Assisted Suicide Is Not About Autonomy; It Is A Symptom of Systems Which Deny Autonomy To Sick And Disabled People

Assisted Suicide Is Not About Autonomy; It Is A Symptom of Systems Which Deny Autonomy To Sick And Disabled People

by Administrator
This article was published as a guest blog by the disability rights group Not Dead Yet on August 8, 2022
Kathleen Nicole O’Neal

By Kathleen Nicole O’Neal

On June 16, 2022, a forty-four-year-old Italian citizen named Federico Carboni became the first patient in the history of his country to die by medically assisted suicide. Twelve years ago, Carboni was working as a trucker when he found himself seriously injured in a traffic accident that put him into a coma. When he awakened from the coma, he was a quadriplegic.

What I find most haunting about Carboni’s death are some of his last words, statements that he made explaining his decision to seek medically assisted suicide.

… Read More “Assisted Suicide Is Not About Autonomy; It Is A Symptom of Systems Which Deny Autonomy To Sick And Disabled People”
Ireland set to form special committee to consider legalizing assisted suicide

Ireland set to form special committee to consider legalizing assisted suicide

by Administrator

Following the passage of the Dying with Dignity Bill in the lower house of the Irish legislature last year, the Irish Parliament Justice Committee recommended the formation of a special committee on assisted suicide. The committee is expected to meet in October to review the possibility of legalizing assisted death, according to The Journal.

People Before Profit TD Gino Kenny said he hopes the committee will be the “beginning of a serious conversation in eventually changing the law around this issue in the lifetime of this government.”

The Dying with Dignity Bill would allow people diagnosed with terminally health conditions to access assisted suicide and would give health care professionals the legal right to help those persons commit suicide.

… Read More “Ireland set to form special committee to consider legalizing assisted suicide”
There is nothing civilized about assisted dying.

There is nothing civilized about assisted dying.

by Administrator
Alex Schadenberg
Executive Director, Euthanasia Prevention Coalition
Kevin Yuill

Historian and author, Kevin Yuill, wrote another great article that was published by Spiked on July 25 titled: There is nothing civilized about assisted dying.

Not Dead Yet UK comment: The Mansfield case should never be a reason for changing the law on assisted suicide (Link).

Yuill is responding to the Mansfield case (UK) which concerns Graham Mansfield who killed his wife Dyanne in a suicide pact, but failed to kill himself. The UK assisted suicide lobby claim that this is a good case for legalizing assisted suicide.

Yuill writes:

In March 2021, Graham Mansfield, a retired baggage handler, had agreed a mutual suicide pact with his 71-year-old wife, Dyanne, who had terminal cancer.

… Read More “There is nothing civilized about assisted dying.”
Swiss assisted suicide groups concerned that “stricter” rules will discourage suicide tourism.

Swiss assisted suicide groups concerned that “stricter” rules will discourage suicide tourism.

by Administrator

Alex Schadenberg
Executive Director, Euthanasia Prevention Coalition

An article by Kuoru Udo published by Swissinfo.ch on July 26 explains that Switzerland’s new assisted suicide guidelines may lead to fewer suicide tourists. 

Udo introduces the issue with the story of Alex Pandolfo who lives in the UK with early onset dementia.

Sixty-eight-year-old Pandolfo lives in the UK. When he was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer disease in 2015, Lifecircle, an assisted suicide organisation in Basel, gave him the green light and accepted his request for assisted suicide. He plans to go to Switzerland when “the time has come”.

Under the old rules, he would have had to stay in Basel for just a few days to complete his plan, but the new ‘two-week-rule’ makes it a lot more expensive.

… Read More “Swiss assisted suicide groups concerned that “stricter” rules will discourage suicide tourism.”
Pain and Choice: Canada’s the “most permissive euthanasia law in the world”

Pain and Choice: Canada’s the “most permissive euthanasia law in the world”

by Administrator

This article was published by Nancy Valko on her blog today.

