Ruth Institute Blog

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 The British health service has applied to the High Court in London to allow life-saving care to be withdrawn.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…