Here's How Murder Gets Morphed Into "An Act Of Love"

Oh, please gag me . . . . man kills “disabled’ wife and himself. Sheriff calls it heroic, pro-deathers jump on board. Wouldn’t surprise me if the Sheriff is a pro-deather – why else take an ultimate criminal act and make it to be a “loving act.”

Libby shooting, arson tragedy puts focus on 'aid in dying'

LIBBY - It was an act of love, Darryl Anderson said, an act of compassion and caring and bullets and arson and it didn't have to be that way.

"Basically," Anderson said, "it was a mercy killing, to end the pain. They were good people, but there was terrible pain."

William "Ted" Hardgrove used to visit Anderson - Lincoln County's sheriff - at work, showing off his inventions or detailing his own detective work on the latest unsolved case. He'd stay and chat and sometimes harangue, Anderson said, "and I thought he was just a super old guy."

Hardgrove was 81, just like his wife Swanie. She was known for her baking, and her gardening and her lace-making, and for the fact that she had cerebral palsy as well as other crippling medical problems. In recent weeks, the increasing pain had completely overwhelmed her medication.

On the last Saturday in August, Ted Hardgrove stopped the pain. He moved their valuables out of the Libby-area house and into the garage, then left a note explaining this final, desperate act of love. more

Switzerland: Legal Euthanasia Next?

Gee, the Swiss like the idea of assisted suicide and would even welcome euthanasia – but not for foreigners to turn up to die. How selfish!!

Swiss want a say on how to end their lives

Assisted suicide has been highly debated in Switzerland. Most Swiss are in favour of assisted suicide, and would also support direct active euthanasia – a practice currently outlawed.

But a Zurich University survey into public attitudes on these issues – the first of its kind in the country - also found a lack of support for “death tourism” where foreigners come to Switzerland to end their lives. more

Here's The Truth: We Need Good Pain Management, Not Killing

Yes, yes, and yes again – what we need is good palliative care, especially state-of-the-art pain management. If we take the pain argument away from the pro0-deathers, they have little else to support their point of view.

We need a war on pain - It's time society faced death head-on, neuroscientist says

Kathleen Foley is a neuroscientist and a prominent authority on pain.

As the Olympics of Pain wraps up in Montreal and Quebecers prepare to debate the controversial issue of physician-assisted suicide or euthanasia starting Tuesday, neuroscientist Kathleen Foley says it's about time society faced death head-on.

In an interview with The Gazette at the 13th World Congress on Pain in Montreal yesterday, Foley, of the renowned Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Centre in New York and adviser to the World Health Organization cancer and palliative care unit, said euthanasia has fallen off the radar of most countries. more

A Balanced And Realistic Discussion Of The End Of Life

Here’s a very good and balanced piece about end-of-life issues. Note, there’s nothing about assisted suicide or euthanasia, but a compassionate, yet realistic discussion of what it means to be terminally ill.

The best medicine

AS A child growing up in the impoverished Indian state of Bihar in the 1980s, Ranjana Srivastava's first encounter with cancer broke her heart. In what felt like a matter of weeks, the disease transformed her energetic grandmother into a vulnerable, ailing person who spent her last days confined to a hospital bed.

Despite being treated by one of the best cancer specialists in the region, Srivastava's ''Nanima'' did not receive good care. As she was shunted through the health system for a multitude of tests and procedures, her doctors fed only morsels of information to her eldest son, who, despite his best efforts, struggled to understand what it all meant for his mother.

Towards the end of Nanima's life, the lack of communication between these doctors and her family led to a tragic end. Without knowing her grandmother's prognosis, Srivastava, then 10, and her mother flew to Britain to visit family. While they were gone, their beloved matriarch fell into a coma and died. She was cremated before they could get back to see her one last time. There were things they wanted to say. They did not get a chance to say goodbye. more

Why These UK Assisted Suicide Arrests?

It’s not clear why these two people were arrested in the UK, especially after the Crown Prosecutor’s Office issued “clarifications” about UK laws against assisted suicide (which essentially muddied the waters even more) a while ago, Stay tuned . . .

Two held over disabled man's 'assisted suicide'

Two people have been arrested on suspicion of assisting the suicide of a severely disabled 76-year-old man who travelled from Britain to Switzerland to die, police said today.

Retired engineer Douglas Sinclair suffered from the debilitating disorder multiple system atrophy and was being cared for at a care home in Jarrow, South Tyneside, when his condition got worse.

The father-of-one is believed to have travelled to an assisted suicide clinic in Zurich, where he died around five weeks ago. more

Sane Words In Quebec

The battle to legalize euthanasia in Quebec continues. Here’s a little truth the pro-deathers don’t want you to know: Palliative care is the way to go, not killing.

