Category Archives: News

Raymond Tallis writes: “Leaving a loved one to assist with suicide is cruel and irresponsible. Let doctors do their job.” The Guardian “The intolerable burden of assisted dying” March 26, 2012 View

Canada’s Criminal Code now makes it an offence punishable by a jail sentence of up to 14 years to counsel or assist someone to commit suicide, or to agree to be put to death.  Whether to alter those laws is … Continue reading →

Richard Ottoway MP behind the first full Commons debate on assisted suicide for almost 40 years, has hinted he would support further moves towards legalising euthanasia. The Telegraph “Richard Ottoway MP hings at support for euthanasia law” March 26, 2012 … Continue reading →

The report of the Quebec parliament’s commission on dying with dignity contains some positive measures as well as fatal flaws, according to Amy Hasbrouck, board chair of Not Dead Yet. Not Dead Yet blog “Canada: Not Dead Yet Responds to … Continue reading →

From time to time during the past several years I’ve used this column to help readers through the challenges of end-of-life planning. Recently, my dad’s health took a sudden, sharp turn for the worse. My family and I found ourselves … Continue reading →

As the Supreme Court hears oral arguments on the constitutionality of ObamaCare, the former House speaker says its purpose is to guarantee our inalienable rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Investor’s Business Daily “Pelosi: Give Us ObamaCare, … Continue reading →

A committee of the Quebec National Assembly unanimously recommended Thursday that rules be established to shelter from prosecution doctors who offer terminally-ill patients “medical assistance to die.” Montreal Gazette “Committee recommends new rules surrounding assisted suicide in Quebec” March 22, … Continue reading →

Legislation that would allow doctors to help terminally ill patients to take their own lives won’t pass this year, two key Vermont Senate leaders said Friday. Real Clear Politics “Vt. lawmakers: Right-to-die bill won’t pass” March 16, 2012 View  

Kenneth Chambaere,researched the causes of all deaths in hospitals in Belgium’s Flemish areas.  Two percent of deaths were due to euthanasia, and nearly 2 percent of deaths were without the patient’s consent, the study concluded…In those cases, the physicians intended … Continue reading →

Two physicians filed a challenge Thursday against a decades-old New Mexico law. The doctors seek to be allowed to prescribe medication to terminally-ill patients who want to end their lives. Las Cruces Sun “2 doctors file challenge against NM law” … Continue reading →

He is asking for declarations that doctors can help him end his “intolerable” existence without facing a murder charge….His wife, Jan Nicklinson, says the only way to relieve his suffering is to kill him. Telegraph “Locked in sufferer Tony Nicklinson … Continue reading →

People aged over 70 who feel their life no longer has meaning should be allowed to commit assisted suicide even if they do not suffer from terminal or incurable diseases, according to a proposal debated by the Dutch parliament late … Continue reading →

Public opposition to the Affordable Care Act has grown in surprising and unpredictable ways since the entitlement passed two years ago, but few would have predicted then that so many Democrats would repudiate so many of President Obama’s core promises. … Continue reading →

Kevin sent off for an internet kit promising “deliverance.” When a brown padded envelope was delivered to the family home, his parents thought it contained icing bags. Today, to their everlasting horror, they know exactly what was contained in that … Continue reading →

Petra de Jong, director of NVVE which runs the mobile services, said that  most of the requests come from patients with incurable physical illnesses. Only a small number came from patients with serious psychological disorders. “If the number of requests … Continue reading →

The report indicated Howard Jaffe had a plastic bag over his head with a clear breathing tube leading to a helium tank. He and his wife were seated next to each other on a couch. 10 News – San Diego … Continue reading →

The new units consist of a doctor, a nurse and all the medical equipment required to carry out euthanasia.  Patients can choose injections administered by the medical team, or they may drink a lethal concoction of life-ending drugs. BBC News … Continue reading →

A controversial system of mobile euthanasia units that will travel around the country to respond to the wishes of sick people who wish to end their lives has been launched in the Netherlands…. The teams would be limited to one … Continue reading →

The elderly are targeted by criminals – from muggers to internet thieves, and by the assisted suicide campaigners, who see age as something to be avoided at all costs – even death is preferable. The Telegraph “Ageism is just as … Continue reading →

A state House committee passed a bill Tuesday aimed at ending assisted suicides in Georgia. Atlanta Journal Constitution “Assisted suicide bill passes state House committee” February 29. 2012 View

A federal district court judge ruled last week in the case of Stormans Inc. v. Selecky, regarding pharmacy owners’ legal duty to fill prescriptions and the right of conscience….For example, what if a pharmacist was required to dispense a drug … Continue reading →

Writing in the Journal of Medical Ethics, Oxford affiliated ethicists argue that infanticide should be permissible in all the cases where abortion is, including cases where the newborn is not disabled. Journal of Medical Ethics “After-birth abortion: why should the … Continue reading →

In this view – which is rife within international and American bioethics – the unborn, infants (at least through the first few weeks) and those who have lost relevant capacities because of, for example, late-state Alzheimer’s or severe brain damage … Continue reading →

Parents should be allowed to have their newborn babies killed because they are “morally irrelevant” and ending their lives is no different to abortion, a group of medical ethicists linked to Oxford University has argued.” The Telegraph “Killing babies no … Continue reading →

Alberto Guibilini and Francesca Minerva argue that both the fetus and the new-born infant are only potential persons without any interests. BioEdge “Ethicists give thumbs-up to infanticide” February 25, 2012 View