UK: Lib Dems Consider Party Line On Assisted Suicide & Euthanasia

Those UK pols just can’t seem to leave the assisted suicide and euthanasia stuff alone. However, it’s nice to see that not all agree.

Lib Dem conference affirms support for assisted suicideDelegates at the Liberal Democrat’s annual conference have passed a motion in support of assisted suicide and euthanasia. But one cancer specialist, who is also a Lib Dem councillor, told delegates that her patients are desperate to live, not die. Dr Wendy Taylor said that neither she nor her colleagues want to be involved with helping patients end their lives. more

More On UK Pols Gearing UpFor More Assisted Suicide Debate

Here’s more on British politicians lining up on either side of the assisted suciide debate. This should get interesting as the UK slides toward legalizing killing. 

MPs back assisted dying guidelines

Conservative Richard Ottaway proposed a motion praising guidance issued in 2010 by the director of public prosecutions, which was passed without a vote.
The advice says a decision to prosecute someone who helps another to die must be in the public interest and must take account of the suspect's motivation.

Assisting a suicide is illegal and the issue is highly controversial.

The Commons Backbench Business Committee allowed the debate, the first full one on assisted dying on the floor of the chamber since 1970 - although there was a vote on a backbench MP's "10-minute rule bill" in 1997.

Mr Ottaway said it was "a very sensitive issue" which provoked "deep emotion", and it should be for Parliament, as representatives of the public, rather than the courts to "have the last word" on it.

He said the law at present did not distinguish between "the person who irresponsibly and maliciously encourages a suicidal person" and "the loving spouse who lovingly fulfils a partner's request". more

Canadian Pols Wary Of Supporting Assisted Suicide

Never mind what the Royal Society of Canada thinks (that assisted killing is just dandy), the pols - at least for now - are firmly against it. It will be interesting in seeing how long this remains when election time comes around.

Politicians of all stripes refuse to act on calls to legalize assisted suicide

Royal Society of Canada report urges more compassion and clarity in law when patients seek euthanasia.

A call for Canada to legalize assisted suicide has thrust back onto the agenda a divisive and emotionally complex issue that no politician wants to touch.

For once, the federal Conservatives, NDP and Liberals are on the same page: When it comes to Canadians' right to die, they won't go there. more

Politician's Regret? Nah, Just Sorry He Got Caught Out

Here’s why he regrets the email he sent, which asked everyone to keep quiet that they were using regulations to slip in the death panels that were rejected in Obamacare last year – he was outed.

Democrat Who Started Latest Death Panels Row Regrets Email

The Democrat who started the latest national debate over the inclusion of so-called “death panels” by the Obama administration into federal regulations now regrets doing so.

The office of Representative Earl Blumenauer, an assisted suicide advocate from Oregon who works closely with pro-euthanasia groups like Compassion and Choices, alerted supporters of the change the Obama administration implemented and worked to ask them to keep the news quiet.

“We would ask that you not broadcast this accomplishment out to any of your lists e-mails can too easily be forwarded,” his staff wrote. “Thus far, it seems that no press or blogs have discovered it but we will be keeping a close watch and may be calling on you if we need a rapid, targeted response. The longer this [regulation] goes unnoticed, the better our chances of keeping it.”

The memo talked of a “quiet” victory and had the congressman worrying about how Republican leaders would “use this small provision to perpetuate the ‘death panel’ myth.” more

Surprise: Canadian Public Against Assisted Suicide & Euthanasia

It’s not surprising that Canadians aren’t in favor of legalized assisted suicide/euthanasia – once they know about it. And learn about it they did in the recent defeat of a private member’s bill in the Canadian Parliament, which generated a ton of press. However, as we have learned over the years, the celebration needs to be short-lived, because the pro-deathers will be right back with another attack on decency and civilized society in short order, trust me.

Paul Russell: Readers gives thumbs down to 'death with dignity'

A private member’s bill to amend the Criminal Code to allow people to “die with dignity” died an undignified death itself last Wednesday, going down to defeat by a vote of 228-59. But in that court of public opinion known as the National Post’s Letters page, the verdict on the bill was even more one-sided. more

Support For David Cameron's Stand Against Assisted Suicide

Here’s a good piece opposing assisted suicide and euthanasia from yesterday's Telegraph

Do not go gentle... into legalised assisted suicide

Hurray for David Cameron for pledging to resist the legalisation of assisted suicide. George Pitcher is right. You do not have to be religious to understand how creepy it would be if the government, which would have to create an oversight bureaucracy, got into the death business.

You don’t have to be church-goer to get a sense of what would happen if the flood gates were opened for strained public — and even private — health care bureaucracies. The collusion, for instance, between American HMOs (private health insurance companies that wrangle lower fees by cost-testing every procedure) and assisted suicide culture would be a sickening thing to behold. more

The Pro-Death Crowd are Working Hard Not Only in Canada, But Also Aussie

Ho hum. Just like the Netherlands a few years ago, just like the way Canada is tilting now about assisted suicide, an Aussie politician, who wishes euthanasia had been available for her late mother, is going to great pains to tell voters that she'd never ever support voluntary euthanasia. Riiiiiight. . .

Voluntary euthanasia 'never will be policy' says SA Liberal leader Isobel Redmond

LIBERAL Leader Isobel Redmond would have liked to have had the option to give her dying mum "a needle", but says voluntary euthanasia will "never become party policy". more