加拿大或将允许精神病人安乐死

加拿大已经有世界上最宽松自由的辅助死亡法律，允许身患绝症和慢性病的加拿大人进行接受辅助死亡。

双语精读

Canada already has one of the most liberal assisted death laws in the world, offering the practice to terminally and chronically ill Canadians.

加拿大已经有世界上最宽松自由的辅助死亡法律，允许身患绝症和慢性病的加拿大人进行接受辅助死亡。

But under a law scheduled to take effect in March assisted dying would also become accessible to people whose only medical condition is mental illness, making Canada one of about half a dozen countries to permit the procedure for that category of people.

但根据一项将在3月生效的法律，加拿大也将允许健康问题仅为精神疾病的人接受辅助死亡，这将让加拿大成为允许这类人接受辅助死亡的六个国家之一。

That move has divided Canadians, some of whom view it as a sign that the country's public health care system is not offering adequate psychiatric care, which is notoriously underfunded and in high demand.

加拿大人对这个举措意见不一，一些人认为，这表明加拿大的公共医疗体系没有提供足够的精神病治疗，在加拿大，众所周知这方面的资金严重不足，而需求极其旺盛。

The government of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, which has been criticized for its rollout of the policy, has defended its actions by pointing to a 2019 court decision in Quebec that officials say mandates the expansion.

贾斯廷·特鲁多政府因推出这项政策而受到批评，该政府援引2019年魁北克的一项法院裁决为自己辩护，官员们称这一裁决为扩大辅助死亡的范围提供了授权。

Members of the Conservative Party have accused the government of promoting a "culture of death." There has also been opposition from politicians on the left who would like the government to focus its health policy on expanding mental health care.

保守党成员指责政府推行“死亡文化”。一些左翼政客也表示强烈反对，他们希望政府将健康卫生政策的重点放在提供更多心理健康服务方面。

Jason French is among those building a case for why a doctor should help him die.

杰森·弗伦奇是提出证据证明为什么医生应该帮助他死去的人之一。

With copies of a document describing his troubled mental health history tucked in his backpack, he attended an event in Toronto to lobby for making assisted dying available to people like him.

他的背包里塞着一份文件的副本，上面描述了让他饱受折磨的精神病史，他背着背包参加了多伦多的一场活动，去向人们游说，希望像他这样的人可以接受辅助死亡。

He has severe depression and has tried twice to end his own life, he said. "My goal from the start was to get better," said Mr. French, of Toronto, who agreed to share his name, but not his age because so many in his life don't know about his illness.

他说，他患有严重的抑郁症，曾两次试图结束自己的生命。“我一开始的目标是让病情好转，”来自多伦多的弗伦奇说。他同意透露自己的名字，但不愿透露自己的年龄，因为他生活中的很多人都不知道他有抑郁症。

"Unfortunately, I'm resistant to all these treatments and the bottom line is, I can't keep suffering. I can't keep living my life like this," he said.

“不幸的是，所有治疗办法都对我不起作用，而我的底线是，我不能继续受折磨了。我不能再这样活下去了。”他说。

But Dr. John Maher, a psychiatrist in Barrie, Ontario, who specializes in treating complex cases that often take years to improve, said he was concerned that hopeless patients will opt for assisted death instead.

来自安大略省巴里市的精神病学家约翰·马赫专门治疗往往需要数年才能好转的复杂病例，他说，他担心绝望的患者会选择辅助死亡（而非治疗）。

"I'm trying to keep my patients alive," he said. "What does it mean for the role of the physician, as a healer, as a bringer of hope, to be offering death? And what does it mean in practice?"

“我在努力让我的病人活下去，”他说。“医生作为救死扶伤的人、作为带来希望的人，却向病人提供死亡，这意味着什么？而且这在实践中又意味着什么？”

Canada's existing assisted death law applies only to people who are terminally ill or living with physical disabilities or chronic, incurable conditions.

