Hugh Scher

Hugh Scher


Hugh Scher is an experienced Toronto health, human rights, employment and Constitutional lawyer. He has been involved in multiple precedent setting cases including:
Rasouli v. Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, 2013 SCC 53 (SCC).  Requirement of Consent to withdraw life support services at end of life and implement palliative care
Carter v. Canada (Attorney General), 2015 SCC 5 (SCC).  Constitutional challenge to Canada’s assisted suicide law
Keays v Honda, 2008 SCC 39 (SCC) – Supreme Court’s Restatement of factors to be considered in assessment of notice and damages for bad faith in manner of dismissal and record trial award of $500,000 in punitive damages.
Bentley v. Maplewood Seniors Care Society, 2015 BCCA 91 (BCCA). Challenge regarding the scope of substitute decision legislation relating to prior wishes of legally incompetent senior
Scardoni v. Hawryluck, 2004 CarswellOnt 424 (SCJ). Role of proxy decision-makers in interpretation of prior express wishes in end of life decision-making
McKitty v. Hayani, 2018 ONSC 4015 (OntSCJ) – Constitutional challenge regarding legal definition of death
Ouanounou v. Humber River Hospital (OntSCJ) – Constitutional challenge regarding legal definition of death
He lectures regularly to lawyers, hospitals, universities and government on these issues and is frequently called on by the patients, families and health care practitioners for his expertise.