Nancy Valko

In his excellent July 10, 2022 blog, Alex Schadenberg, chair of the International Euthanasia Prevention Coalition, republishes an article by Dr Ramona Coelho that now “Canada’s medical assistance in dying (Maid) law is the most permissive euthanasia legislation in the world”.

Coehlo says “Canada’s MAiD law currently allows suicide facilitation for persons with disabilities and is on track to expand in March 2023 to those living with mental illness. “ (Emphasis added)

How did assisted suicide/euthanasia laws get so far and so fast down the proverbial “slippery slope”?

… Read More “Pain and Choice: Canada’s the “most permissive euthanasia law in the world””
US Suicide rates are now highest among the elderly.

US Suicide rates are now highest among the elderly.

by Administrator
Alex Schadenberg
Executive Director, Euthanasia Prevention Coalition

Suicide is always a tragedy but a little known fact is that the highest US suicide rate is among the elderly. But this was not always the case.

When examining the suicide data published by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) the highest suicide rate in America was historically among the 45 to 54 age group, but since 2019 the 85 years and older age group has the highest suicide rate and in 2020 the 75 – 84 age group had the second highest suicide rate.

The US suicide rate was increasing on a yearly basis but it has gone down since 2018.
… Read More “US Suicide rates are now highest among the elderly.”
Will overpopulation fears lead people to seek out ‘virtual children’?

Will overpopulation fears lead people to seek out ‘virtual children’?

by Administrator

The overpopulation myth has continued to spread, as people worry that climate change and human reproduction will destroy the planet. More and more people are openly joining the child-free movement, but it hasn’t kept people from still feeling the need to have children of their own. The answer, some claim, is virtual children.

Catriona Campbell, a behavioral psychologist and an authority in human-computer interaction (HCI), has written a book claiming the future will consist of “Tamagotchi” children, named after the popular toy used by tweens in the late 90s.

“Virtual children may seem like a giant leap from where we are now, but within 50 years technology will have advanced to such an extent that babies which exist in the metaverse are indistinct from those in the real world,” she wrote in her book, AI by Design: A Plan For Living With Artificial Intelligence.

… Read More “Will overpopulation fears lead people to seek out ‘virtual children’?”
She’s waited four years for surgery, so she’s considering assisted suicide

She’s waited four years for surgery, so she’s considering assisted suicide

by Administrator

A woman in Canada who has struggled for years with disabilities is considering assisted suicide since being unable to get the help and care she needs.

Rosie Ashcraft has Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS), a group of inherited disorders that affect connective tissue. For Ashcraft, it means living in constant pain, though surgery would greatly improve her quality of life. But she’s been waiting and suffering for so long that she’s now considering death as an alternative.

An article in BC Disability explained the long road Ashcraft had to take just to get care to begin with. Diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome, which is now considered part of the autism spectrum disorder (ASD), Ashcraft noticed changes beginning in her 20s.

… Read More “She’s waited four years for surgery, so she’s considering assisted suicide”
Canada environmental activist wants assisted suicide due to climate change

Canada environmental activist wants assisted suicide due to climate change

by Administrator

A long-time environmental activist is asking authorities in Canada to approve his assisted suicide, due to his anxiety over climate change.

According to Vice, Howard Breen has dedicated his life to the environment. He is a member of the group Extinction Rebellion, and has gone so far as to super glue himself to log booms. His activism became so extreme that he was diagnosed with “clinical eco-anxiety” and “biosphere related depression.” Breen is allegedly so concerned about climate change that he experiences panic attacks and depression. The answer now, he feels, is for him to die.

“It becomes debilitating,” he told Vice.

… Read More “Canada environmental activist wants assisted suicide due to climate change”
Suicide contagion

Suicide contagion

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This article was published by First Things on May 19, 2022.