加拿大现行的辅助死亡法律只适用于身患绝症，或患有肢体残疾或慢性不治之症的人。

The country's Supreme Court decriminalized assisted death in 2015 and ruled that forcing Canadians to cope with intolerable suffering infringes on fundamental rights to liberty and security.

该国最高法院于2015年将辅助死亡合法化，并裁定强迫加拿大人应对无法忍受的痛苦侵犯了公民享有自由和安全的基本权利。

词汇预习

expansion [高考]
美[ɪkˈspænʃn] | 英[ɪkˈspænʃn]
n. 膨胀；扩展；扩充
cope [高考]
美[koʊp] | 英[kəʊp]
vi. 应付；对抗；妥善处理 vt. 笼罩；盖上斗篷 n. 长袍；斗篷状物
depression [高考]
美[dɪˈpreʃn] | 英[dɪˈpreʃn]
n. 沮丧；萧条
suffering [高考]
美[ˈsʌfərɪŋ] | 英[ˈsʌfərɪŋ]
n. 痛苦；受难
opposition [高考]
美[ˌɑːpəˈzɪʃn] | 英[ˌɒpəˈzɪʃn]
n. 反对；敌对；在野党
resistant [高考]
美[rɪˈzɪstənt] | 英[rɪˈzɪstənt]
adj. 抵抗的，反抗的；顽固的 n. 抵抗者
demand [高考]
美[dɪˈmænd] | 英[dɪˈmɑːnd]
n. 要求；需求 v. 要求；查问；需要
complex [高考]
美[kəmˈpleks , ˈkɑːmpleks] | 英[ˈkɒmpleks]
adj. 复杂的；合成的；复合的 n. 综合体；复合体；[医]综合症状；[心]情结
mental [高考]
美[ˈmentl] | 英[ˈmentl]
adj. 思想的；心理的；精神的；脑力的 n. 精神病患者
permit [高考]
美[pərˈmɪt , ˈpɜːrmɪt] | 英[pəˈmɪt , ˈpɜːmɪt]
n. 许可证；执照 v. 允许；许可
security [高考]
美[sɪˈkjʊrəti] | 英[sɪˈkjʊərəti]
n. 安全；保证；证券；债券；抵押；防护措施
document [高考]
美[ˈdɑːkjumənt , ˈdɑːkjument] | 英[ˈdɒkjumənt , ˈdɒkjument]
n. 文件；公文；文档 vt. 记载；(用文件等)证明
accessible [高考]
美[əkˈsesəbl] | 英[əkˈsesəbl]
adj. 可得到的；易接近的；可进入的；易受影响的；易理解的
fundamental [高考]
美[ˌfʌndəˈmentl] | 英[ˌfʌndəˈmentl]
adj. 基本的；根本的；重要的 n. 基础；基本原理
severe [高考]
美[sɪˈvɪr] | 英[sɪˈvɪə(r)]
adj. 严厉的；严重的；剧烈的；严格的；严峻的
adequate [高考]
美[ˈædɪkwət] | 英[ˈædɪkwət]
adj. 足够的；适当的；能胜任的
procedure [高考]
