Vancouver PL Cancels Program By Assisted Suicide Organization
Director advised presentation would be against criminal code
Lynn Blumenstein -- Library Journal, 9/23/2009
- Director's decision; advised by counsel, police
- Civil Liberties Assoc. to plead case at board meeting
- VPL was only public venue on tour
The Vancouver Public Library (VPL), BC, has cancelled a workshop organized by Exit International, an Australian-based assisted suicide organization, prompting a protest from the BC Civil Liberties Association (BCCCLA).
The decision was made by City Librarian Paul Whitney based on feedback from legal counsel and the Vancouver Police Department; they expressed concern over the legality of the program content, which was to include "suicide strategies" for those over 50 and seriously ill. The workshop was to have taken place earlier this month at the Central Library.
Program could be illegal
According to a VPL statement, the program "could well be in contravention of Section 241 of the Criminal Code which states that it is an indictable offence to counsel or aid or abet any person to commit suicide."
"This was a difficult decision as the Library holds freedom of speech and access to information as core values," said Whitney. "The library is not, however, prepared to be party to a probable criminal offense which could result in a loss of life."
The proposed Exit International presentation is in two parts. The first part discusses the politics of the right-to-die issue and is open to the public. The second half of the presentation is restricted to those with terminal illnesses and those who over 50; it discusses in detail methods of committing suicide. VPL has objected only to the second part of the presentation.
Support for VPL
John Hof, president of Campaign Life Coalition British Columbia, has weighed in on the side of VPL in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer's Book Patrol blog. "Carrying a book about an illegal activity is not equivalent to holding a seminar on how to accomplish such an activity," he said. ""I am certain the library has books about robbing banks, making bombs, and all sorts of other illegal activity. Can we expect 'how to' workshops on these things in the near future?"
Civil Liberties Association objections
BCCLA has asked VPL to reverse its decision and will present its case at tonight’s regularly scheduled board meeting. VPL’s decision is based on VPL management’s mistaken interpretation of the situation as a legal liability, BCCLA executive director David Eby told LJ. VPL is inappropriately restricting free speech, he said.
This is the first visit to North America for Exit International executive director Dr. Philip Nitschke. VPL was to be the site of his first presentation, said Eby, followed by several visits along the west coast of the United States. According to Eby, VPL was scheduled as the only public venue in the tour.
Exit's POV
Nitschke said in an Exit International statement, "We are very surprised by the Library’s reaction to our meeting plans. The Canadian Criminal Code is exactly the same as in Australia and in the 12 years of holding such events, we have had very few problems."
He continued, "At our meetings, Exit does not encourage people to suicide any more than we encourage people not to suicide... We... have a sensible discussion about these issues and to answer people’s questions. Rational adults (average age 75 years) are quite capable of making their own decisions, but they can’t do this without access to good information."
Exit International isn’t interested in litigation, said Eby. If VPL doesn’t change its decision, the organization will find another venue in Vancouver. A date of November 3 has already been scheduled, according to the Vancouver Courier.
Contact the author: Lynn.LJarticles@gmail.com