Wesley Smith examines three studies examining the possible co-relation between legalizing assisted suicide and rising suicide rates.
Wesley J Smith

By Wesley Smith

I have often argued that, as a matter of logic and intuition, the widespread legalization of assisted suicide will increase both the rate of assisted suicides and the rate of unassisted suicides. After all, many people conflate what is “legal” with what is “right.” Once a state gives its imprimatur to assisted suicide as a way of alleviating suffering and providing “medical aid in dying,” as it is euphemistically called, an ever-increasing number of people will resort to that means of ending their lives.

… Read More “Suicide contagion”
Mom Contemplated Suicide as a Pregnant Teen, But God Prompted Her to Choose Life

Mom Contemplated Suicide as a Pregnant Teen, But God Prompted Her to Choose Life

by Administrator

The first time that Rebecca Crist got to hold her son was when he was 28 years old.

The Pennsylvania mother shared the joys and heartaches of her story with The Epoch Times recently, remembering how she nearly committed suicide as a pregnant teen but found peace in choosing adoption and later happiness in being reunited with her son.

“It always astounded me how a decision to place a child for adoption seemed far worse than killing one in the womb,” Crist told the news outlet. “I believe a human is created the moment the egg and sperm unite; what is created at that exact moment is the person he/she will be at birth, when he/she is 10, 50, or 100 years old.”

… Read More “Mom Contemplated Suicide as a Pregnant Teen, But God Prompted Her to Choose Life”
Assisted suicide is a cancer that is destroying authentic palliative care.

Assisted suicide is a cancer that is destroying authentic palliative care.

by Administrator

Alex Schadenberg
Executive Director, Euthanasia Prevention Coalition

Terry O’Neill wrote an excellent article that was published by the BC Catholic on May 12 titled: Assisted suicide is a cancer that is destroying authentic palliative care.

Authentic palliative and hospice care does not hasten death.

O’Neill quotes key people including: Palliative-care expert Dr. Neil Hilliard from Abbotsford BC, Dr. Ebru Kaya, president of the Canadian Society of Palliative Care Physicians, Dr. Leonie Herx, the immediate past president of the Canadian Society of Palliative Care Physicians and myself.

Hilliard, who is a past medical director of palliative care in the Fraser Health BC region stepped back from his role after the BC government demanded that all palliative care facilities (non religiously affiliated) must provide euthanasia.

… Read More “Assisted suicide is a cancer that is destroying authentic palliative care.”
Vermont legalizes assisted suicide by Zoom

Vermont legalizes assisted suicide by Zoom

by Administrator
This article was published by National Review online on April 28, 2022.

By Wesley Smith


Remember when we were told that assisted suicide would only be engaged in as part of an intimate and long-term physician/patient relationship?

Of course, the laws never required that. And now, Vermont has legalized assisted suicide by Zoom or Skype. The new law also eliminates the previous requirement that the doctor have examined the patient. In other words, the poison-prescribing doctor would seem to never have to actually meet the patient in person. From the recently passed and signed S 74:

(a) A physician shall not be subject to any civil or criminal liability or professional disciplinary action if the physician prescribes to a patient with a terminal condition medication to be self-administered for the purpose of hastening the patient’s death and the physician affirms by documenting in the patient’s medical record that all of the following occurred:

(1) The patient made an oral request to the physician in the physician’s physical presence or by telemedicine, if the physician determines the use of telemedicine to be clinically appropriate, for medication to be self-administered for the purpose of hastening the patient’s death.

… Read More “Vermont legalizes assisted suicide by Zoom”
Connecticut assisted suicide bill is defeated again.

Connecticut assisted suicide bill is defeated again.

by Administrator
Alex Schadenberg
Executive Director, Euthanasia Prevention Coalition
Cathy Ludlum, Second Thoughts Connecticut

I have great news.

Connecticut assisted suicide bill SB 88 was defeated again. This represents the 10th assisted suicide bill to be defeated in Connecticut.

