assisted in the suicide.
On February 12, 1994, with the assistance of an anonymous physician, Sue Rodriguez took her own life<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1994/02/15/world/woman-who-lost-a-right-to-die-case-in-canada-commits-suicide.html Woman Who Lost a Right-to-Die Case in Canada Commits Suicide]</ref> by an [[Drug overdose|overdose]] of the drug [[secobarbital]].<ref>[http://www.cbc.ca/firsthand/m_features/the-twenty-year-battle-for-medical-assistance-in-death-legislation-in-canad The Twenty Year Battle for Medically-Assisted Death Legislation in Canada]</ref> Then-[[Member of Parliament|MP]] [[Svend Robinson]], a [[Socialism in Canada|socialist]] member of the [[New Democratic Party]] (NDP), helped facilitate it. Robinson was regarded as one of Sue Rodriguez's most prominent supporters and was present at her death.<ref>Joan M. Gilmour, "Death, Dying and Decision-Making about End of Life Care" in Jocelyn Downie et al (eds), ''Canadian Health Law and Policy'' (Canada: LexisNexis, 2007), page 471</ref> Her ex-husband Henry and their son Cole were not by her request. Robinson has vowed to never reveal the identity of the physician who assisted in the suicide.

Revision as of 13:05, 22 February 2018

Susan Rodriguez Canada
Born
Sue Shipley

(1950-08-02)August 2, 1950
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
DiedFebruary 12, 1994(1994-02-12) (aged 43)
British Columbia, Canada
NationalityCanadian
Known forAmyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) sufferer who litigated for the right to die by assisted suicide

Sue Rodriguez (née Shipley; August 2, 1950 – February 12, 1994) was a Canadian woman who became an activist for the legalization of assisted suicide in the country. She was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease) in August 1991 and given two to five years to live. As the disease progressed and knowing the often grim fates of other sufferers, Rodriguez asked to be assisted to die, which was illegal in Canada under section 241(b) of the nation’s Criminal Code. A conviction for assisting another to commit suicide carried a 14-year prison sentence.[1]

In 1993, represented by attorney Chris Considine, Rodriguez filed a lawsuit. Her case challenged section 214b of the nation’s nation’s Criminal Code. She alleged it violated sections 7, 12, and 15 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. She famously asked, “If I cannot give consent to my own death, whose body is this? Who owns my life?”[2] Rodriguez's case ultimately reached the Supreme Court of Canada, which ruled against her 5-4.[3]

On February 12, 1994, with the assistance of an anonymous physician, Sue Rodriguez took her own life[4] by an overdose of the drug secobarbital.[5] Then-MP Svend Robinson, a socialist member of the New Democratic Party (NDP), helped facilitate it. Robinson was regarded as one of Sue Rodriguez's most prominent supporters and was present at her death.[6] Her ex-husband Henry and their son Cole were not by her request. Robinson has vowed to never reveal the identity of the physician who assisted in the suicide.

A similar lawsuit, Carter v Canada (AG), led to physician-assisted suicide becoming legal in the nation in June 2016.[7] ALS sufferer Gloria Taylor was a co-plaintiff in the lawsuit.[8]

Life and diagnosis

Sue Rodriguez was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba and grew up in the Toronto, suburb of Thornhill. She lived in California for a time before returning to Canada. Her first marriage to Henry Rodriguez ended after less than eight years, and she had a son.[9]

In the media

The 1998 film At the End of the Day: The Sue Rodriguez Story, which stars Wendy Crewson as Sue Rodriguez, dramatizes her story.

Legacy

On June 17, 2016, medically assisted dying became legal in Canada.[10] An emotional Svend Robinson, who now lives in Geneva, Switzerland, told the press: “Today’s ruling is a victory for compassion, for justice and for humanity. And I pay tribute to the memory of Sue Rodriguez, who with courage, passion and dignity blazed the trail that led to this historic day. She would have been thrilled".[11]

References

  1. ^ Canada's proposed assisted-dying law to preclude suicide tourism
  2. ^ 'Who owns my life?': Sue Rodriguez changed how we think
  3. ^ Rodriguez v. British Columbia (Attorney General) - SCC Cases (Lexum)
  4. ^ Woman Who Lost a Right-to-Die Case in Canada Commits Suicide
  5. ^ The Twenty Year Battle for Medically-Assisted Death Legislation in Canada
  6. ^ Joan M. Gilmour, "Death, Dying and Decision-Making about End of Life Care" in Jocelyn Downie et al (eds), Canadian Health Law and Policy (Canada: LexisNexis, 2007), page 471
  7. ^ Canada Legalizes Physician-Assisted Dying
  8. ^ Carter v. Canada: The Supreme Court of Canada's Decision on Assisted Dying
  9. ^ Who Owns My Life?: The Sue Rodriguez Story video
  10. ^ Canada's parliament passes assisted suicide bill
  11. ^ For Svend Robinson, tears as memories of Sue Rodriguez rush back


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