Russia's Take On Euthanasia

The interesting part of this rather long article is an update on the issue of euthanasia in Russia.

Euthanasia in Russia unacceptable forever and always?

The issue of euthanasia has attracted public attention in London yet again. UK Health Minister Norman Lamb stated that the practice of euthanasia should be legalized in the country. Earlier, Anna Soubry, a member of the Conservative Party, suggested that the Parliament should review the law on euthanasia and give terminally-sick people the right to choose their own destiny. . . .

What about Russia?

In Russia, the ban on any form of euthanasia is regulated by the law from November 21, 2011, under which medics are prohibited to commit any action or inaction aimed at depriving patients of their life.

In Russia, like in any other part of the world, there are many of those who support and oppose euthanasia. Stanislav Minin, an observer with the Nezavisimaya Gazeta newspaper, believes that it is up for a person, but never for the government to decide whether to live or to die. more

Non Nonsense Russia: Assisting In A Suicide A No-Go

Note that in this piece Russia, the so-called “assisted suicide defense” wasn’t even considered. Good on the Russians.

Woman faces jail for assisted suicide

A young Russian woman is facing up to 10 years in prison after agreeing to help a man die after his previous 10 suicide attempts over past five years went awry, a newspaper report said on Wednesday. more

Russian Take On The Culture Of death

Here’s a brief Russian take on the West’s pro-death culture.

Euthanasia: a right to die

Ten years ago The Netherlands legalized active euthanasia, becoming the world’s first country to do so. But debates continue to run deep on the moral and ethical aspects of helping people end their lives even they suffer from incurable illnesses.

Euthanasia is normally divided into passive and active, the former meaning that a patient completely rejects treatment, which is not prohibited by law except in a handful of countries with politicians, medics and rights defenders unanimous in their view that any person is free to decide whether or not to accept treatment or medication. As for active euthanasia, it is only allowed in The Netherlands, Belgium and two U.S. states – Oregon and California. more

Do Russians Really Support Euthanasia?

This is typical of pro-death reporting – citing a poll that appears to support euthanasia – with absolutely no way of knowing how the questions were phrased or presented.

Every second Russian believes abortions and euthanasia acceptable - poll Moscow, February 10, Interfax - 51% of Russians believe abortion is acceptable for families with low income, the poll by the Politekh social technologies agency commissioned by the Russian Public Chamber shows. more

"Euthanasia Defense" For Murder Comes to Russia

So the "euthanasia defense" is used again to disguise murder, this time in Russia.

Do Russians have a right for euthanasia?

Death is not the worst thing that can happen to a human being, Plato used to say. What can one do about a loved one who suffers from terrible pains and wants to die? Vyacheslav Demin, a 72-year-old man, a resident of Petrozavodsk, strangled his wife, but it was the last thing that the woman asked her husband to do for her. The court took this detail into consideration - the man was sentenced to four years in a tight security colony. more

Russia Continues To Oppose Legalized Killing

The Russians are holding fast to their opposition to legalized assisted suicide and euthanasia. Good for them!!

"Right" to death

When people talk about “a good way to go” they usually mean dying in your sleep. Meanwhile, a voluntary easy death is called euthanasia. The word "euthanasia" was first used in a medical context by Francis Bacon in the 17th century, to refer to an easy, painless, "happy" death, during which it was a "physician's responsibility to alleviate the 'physical suffering' of the body." However, the issue of euthanasia has only now received wide public attention. Today public discussion of euthanasia is particularly influenced by the concept of a “standard of living”. Recently 80% of the residents of the Zurich canton in Switzerland voted for the legalization of euthanasia for terminally-ill Swiss citizens and foreigners who come to Switzerland especially to die an "easy death". more

Sick Russian Convict Asks For Euthanasia

Everyone’s getting on the request-for-euthanasia bandwagon these days, even convicted criminals. Here's a Russian convict who is basically asking to be put out of his misery. My question, however, is how come his diabetes hasn't been controlled medically to avoid the circumstances in which the prisoner now finds himself?

Convicted Murderer, Slowly Dying, Demands Euthanasia

A convicted murderer who is dying of diabetes has asked to be put to death rather than to slowly waste away in prison.

The request for euthanasia, which cannot legally be granted in Russia, comes after judges have persistently refused to free the bed-ridden veteran of the Chechen war — even though the law gives courts the discretion to release terminally ill inmates. A third request for release was thrown out Monday.

Gennady Uminsky, who is serving an 18-year sentence for killing two businessmen in an extortion attempt, asked for euthanasia in an open letter last month. more

Russia Turns Down Criminal Requesting Euthanasia

Obviously prisoners in Russian jails have gotten their fill of the pro-deather spin. Here's an inmate who is chronically ill and has requested euthanasia. To the Russians' credit, he was turned down.

Russian inmate pleads for euthanasia to no avail

A seriously ill inmate has addressed several organizations in Russia requesting euthanasia. Despite the man suffering from a severe form of diabetes, he has been denied release from the prison or a change of sentence. more

Pravda Get It Right Arguing Against Euthanasia

Those of us who grew up in the Cold War used to make jokes about Pravda, the official communist newspaper. (Joke: Pravda breaking news: We have just been given the results of next week’s elections!!). Things seem to have changed for the better with this very good piece arguing against euthanaia. It’s clear, and understandable. Make a note of it.

Euthanasia and the Culture of Death

Shortly before the passing of the severely handicapped Terry Schiavo, whose death in Florida in 2005 was hastened by a U.S. court order to remove her feeding tube, Patrick J. Buchanan wrote: “That there arose a national outcry at the execution of Schiavo -- so loud Congress and President Bush heard it and came to the rescue -- is a sign America is not morally dead . . . yet. But a culture of death has taken deep root in America's soul.”

Terry Schiavo’s ultimately tragic death demands a more serious look at euthanasia and the destructive direction in which it is leading society. This requires a more serious reflection on the implications of life-sustaining treatments as applied to patients in the clinical condition called the "vegetative state". more