美[prəˈsiːdʒər] | 英[prəˈsiːdʒə(r)]
n. 步骤；手术；（商业、法律或政治上的）程序
liberty [高考]
美[ˈlɪbərti] | 英[ˈlɪbəti]
n. 自由；自由权；冒失
physician [高考]
美[fɪˈzɪʃn] | 英[fɪˈzɪʃn]
n. 内科医生
cope with [高考]
美[koʊp wɪð] | 英[kəʊp wɪð]
对付；应付；处理
in practice [高考]
美[ɪn 'præktɪs] | 英[ɪn 'præktɪs]
在实践中；在不断练习中；实际上
living [高考]
美[ˈlɪvɪŋ] | 英[ˈlɪvɪŋ]
adj. 活着的；生动的 n. 生活；生计
would [高考]
美[wʊd , wəd] | 英[wʊd , wəd]
aux. 将；可能；大概；总会；愿意；will的过去式
liberal [四级]
美[ˈlɪbərəl] | 英[ˈlɪbərəl]
adj. 慷慨的；大方的；开明的；自由主义的 n. 自由主义者；开明的人
lobby [四级]
美[ˈlɑːbi] | 英[ˈlɒbi]
n. 大厅；民众接待厅；游说议员者 v. 游说
chronic [四级]
美[ˈkrɑːnɪk] | 英[ˈkrɒnɪk]
adj. 长期的；慢性的；惯常的
psychiatrist [四级]
美[saɪˈkaɪətrɪst] | 英[saɪˈkaɪətrɪst]
n. 精神病医师；精神病学家
resistant to [四级]
美[rɪˈzɪstənt tu] | 英[rɪˈzɪstənt tu:]
对 ... 有抵抗力的；耐 ... 的
existing [四级]
美[ɪɡˈzɪstɪŋ] | 英[ɪɡˈzɪstɪŋ]
adj. 现存的；现有的
concerned [四级]
美[kənˈsɜːrnd] | 英[kənˈsɜːnd]
adj. 担忧的；关心的；关切的；有关的
offering [四级]
美[ˈɔːfərɪŋ] | 英[ˈɒfərɪŋ]
n. 供品；作品；出售物
opt [四级]
美[ɑːpt] | 英[ɒpt]
vi. 选择；决定
dying [四级]
美[ˈdaɪɪŋ] | 英[ˈdaɪɪŋ]
adj. 垂死的；临终的 n. 死；死亡
chronically [六级]
美['krɒnɪklɪ] | 英['krɒnɪklɪ]
adv. 长期地
mental illness [专四]
美[ˈmɛntl ˈɪlnɪs] | 英[ˈmentl ˈilnis]
n. 精神病
scheduled [专四]
美['skedʒəld] | 英['ʃedju:ld]
adj. 预定的；预先安排的
trying [专八]
美[ˈtraɪɪŋ] | 英[ˈtraɪɪŋ]
adj. 难受的；令人厌烦的
intolerable [考研]
美[ɪnˈtɑlərəbl] | 英[ɪnˈtɒlərəbl]
adj. 无法忍受的；难耐的
take effect [考研]
美[teɪk ɪ'fekt] | 英[teɪk ɪ'fekt]
生效；起作用
don [托福]
美[dɑn] | 英[dɒn]
n. 先生（西班牙用语）；(牛津、剑桥大学的)指导教师 v. 穿上

