A coalition of disability rights organizations has launched a Charter challenge against a part of Canada91裸聊视频檚 law on medical assistance in dying, calling it an 91裸聊视频渁bandonment91裸聊视频� of people with disabilities.

The group announced Thursday that it had filed a notice of application to challenge what91裸聊视频檚 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.

91裸聊视频淎 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,91裸聊视频� the coalition claimed in its filing against the federal government in Ontario91裸聊视频檚 Superior Court.

91裸聊视频淭here is no deprivation that is more serious and more irrevocable than causing someone who is not otherwise dying to die.91裸聊视频�

A spokesperson for the Department of Justice called MAID a 91裸聊视频渃omplex and deeply personal issue.91裸聊视频�

91裸聊视频淭he government of Canada is committed to ensuring our laws reflect Canadians91裸聊视频� needs, protect those who may be vulnerable, and support autonomy and freedom of choice,91裸聊视频� Ian McLeod wrote in an emailed response to The Canadian Press. 91裸聊视频淲e will further present the government91裸聊视频檚 position in our submissions in court.91裸聊视频�

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 Women91裸聊视频檚 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.

91裸聊视频淭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,91裸聊视频� she said at a news conference where the groups detailed their legal challenge.

91裸聊视频淭his isn91裸聊视频檛 compassion. It91裸聊视频檚 abandonment.91裸聊视频�

The group does not oppose MAID at large, but is against the specific track two part of the law because it 91裸聊视频渟ingles out91裸聊视频� 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 91裸聊视频渋ncentivize death91裸聊视频� over other options for people with disabilities.

91裸聊视频淒eath should not be a solution for disabled people who experience intolerable suffering but are otherwise not at the end of their lives,91裸聊视频� 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.

91裸聊视频淲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,91裸聊视频� 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.

91裸聊视频淧eople with disabilities are being not just pushed to the margins, but driven off the cliff unless services and supports are in place,91裸聊视频� 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 she91裸聊视频檇 considered accessing MAID 91裸聊视频� something she found 91裸聊视频渟tunning.91裸聊视频�

91裸聊视频淚 don91裸聊视频檛 suffer because of my disability,91裸聊视频� Walkus said. 91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 other people91裸聊视频檚 perceptions, it91裸聊视频檚 the physical environment, the attitudinal environment, the policies and the support services, or lack of them 91裸聊视频� that91裸聊视频檚 what disables me and puts me in a position of suffering, not my disability.91裸聊视频