But the battle in Connecticut may return next year.

In March, SB 88 passed in the Connecticut Public Health Committee. The assisted suicide lobby tried to prevent the bill from going to the Judiciary Committee since this committee defeated previous assisted suicide bills.

The Judiciary Committee once again defeated the bill.

There are many groups and individuals who, year after year, have worked to defeat assisted suicide bills in Connecticut.

… Read More “Connecticut assisted suicide bill is defeated again.”
Assisted suicide lobby admits that assisted suicide for anorexia violates the law.

Assisted suicide lobby admits that assisted suicide for anorexia violates the law.

by Administrator
Alex Schadenberg
Executive Director, Euthanasia Prevention Coalition

In January I wrote an article about assisted suicide for anorexia nervosa. In the article I quoted from a case report published by the ACAMAID, an organization of assisted suicide practitioners who approved assisted suicide for anorexia nervosa by defining the condition as being “terminal.” 

An article by Jennifer Brown that was published in the Colorado Sun on March 14 reports on Dr. Jennifer Gaudiani, an internal medicine doctor who specializes in eating disorders and who published a paper on her experience with prescribing assisted suicide for three people with anorexia nervosa. Gaudiani approves assisted suicide for Anorexia Nervosa by falsely defining the condition as terminal.

… Read More “Assisted suicide lobby admits that assisted suicide for anorexia violates the law.”
‘Healthy’ American Sisters Die at Swiss Suicide Clinic

‘Healthy’ American Sisters Die at Swiss Suicide Clinic

by Administrator

This article was published by National Review online on March 23, 2022

By Wesley Smith


Article: Swiss suicide clinic provides death for $11,000 (Link).

Repeat after me: Assisted-suicide legalization eventually leads to death on demand.

Oh, you doubt me? That is already the law in Germany thanks to a court ruling creating a constitutional right to a “self determined death,” with help from anyone, at any time, and for any reason.

Now a suicide clinic in Switzerland has committed a joint assisted suicide of apparently healthy sisters from Arizona who flew there secretly to be made dead. From The Independent story:

Sisters Lila Ammouri and Susan Frazier who died by assisted suicide in Switzerland had been healthy and happy prior to their death, their brother says.

… Read More “‘Healthy’ American Sisters Die at Swiss Suicide Clinic”
Oregon Will Now Kill Any American in an Assisted Suicide

Oregon Will Now Kill Any American in an Assisted Suicide

by Administrator

The Associated Press reported that Oregon has expanded its state assisted suicide law to permit all Americans to die by assisted suicide by Oregon eliminating its state assisted suicide residency requirement.

In October 2021, Compassion and Choices, an assisted suicide lobby group, and Dr Nicholas Gideones, an assisted suicide prescribing doctor, launched a court case challenging the Oregon assisted suicide residency requirement. The assisted suicide lobby wanted to eliminate the “residency requirement” to allow all Americans to die by assisted suicide in Oregon. The lawsuit was filed in the federal court, claiming that the residency requirement is unconstitutional. (Link to news article).

… Read More “Oregon Will Now Kill Any American in an Assisted Suicide”
Assisted suicide doctor compares childbirth to killing patients, calling them ‘similar moments’

Assisted suicide doctor compares childbirth to killing patients, calling them ‘similar moments’

by Administrator

A maternity doctor who transitioned into committing assisted suicide in British Columbia has said helping a woman give birth to a baby and helping a patient die are similar moments for her. Stefanie Green gave an interview to the Times Colonist about her career and claimed that working as an OB/GYN prepared her to end patients’ lives.

“I really find them very, very similar, moments,” Green said, after explaining that she refers to death as a delivery as well. “At both deliveries, as I call them, I am invited into a most intimate moment in ­people’s lives.”

In her new book, Green detailed her career, which includes becoming the first doctor to commit assisted suicide on Vancouver Island in British Columbia after it was legalized in Canada in 2016.

