Ruth Institute Blog

According to Gallup’s recent Values and Beliefs survey, Americans are “sharply divided” on 4 issues: doctor-assisted suicide, homosexual relations, abortion, and out-of-wedlock childbearing.  Close to half of us perceive these activities in particular as “morally acceptable;” close to half disagree and find them “morally wrong.”  (The survey asked about 16 behaviors; these were the most evenly divided among those polled.)  Curious?  Listen in. (Click the POD icon.)

The doctor mentioned in my previous post ought to have a long chat with this woman.

By Victoria Moore

The moment I hear Elisabeth Shepherd’s voice on the phone I think she sounds like just the sort of person you would want looking after you if you were ill. Read more…

Killing oneself is becoming far too easy. Instead of letting them give up, can’t we help these people be happier and healthier? The suicide doctor mentioned in the article below, is far too glib when it comes to “euthanasia.” Glad people actually noticed. It’s disturbing.

Michael Cook

Euthanasia activists in Australia, the UK and the Netherlands have lost touch with reality.

Australian euthanasia activist Dr Philip Nitschke loves publicity. But whenever he opens his mouth, even the most progressive journalists avert their eyes in squeamish embarrassment. Read more…

I’m shocked, and saddened. I expected more from Montana.

Michael Cook, BioEdge.com

The state of Montana has become the third US jurisdiction to allow doctors to participate in assisted suicide. In a 4-3 decision, its Supreme Court held that state law protects doctors from prosecution for helping terminally ill patients die. Read more…

What happened to being happy to be alive? What’s with making it seem worthless and useless to be old? “Oh, I hear you’re 70 now. Here’s a special pill for you.” Good grief!  

Michael Cook, BioEdge.org

Australian euthanasia activist Dr Philip Nitschke is a busy man in the frantic days before the holiday season begins. He caused outrage this week when he claimed at a seminar on how to kill oneself that elderly couples were buying each other suicide kits as Christmas presents. As he anticipated, his remarks sparked angry responses from Christian and pro-life groups. “A pill to kill yourself and your loved one as a Christmas present is absolutely reprehensible,” said Graham Preston, of the Queensland branch of Right to Life Australia.

Continue reading: http://www.bioedge.org/index.php/bioethics/bioethics_article/8787/

Margaret Somerville, Mercatornet.com

Both sides of the euthanasia debate claim to be advancing the cause of human dignity. Whom should we believe?

Euthanasia advocates argue respect for human dignity requires that euthanasia be legalized and opponents of euthanasia argue exactly the opposite, that respect for human dignity requires it remain prohibited. In short, the concept of human dignity and what is required to respect it is at the centre of the euthanasia debate, but there is no consensus on what we mean by human dignity, its proper use, or its basis. Read more…

Charlie Butts – OneNewsNow -

Switzerland has earned a reputation for suicide tourism.

Although assisted suicide is technically illegal in the country, it is tolerated if the person assisting is not doing so for personal profit. But the reputation has prompted the Swiss to crack down, according to media reports. Rita Marker, head of the International Task Force on Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide (ITF), reports that this “crack down” is not as serious as the public may think. Read more…

Margaret Somerville, Mercatornet.com

Legalising euthanasia will have incalculable consequences for healthcare professionals.

Last week, the Quebec College of Physicians and Surgeons tentatively approved euthanasia. That means it’s essential that we look, specifically, at the impact that euthanasia would have on physicians and the profession of medicine, in order to understand why this approval is a very bad idea. Read more…

Barbara Kay, National Post

They don’t call it the scary-sounding “Hemlock Society” any more. The new name is “Compassion and Choices.” Under this cuddly rubric, bespoke death is now endorsed by respected society matrons and politicians as euthanasia’s version of Planned Parenthood. The once-reviled euthanasia obsessional — and criminal — Dr. Kevorkian, is raking in $50,000 a pop on the lecture circuit. The cultural wind is in euthanasia’s sails and the most unlikely people are heeding its siren call. Read more…

Michael Cook, BioEdge

“Amicably separated” parents in Britain are at loggerheads over whether to let their disabled 13-month-old son die. RB, as the boy is called to protect the family’s privacy, has congenital myasthenia syndrome, a rare neuromuscular condition that prevents him from breathing on his own and severely restricts his power to move his limbs. The British health service has applied to the High Court in London to allow life-saving care to be withdrawn.

His doctor, who cannot be named, has described the child as at the “most severe end” of physical disability. He lacks the ability to cough or swallow and must be moved every two hours to prevent pressure sores. The mother believes that her child will be better off dead. But the father contends that he should have a tracheotomy so that he can be cared for at home. Unlike many children with severe developmental disorders, RB may have normal intelligence. The father contends that he can see, hear, feel, and recognise his parents and deserves to live. Read more…

Michael Cook, BioEdge

Swiss suicide clinics are facing a crackdown. Justice Minister Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf says either the clinics will have to accept much tougher regulations or they will be closed down. A bill will come before parliament in March. Read more…

Margaret Somerville Mercatornet.com

There are deeply-rooted cultural reasons why the Western world returns again and again to euthanasia as a solution to the problems of suffering and death.

Euthanasia is back on the agenda in Canada. The first hour of debate on a “euthanasia bill”, Bill C-384, has already taken place in Parliament and a second hour is scheduled for November 16. As a “private member’s bill”, it is limited to two hours of debate and is expected to go to a second reading vote on November 18. If passed, it would be referred to committee for detailed discussion. Read more…

Michael Cook

A poll released this week claims that three-quarters of medical specialists in Québec are in favour of euthanasia. More than 2,000 of them were surveyed in the Ipsos Descarie poll, with 75% declaring that they were “certainly” or “probably” in favour of legalizing euthanasia, as long as the practice were strictly regulated. Read more…

By Charles Lewis, National Post

Amending the Criminal Code to make euthanasia legal in Canada would likely gain the support of three-quarters of Quebec’s medical specialists, says a new survey that is the latest chapter in a growing debate on physician-assisted suicide.

The Quebec Federation of Medical Specialists, which represents more than 8,700 physicians in the province, said yesterday that “75% of medical specialists would certainly or probably be favourable to euthanasia within a clearly defined legislative limit.” Read more…

by Michael Cook

Doctors were right to allow a 26-year-old woman to die after swallowing antifreeze because she had made a living will, a British coroner has found.

Before her death in September 2007 Kerrie Wooltorton had swallowed antifreeze nine times. Each time, however, she had accepted dialysis treatment to flush the poison from her system. Finally she wrote a living will which instructed doctors to give her nothing except comfort care. Three days later she swallowed more antifreeze and when she arrived at hospital, she handed the letter to the doctors. It said that she was “100 per cent aware” of the consequences and did not want to be treated. She had only called an ambulance because she did not want to die alone and in pain and not because she wanted to be treated. Read more…

Britons who want to help ill or dying loved-ones commit suicide find it easier now. The Director of Public Prosecutions, Keir Starmer, has clarified when he will prosecute for assisted suicide. However, he insists that this move in no way supports euthanasia. Read more…