Better palliative care would end euthanasia debate, group says

Instead of debating the decriminalization of euthanasia, what Quebec needs is better palliative care, says a group representing the province's retired public-sector employees.

"It's been demonstrated that people with chronic illnesses who receive appropriate care are less likely to want to end their lives," Madelaine Michaud, president of the provincial association of retired public sector workers, said in a statement yesterday. more

Hugh Grant Finds Helping Kill People Funny

Assisted suicide is now mainstream enough that major film stars are beginning to joke about it. Yes, ha-ha, helping people kill themselves is just so very amusing, ha-ha. . . .

Hugh Grant jokes about checking into a euthanasia clinic for 50th birthday

No one does, ahem, deadpan humour better than Hugh Grant.

He jokes that when he turns 50 on September 9 he'll be checking into a euthanasia clinic.

Hugh says: "I'm dreading it. There is this place in Switzerland called Dignitas. I'm going to go to Dignitas on my 50th birthday - 50 is enough." more

Opposition To Quebecois Push For legal Euthanasia

A readers of this news blog know, there’s a massive push in Quebec for legalizing euthanasia and assisted suicide. This piece is a logical and clear dissent. It’s a good read.

Judging the value of a life: The fact is that most people, whatever their condition, don’t want to die

According to a recent Léger Marketing survey, an extraordinarily high proportion of Quebeckers – 71 per cent – favour decriminalizing euthanasia and assisted suicide. This, in a province that’s been the major bastion of Catholicism in North America for so many decades. The question is so complex, and so deeply fraught with moral issues and potential abuses, that it’s difficult to understand why so many people can opt for a radical solution without being, at least, a little anxious about the consequences of their choice. more

Hollywood Endorses Killing - What A Shock!!

Well, this is how things go. A murderer garners sympathy for being a “hero.” Major Hollywood star plays him in a TV miniseries. Actor wins acting award for his sympathetic portrayal of Jack Kevorkian. Ergo, helping people kill themselves is a legit social behavior.

Hollywood veteran Al Pacino bagged the outstanding lead actor in a miniseries or movie award at the 62nd Primetime Emmy Awards. Directed by Barry Levinson, the miniseries is about the life and work of physician-assisted suicide advocate Jack Kevorkian, which is played by Pacino. more

Vicki Killed Herself Because She Feared Being A Bother - How Tragic!!

Here’s another story sympathetic to killing people with medical disabilities at the Dignitas Clinic in Switzerland. I think it’s important to note that Vicki’s main reason for killing herself was that she didn’t want to be a burden to anyone. How awful, because we’ll never know whether she was really a bother to others or whether that was simply her perception. I’ll bet it was the latter.

Experience: I was with my friend when she took her own life

'She took the glass and drank steadily, without a tremor. She looked at me and said, "Oh, yuck" and from nowhere I replied, "Well, they won't do as last words." more

An Exemplar Of Pro-Deather Spin

This is the pro-deather line – we need euthanasia because otherwise we’ll all be drooling, half conscious, pain-maddened incontinents. It’s a fairly convoluted piece, but the intent is clear – euthanasia now.

Why patients have nothing to fear from Godless doctors

According to a new report, doctors are influenced by their religious faith or lack of it in deciding how to treat terminally ill patients.

The medical sociologist who compiled the report for the British Medical Journal, Professor Clive Seale, found that non-religious doctors are twice as likely as religious ones to administer treatments either intended or expected to shorten the lives of terminally ill patients.

Coverage of the report illustrated that headline writers are as influenced as doctors by their beliefs. Some wrote, “Atheist doctors are more likely to hasten death”, where they might equally have written: “Religious doctors prolong the agonies of the dying.” Neither headline explains the finding of the report adequately, and neither advances the cause of understanding the right way to think about care of the terminally ill.

"I should, first, declare an interest. I am a patron of Dignity In Dying, an organisation devoted to promoting the right of people to receive medical help to die if they express a clear and settled wish for it. Dignity In Dying used to be called the Voluntary Euthanasia Society: “euthanasia” means “a good death”, and “voluntary” means that a person’s choice to end his or her own life is willingly and clear-mindedly made. more

Here's Why We Shouldn't Kill People In Persistent Non-Responsive States

Here’s the perfect example against the pro-deather clamor to euthanize people who are in non-responsive states – because they sometimes get better.

Pensioner tells how he beat "locked in" syndrome after massive stroke

A stroke victim has told how he amazed doctors by overcoming "locked-in" syndrome in a case that raises questions for the assisted suicide debate.