… Read More “Assisted suicide doctor compares childbirth to killing patients, calling them ‘similar moments’”
Oregon expands assisted suicide to allow death tourism, despite troubling stats

Oregon expands assisted suicide to allow death tourism, despite troubling stats

by Administrator

Oregon, the first state in the country to legalize assisted suicide, is moving to expand its program by allowing non-residents to travel there solely for the purpose of dying.

After a lawsuit challenged the Oregon residency requirement, the Oregon Health Authority and the Oregon Medical Board agreed to stop enforcing the provision. They will also request that the legislature officially remove the residency requirement, allowing death tourism to flourish. “This requirement was both discriminatory and profoundly unfair to dying patients at the most critical time of their life,” Kevin Diaz, an attorney with Compassion & Choices, said in a statement. Diaz denied it could entice suicidal people to flock to Oregon.

… Read More “Oregon expands assisted suicide to allow death tourism, despite troubling stats”
Why an atheist opposes the legalization of assisted suicide and euthanasia?

Why an atheist opposes the legalization of assisted suicide and euthanasia?

by Administrator

The following speech was delivered by Kevin Yuill at a press conference in Rome opposing euthanasia and assisted suicide that was co-sponsored by the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition.

Kevin Yuill is the author of the book – Assisted Suicide: The Liberal, Humanist Case Against Legalisation.

I must apologise for the academic take on this but I find that the more I research and think about this subject, the more disturbing it gets.

… Read More “Why an atheist opposes the legalization of assisted suicide and euthanasia?”
Disability Leader Testifies Against Connecticut Bill to Legalize Assisted Suicide

Disability Leader Testifies Against Connecticut Bill to Legalize Assisted Suicide

by Administrator

I am an autistic adult and one of the leaders of Second Thoughts Connecticut, a coalition of disabled people opposed to the legalization of assisted suicide. Second Thoughts Connecticut is a member of the Connecticut Suicide Advisory Board. Personally, I serve on the board of directors of Euthanasia Prevention Coalition-USA and previously served on the Connecticut MOLST Task Force.

We in the disability community have read this year’s bill as we have in previous years. We notice the changes from previous assisted suicide bills in an attempt to win over the opposition and get it passed. I am here to say that essentially nothing has changed.

… Read More “Disability Leader Testifies Against Connecticut Bill to Legalize Assisted Suicide”
Great News: Washington State assisted suicide expansion bill died a natural death.

Great News: Washington State assisted suicide expansion bill died a natural death.

by Administrator

Alex Schadenberg
Executive Director, Euthanasia Prevention Coalition

I have great news. Washington State’s assisted suicide expansion bill (HB 1141) has died a natural death. 

I congratulate everyone who spoke out against the bill and lobbied to defeat the bill.

HB 1141 was introduced in January 2021 and passed in the state House on February 25, 2021. It was referred to the Senate where it was stopped. 

HB 1141 was re-introduced in January 2022 and passed in the state House on January 12, 2022 and referred to the Senate. On February 18 it had a Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Health & Long Term Care.

… Read More “Great News: Washington State assisted suicide expansion bill died a natural death.”
Washington State Bill Dies That Would Have Expanded Killing People in Assisted Suicides

Washington State Bill Dies That Would Have Expanded Killing People in Assisted Suicides

by Administrator

I have great news. Washington State’s assisted suicide expansion bill (HB 1141) has died a natural death.

I congratulate everyone who spoke out against the bill and lobbied to defeat the bill.

HB 1141 was introduced in January 2021 and passed in the state House on February 25, 2021. It was referred to the Senate where it was stopped.

HB 1141 was re-introduced in January 2022 and passed in the state House on January 12, 2022 and referred to the Senate. On February 18 it had a Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Health & Long Term Care.

… Read More “Washington State Bill Dies That Would Have Expanded Killing People in Assisted Suicides”