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

by Administrator
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”
Netherlands Man Arrested for Selling Suicide Powder That Has Killed at Least 4 People

Netherlands Man Arrested for Selling Suicide Powder That Has Killed at Least 4 People

by Administrator

A Netherlands man was arrested on Febuary 21, 2022 in the deaths of four people and may have sold a suicide powder to at least 500 people via the internet.

Ximena, who was 19 years-old, (picture) died in February 2018 after taking the suicide powder.

Gerda Frankenhuis reported for De Telegraaf news that Tom de M. from Castricum was arrested on Wednesday evening on suspicion of involvement in four suicides and may have sold the suicide powder to five hundred people via the internet. According to Frankenhuis (google translated):

The police found the man after a report of criminal assistance with a suicide in Zeeland and a suspicious death in Breda.

… Read More “Netherlands Man Arrested for Selling Suicide Powder That Has Killed at Least 4 People”
Italy’s Constitutional Court Rejects Measure to Legalize Assisted Suicide

Italy’s Constitutional Court Rejects Measure to Legalize Assisted Suicide

by Administrator

The Constitutional Court in Italy has blocked a referendum seeking to make assisted suicide legal because it would remove protections for the weak and the vulnerable.

On 15 February, the Constitutional Court said it “deemed the referendum question inadmissible” because if the referendum were to remove the current criminal law on assisted suicide, “the constitutionally necessary minimum protection of human life, in general, and with particular reference to weak and vulnerable persons, would not be preserved”.

Supporters of assisted suicide submitted a petition to the Italian court requesting a referendum in October 2021, however, it was denied.

Currently, in Italy, both assisted suicide and euthanasia are illegal and if someone helps another to end their life by suicide, they could face up to 15 years in prison.

… Read More “Italy’s Constitutional Court Rejects Measure to Legalize Assisted Suicide”
Assisted suicide: It’s not that simple

Assisted suicide: It’s not that simple

by Administrator
Alex Schadenberg
Executive Director, Euthanasia Prevention Coalition

The Hartford Current published an excellent article written by disability rights lawyer, Lisa Blumberg, titled: Medically assisted suicide: It’s not that simple. In the article Blumberg explains why she opposes Connecticut assisted suicide Senate Bill 88.

Blumberg first explains how the assisted suicide drugs work.

First, there is no magic pill for a gentle death. No assisted suicide law gives doctor guidance on what a drug prescription to end life should contain. In Oregon, it has sometimes taken people up to 72 hours to die. With doctors free to devise a cocktail involving multiple drugs and desiring to keep cost down, side effects like burned mouths or seizures can occur.

… Read More “Assisted suicide: It’s not that simple”
Young Mom Who Considered Suicide Because of Cancer is Glad She Chose Life

Young Mom Who Considered Suicide Because of Cancer is Glad She Chose Life

by Administrator

A young mum with cancer who considered ending her life at a Dignitas clinic has shared her inspiring story after receiving specialist treatment.

Estelle Wignall, 27, from Wigan was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2017 after experiencing symptoms for years.

Estelle said: “People said I was being a hypochondriac. Nobody took me seriously – but I just knew. It was an instinct”.

She was only 22 and, after she was finally diagnosed, doctors removed a tumour as well as her right ovary and Fallopian tube.

Estelle thought the whole thing was behind her. She got married in 2019 and the couple had their first child in 2020.

… Read More “Young Mom Who Considered Suicide Because of Cancer is Glad She Chose Life”
Kentucky Assisted Suicide bill uses expansive definitions.

Kentucky Assisted Suicide bill uses expansive definitions.

by Administrator

Alex Schadenberg
Executive Director, Euthanasia Prevention Coalition

Kentucky legislature.

One of my predictions that I published on January 5 was that most of the new assisted suicide bills would use the expansive definitions found in the New Mexico assisted suicide law. The New Mexico assisted suicide law is the most extreme in America.

Kentucky assisted suicide bill (HB 149) is clearly based on the New Mexico law. Even though Kentuck is unlikely to legalize assisted suicide, the assisted suicide lobby have introduced a more expansive bill than the Oregon law.

Even though we are talking about giving someone a lethal assisted suicide drug cocktail and death is irrevocable:

  1. HB 149 uses the term “Health care provider” rather than the term physician.
… Read More “Kentucky Assisted Suicide bill uses expansive definitions.”