MEDICO-LEGAL SOC TORONTO NOV. 6 Wed.

MLST Dinner Program: Brian Cuthbertson et al. v. Hassan Rasouli Wednesday, November 6, 2013 5:30 p.m. Reception, 6:00 p.m. Dinner 7:00 p.m. Presentations Metropolitan Hotel (Soon to be Doubletree by Hilton - 108 Chestnut Street, Toronto) On Friday October 18th, the Supreme Court of Canada released its decision in Brian Cuthbertson, et al. v. Hassan Rasouli by his Litigation Guardian and Substitute decision-maker, Parichehr Salasel (Ont) (34362). A 5-2 majority of the Supreme Court in Rasouli dismissed the appeal. The majority found that withdrawal of life support requires consent because the act of withdrawing life support is treatment, as it serves a “health-related purpose” by preventing suffering and indignity at the end of life, is closely associated with palliative care, and entails physical interference. The Court held that the withdrawal of life support “impacts patient autonomy in the most fundamental way.” The Supreme Court drew a distinction between the withdrawal of life-sustaining treatments and that of other medical services. The MLST has convened a panel of physicians and lawyers with intimate knowledge of the case to comment on the future implications of the decision for physicians, hospitals and lawyers. Be prepared to attend what promises to be a very lively and informative event -with perspectives on the case that only The Medico-Legal Society of Toronto can present. Program Chair: Daphne Jarvis, Borden Ladner Gervais LLP and First Vice-President, MLST Other Commentators: Andrew Faith, Polley Faith, LLP and Member of Council, MLST Dr. Andrew Baker, Chief of Critical Care Medicine, St. Michael's Hospital and Member of Council, MLST