重点讲解

Canada already has one of the most liberal assisted death laws in the world, offering the practice to terminally and chronically ill Canadians.

加拿大已经有世界上最宽松自由的辅助死亡法律，允许身患绝症和慢性病的加拿大人进行接受辅助死亡。

liberal adj. 不严格的；自由的

【例】The university has a liberal policy on freedom of speech.

这所大学对言论自由的政策很宽松。

liberal parents 开明的/管教不严的父母

【近义词】relaxed/lax adj. 宽松的/松懈的

【反义词】strict/rigorous adj. 严格的

但根据一项将在3月生效的法律，加拿大也将允许健康问题仅为精神疾病的人接受辅助死亡，这将让加拿大成为允许这类人接受辅助死亡的六个国家之一。

liberal adj. 不严格的；自由的

【例】The university has a liberal policy on freedom of speech.

这所大学对言论自由的政策很宽松。

liberal parents 开明的/管教不严的父母

【近义词】relaxed/lax adj. 宽松的/松懈的

【反义词】strict/rigorous adj. 严格的

That move has divided Canadians, some of whom view it as a sign that the country’s public health care system is not offering adequate psychiatric care, which is notoriously underfunded and in high demand.

加拿大人对这个举措意见不一，一些人认为，这表明加拿大的公共医疗体系没有提供足够的精神病治疗，在加拿大，众所周知这方面的资金严重不足，而需求极其旺盛。

divide v. 切分；使产生分歧

【例】The issue has divided the government.

这个问题在政府中引起了意见分歧。

【近义词】polarize v. 使意见两极分化

【拓展】divisive adj. 引起分歧的

【例】a divisive issue 引起分歧的问题

underfunded adj. 资金不足的

【例】Our education system is seriously underfunded.

我们的教育系统资金严重不足。

【拓展】underestimate/understaffed/underslept

低估/人手不足的/睡眠不足的

贾斯廷·特鲁多政府因推出这项政策而受到批评，该政府援引2019年魁北克的一项法院裁决为自己辩护，官员们称这一裁决为扩大辅助死亡的范围提供了授权。

mandate v.

1. 强制要求

【例】The law mandates that we should treat all candidates equally.

法律要求我们平等对待所有候选人。

2. （给政府或委员会等）提供授权

The Clear Air Act mandated new restrictions on air pollution.

《清洁空气法案》批准对空气污染的新限制性规定。

【拓展】mandatory adj. 强制的；必须履行的

opposition n. 强烈的反对

【例】the opposition to the plan

对计划的反对意见

【近义词】objection n. 反对

【反义词】support/advocacy n. 支持；拥护

【拓展】oppose v. 反对

Members of the Conservative Party have accused the government of promoting a “culture of death.” There has also been opposition from politicians on the left who would like the government to focus its health policy on expanding mental health care.

保守党成员指责政府推行“死亡文化”。一些左翼政客也表示强烈反对，他们希望政府将健康卫生政策的重点放在提供更多心理健康服务方面。

mandate v.

1. 强制要求

【例】The law mandates that we should treat all candidates equally.

法律要求我们平等对待所有候选人。

2. （给政府或委员会等）提供授权

The Clear Air Act mandated new restrictions on air pollution.

《清洁空气法案》批准对空气污染的新限制性规定。

【拓展】mandatory adj. 强制的；必须履行的

opposition n. 强烈的反对

【例】the opposition to the plan

对计划的反对意见

【近义词】objection n. 反对

【反义词】support/advocacy n. 支持；拥护

【拓展】oppose v. 反对

Jason French is among those building a case for why a doctor should help him die.

杰森·弗伦奇是提出证据证明为什么医生应该帮助他死去的人之一。

a case for sth 支持某事的论据

【例】make a case for/against private education

提出支持/反对私立教育的理由

lobby for sth 为某事而游说

【例】Farmers will lobby Congress for higher subsidies.

农民将游说国会，要求提高对农业的补贴。

【近义词】persuade/campaign v. 劝说/开展运动

With copies of a document describing his troubled mental health history tucked in his backpack, he attended an event in Toronto to lobby for making assisted dying available to people like him.

他的背包里塞着一份文件的副本，上面描述了让他饱受折磨的精神病史，他背着背包参加了多伦多的一场活动，去向人们游说，希望像他这样的人可以接受辅助死亡。

a case for sth 支持某事的论据

【例】make a case for/against private education

提出支持/反对私立教育的理由

lobby for sth 为某事而游说

【例】Farmers will lobby Congress for higher subsidies.

农民将游说国会，要求提高对农业的补贴。

【近义词】persuade/campaign v. 劝说/开展运动

He has severe depression and has tried twice to end his own life, he said. “My goal from the start was to get better,” said Mr. French, of Toronto, who agreed to share his name, but not his age because so many in his life don’t know about his illness.

他说，他患有严重的抑郁症，曾两次试图结束自己的生命。“我一开始的目标是让病情好转，”来自多伦多的弗伦奇说。他同意透露自己的名字，但不愿透露自己的年龄，因为他生活中的很多人都不知道他有抑郁症。

be resistant to

1. 有抵抗性的

【例】The bacteria are resistant to the antibiotic.

