Canadian NRI doctor sentenced two years (house arrest) for help a patient (92 yrs old) to commit suicide.

VERNON, B.C., June 12, 2007
Sant Singh

NRI Dr. Ramesh Kumar Sharma was sentenced two years less day (house arrest) accusing to help a 92-year-old woman in an attempt to commit suicide. He had entered his guilty plea March 27. 2007. Counselling or aiding a suicide, whether or not it is completed, carries a maximum prison term of 14 years under the Criminal Code. He had practised for 25 years.

• Dr. Sharma agreed to voluntarily withdraw from active clinical practise
• He is not allowed to leave his house between the hours of 7:30 pm and 6 am
• He cannot leave his property either
• He got 21 conditional sentence- include a curfew, travel restrictions, a ban on association with any group advocating euthanasia and abstention from consuming alcohol.
• He will be allowed out of the house for specific purposes including medical appointments, religious observances and work.

The police told that a large quantity of pills was found in the woman's room and the attempt was interrupted by a staff member at a local nursing home. The patient, Ruth Wolfe described herself as having a sharp mind but a failing body. She said Sharma was her long-time family physician and he shouldn't be criminally charged.

The Crown has acknowledged that the woman wanted to end her own life because her health was failing, that it was her decision and that the doctor did not encourage her to kill herself.

NRI Surinder Chawla said, Dr. Sharma, is very well known doctor in our community and great loss to Indo-Canadian community

Dr. Ramesh Kumar Sharma sentence of two years less day (house arrest) accused of helping a 92-year-old woman in an attempt to commit suicide.