Category Archives: News

Dr. Aroop Mangalik and his colleague, Dr. Katherine Morris, are part of a lawsuit filed in District Court requesting clarification of a state law.  The statute on the books makes it a fourth degree felony to help someone take his … Continue reading →

The 11-18 vote follows passionate debate over merits, protocol. Spectators witnessed several moments of political theater when Sen. Dick Sears questioned Sen. Hinda Miller who had pressed for the debate, asking her to explain legal and ethical considerations of the … Continue reading →

The long-proposed “death with dignity” bill will have to wait another year to see if Vermont legislators support or oppose it. Senators have proposed the bill for the past 10 years. Vermont Digger “Death with dignity bill falls on Senate … Continue reading →

The question is whether or not the amendment will be considered germane to the tanning bill.  Miller says since tanning beds are responsible for the development of certain types of cancer, the connection is definitely there.  If backers are not … Continue reading →

Senator Hinda Miller, a Chittenden County Democrat who sponsored the amendment, argued it is germane because both bills are related to cancer. The tanning bed bill is designed to prevent it, and physician-assisted suicide would be used by people dying … Continue reading →

Right to die legislation  has been resurrected in Montpelier — but maybe not for long. WCAX News “Right to die legislation resurrected in Vt” April 10, 2012 View

On Tuesday the Senate Committee on Health and Welfare tacked it on as a last-minute amendment to a bill prohibiting minors from using tanning beds. If Lt. Gov. Phil Scott and Senate Secretary John Bloomer deem the amendment not germane, … Continue reading →

Idaho Governor Butch Otter has signed into law a bill that aims to ensure Idaho patients’ end-of-life treat decisions are respected by doctors in all instances. The legislation bars medical personnel from denying life-prolonging procedures to patients who have requested … Continue reading →

A bizarre aspect of these episodes is that reporters, commentators or the killers themselves frequently speak of them as “loving” acts. Whatever the reasons, even if we have compassion for the killer, surely we should have as much, if not … Continue reading →

Washington Post gives President Obama two Pinocchios — which means creating “a false, misleading impression by playing with words in his comments about the pending Supreme Court decision. Washington Post “Obama’s selective memory of Supreme Court history” April 8, 2012 … Continue reading →

Letters to the editor discussing the murder-suicide by Charles Snelling whose wife had Alzheimer’s disease. New York Times “A Caregiver’s Decision to End Two Lives” April 8, 2012 View

An administrative court in Berlin has given German doctors the power to use their own judgment in cases involving terminally ill patients who want to die.  The court lifted a physician’s association ban on assisted suicide… United Press International “German … Continue reading →

Officially only Dutch residents should receive medical assistance to commit suicide.  But the law doesn’t prohibit doctors from administering euthanasia to non-residents. It’s not the existence of assisted-suicide tourism that’s behind the latest controversy but, rather, the implicit danger that … Continue reading →

On March 29, Charles Snelling killed his wife and then himself.  Only a few months ago, Snelling himself wrote that his life as his wife’s caretaker was rich and humanizing. By last week, he apparently no longer believed that.  But … Continue reading →

In the latest issue of the Journal of Law and Medicine Jeremy Prichard, a criminologist at the University of Tasmania, expressed doubts that many people in the community will be able to give full and voluntary consent to ending their … Continue reading →

Voters want their parents to die with dignity.  The parents?  Not so much. Those with elderly parents think physician-assisted suicide should be OK, while those elderly parents themselves don’t want the option to pick when they see the reaper.  Interesting … Continue reading →

In 1989, Dr. Petra de Jong gave a man pentobarbital, a powerful barbiturate — but not enough. It took him nine hours to die.  “I realize now that I did things wrong,” Dr.de Jong, 58, said in her office here. … Continue reading →

Euthanasia is widely accepted in the Netherlands for those whose suffering is “unbearable,” but Dr. Petra de Jong’s group is seeking to extend help in dying to everyone aged 70 and over, even if they aren’t sick.  She argues that … Continue reading →

Elizabeth Barrett was helping an 86-year-old friend take his medication — not assisting in his suicide, according to her attorney.  An autopsy revealed that Jack Keoncy died from the combined effects of the drugs Oxycodone, fluoxetine, and alprazolam, said Jim … Continue reading →

Elizabeth Barrett was arrested on a felony charge alleging she helped 86-year-old Jack Koency kill himself last year by mixing a lethal drug dose in his yogurt.  Prosecutors said Koeney was not terminally ill, bedridden or immobile. Sacramento Bee “Calif … Continue reading →

The Georgia Senate passed House Bill 1114, legislation that prohibits assisted suicide, making it a felony punishable by incarceration of up to 10 years.  The bill was drafted in response to the Georgia Supreme Court’s decision to strike down the … Continue reading →

The number of assisted suicides in Switzerland has steadily increased since the late 1990s and now makes up about 5 out of every 1,000 deaths….The figures only cover assisted suicides by Swiss residents. Groups such as Dignitas who provide services … Continue reading →

Starting April 1, Washington State Medicaid will no longer pay for such visits, even when patients or parents have reason to believe they’re having an emergency. Hospitals and doctors are pressing lawmakers to undo the policy. Seattle Times “State Medicaid … Continue reading →

An Idaho House committee has approved a bill ensuring dying patients receive the end-of-life care they or their families desire. The House State Affairs committee voted unanimously Monday to advance legislation that would bar medical personnel from denying life-prolonging treatment … Continue reading →

Five out of every 1,000 deaths in Switzerland now involve assisted suicide, with women more likely to die this way than men, according to the first official figures released Tuesday…until recently, official Swiss statistics listed those who died by assisted … Continue reading →