A psychologist who accompanied a friend to a Swiss suicide clinic was before a professional appeals panel yesterday, accused of misconduct.
The College of Psychologists revisited the complaint against psychologist Peter Marshall, who wrote a letter to the National Post in December 2004 describing his trip to Switzerland with his friend “Su” who killed herself with the help of Dignitas, a Swiss assisted suicide organization.
Toronto psychologist Marty McKay launched the complaint, which was initially rejected by the College. McKay argued in the appeal that Marshall brought the profession into “disrepute” because “his high stature and public support for killing disabled people can reasonably be expected to have an impact,” according to a Toronto Star report.
McKay also charged the College for failing to appreciate the seriousness of Marshall’s actions, which raise “a public protection issue… after all, a woman is dead and members of the disabled community are reaching out to you, the board, to let you know they are personally afraid of what this means for them,” she added.
Euthanasia Prevention Coalition Executive Director Alex Schadenberg also attended the hearing. “I view the issue of professional medical people involved in the question of assisted suicides and euthanasia — especially in the case of suicide — as a direct threat to vulnerable people,” he emphasized.
In comments to LifeSiteNews.com today, Schadenberg added that “I believe this is a precedent setting case. If the tribunal agrees that a mental health professional can ‘leave his hat at the door’ when someone wants to commit suicide, then all suicidal people with disabilities who experience a sense of hopelessness need to worry for their life.”
(This article courtesy of LifeSiteNews.com.)