这种细菌对这种抗生素有抗药性。

2. 抵制……的

【例】Elderly people are not always resistant to change.

上了年纪的人并不总是抵制变革。

“Unfortunately, I’m resistant to all these treatments and the bottom line is, I can’t keep suffering. I can’t keep living my life like this,” he said.

“不幸的是，所有治疗办法都对我不起作用，而我的底线是，我不能继续受折磨了。我不能再这样活下去了。”他说。

be resistant to

1. 有抵抗性的

【例】The bacteria are resistant to the antibiotic.

这种细菌对这种抗生素有抗药性。

2. 抵制……的

【例】Elderly people are not always resistant to change.

上了年纪的人并不总是抵制变革。

来自安大略省巴里市的精神病学家约翰·马赫专门治疗往往需要数年才能好转的复杂病例，他说，他担心绝望的患者会选择辅助死亡（而非治疗）。

opt for 选择

【例】she opted for a career in music.

她选择了从事音乐工作。

【搭配】opt out 选择退出

【拓展】option n. 选择

“I’m trying to keep my patients alive,” he said. “What does it mean for the role of the physician, as a healer, as a bringer of hope, to be offering death? And what does it mean in practice?”

“我在努力让我的病人活下去，”他说。“医生作为救死扶伤的人、作为带来希望的人，却向病人提供死亡，这意味着什么？而且这在实践中又意味着什么？”

opt for 选择

【例】she opted for a career in music.

她选择了从事音乐工作。

【搭配】opt out 选择退出

【拓展】option n. 选择

Canada’s existing assisted death law applies only to people who are terminally ill or living with physical disabilities or chronic, incurable conditions.

加拿大现行的辅助死亡法律只适用于身患绝症，或患有肢体残疾或慢性不治之症的人。

apply to 适用于

【例】This rule applies to freshmen only.

此项规定仅适用于大一学生。

【拓展】apply sth to 把某物应用于某事

【例】apply technology to farming

比如把科技应用于农业

infringe on 侵犯（合法权益）

【例】infringe on copyrights/privacy/liberty

侵犯版权/隐私/自由

【近义词】violate v. 侵犯；违反

【反义词】comply with/protect v. 遵守/保护

The country’s Supreme Court decriminalized assisted death in 2015 and ruled that forcing Canadians to cope with intolerable suffering infringes on fundamental rights to liberty and security.

该国最高法院于2015年将辅助死亡合法化，并裁定强迫加拿大人应对无法忍受的痛苦侵犯了公民享有自由和安全的基本权利。

apply to 适用于

【例】This rule applies to freshmen only.

此项规定仅适用于大一学生。

【拓展】apply sth to 把某物应用于某事

【例】apply technology to farming

比如把科技应用于农业

infringe on 侵犯（合法权益）

【例】infringe on copyrights/privacy/liberty

侵犯版权/隐私/自由

【近义词】violate v. 侵犯；违反

【反义词】comply with/protect v. 遵守/保护

课后练习

What change is set to take effect in Canada’s assisted death law?
A. Banning assisted death for all Canadians.
B. Restricting assisted death to physical illnesses.
C. Allowing assisted death for terminally ill patients only.
D. Extending assisted death to individuals with mental illness.
One of the oppositions to the law is that ____.
A. the cost of providing assisted death is huge
B. the law is not approved by the legislative body
C. the government hasn’t invested enough to psychiatric care
D. the Conservative Party is against the Trudeau government
Jason French advocates for assisted death because ____.
A. he believes assisted death is the only way to end his suffering
B. he wants to raise public awareness of mental health issues
C. he is against the government's mental health policies
D. he is promoting a new treatment for severe depression
What does Dr. John Maher think about assisted death?
A. He is not sure whether the law is beneficial or risky to patients.
B. He thinks that assisted death is not easy to conduct in practice.
C. He believes that assisted death is a viable option for hopeless patients.
D. He is worried that the law might cause patients to lose hope too early.