Graham Miles, 66, said that through sheer willpower he regained the use of his body after he was left completely paralysed except for his eyes by a stroke in the stem of the brain which connects it to the body.

His recovery is such that he can now walk, talk and even races cars.

But while it has amazed doctors and his family and friends, it has also reopened the debate about assisted suicides and the assumption that completely paralysed patients can never recover. more

The Sadness Of Being Killed At Dignitas

Here’s the final blog post of one Tommy, 93, having arrived at Dignitas in Switzerland to commit assisted suicide. Read it carefully. It’s matter-of-fact, and rather stoic. It’s also incredibly sad that a man of 93 years is all alone hours before being killed, and the good ol’ “stiff upper lip” is clear. What a contrast from dying naturally surrounded by loved ones without the cold, impersonal killing clinic and strangers who are more than happy to help you kick the bucket.

Dignitas

Well chaps, here I am in Switzerland with just a few hours to go. I thought I would share some last thoughts with you.

Firstly, terminal prostate cancer stings a bit. Get checked and get checked regularly.

Secondly, don't believe all this "I will live my life my way because when it ends I will be happy I smoked, drank and ate all the pies", because you won't be happy. This is the only life I have and I am not happy it is about to end. more

More Opposition To Euthanasia In Quebec

Good for the health professionals who are standing up against the introduction of assisted suicide and euthanasia in Quebec. I just hope it’s not too little too late.

Euthanasia debate heats up in Quebec

A group of medical specialists is speaking out against euthanasia ahead of a Quebec-wide consultation on the controversial practice, warning that previous attempts at legislation elsewhere in the world have failed. more

The Next Aussie Pro-Death Spin Will Be For Merin Nielsen

I’ll bet my bottom dollar that when Aussie Merin Nielsen goes to trial for assisting in a suicide, the pro-deathers will be howling that he’s really a hero, not a potential criminal. They’ll spin it into Nielsen being a brave champion of the cause rather than as a lawbreaker. Trust me on this one.

Man to face trial over assisted suicide allegations

A man accused of helping a friend to take his own life will face trial in the Supreme Court in Brisbane.

The body of Frank Ward, 76, was found in his Clayfield unit last year. He had consumed a large quantity of pentobarbital which is used to euthanase animals.

Merin Nielsen, 49, was charged with aiding a suicide and importing a controlled drug. more

Another Talk You'd Better Have With Your doctor

Well, as is often the case, here’s some research backing the idea that religious or spiritual outlooks influence how we think about life. Most religions value life from conception to natural death. As this piece points out, doctors without a religious orientation are more likely to want to help you kick the bucket. Maybe it’s time to have THIS conversation with your physician. . . .

Doctors’ religious beliefs strongly influence end-of-life decisions

Atheist or agnostic doctors are almost twice as willing to take decisions that they think will hasten the end of a very sick patient’s life as doctors who are deeply religious, suggests research published online in the Journal of Medical Ethics. more

Some Sanity From The Montreal Gazette

As the drumbeat for assisted suicide in Quebec keeps growing, the Montreal Gazette has a good counter argument.

No to euthanasia

The call for legalized euthanasia is fuelled by fear of having to endure a meaningless existence suffering intolerable pain.

The problem of pain and the pursuit of the meaning of life are serious issues which elude simplistic solutions. Euthanasia is a technocratic response to these problems, one which offers at best the illusion of an answer, which is in fact no answer at all but rather an admission either that there is no answer or that we are not interested in pursuing it.

It is particularly worrisome that the Quebec government would hold hearings into the legalization of euthanasia at the same time that it is publicly worrying about the cost of health care. more

A Counter To The NZ Pro-Deathers

Here’s a sane and very legitimate response to the pro-deathers, especially in New Zealand, where a terminally ill doctor has raised the issue again.

Euthanasia is really suicide with better manners

As people who take to hedonism with gusto, we sure have a problem with dying. We see it as the ultimate indignity, rather than the price you have to pay for having lived.

It's a high price, but when you consider the pleasures of living, it's a fair one. It's sad, admittedly, when young people die, but death comes to us all, regardless of fairness, and heedless of our opinion. more

Others Are On To The NY Pro-deather Legislation

Here’s a similar take to mine (see post below) on the proposed NY end-of-life legislation

Confusing palliative care and assisted suicide in NY?

. . . . What struck me is that the assemblymen who sponsored the bill did so at the behest of Compassion and Choices of New York, "an organization that seeks to improve end-of-life comfort care" -- but one that also supports physician-assisted suicide. PAS is certainly not what I'd consider end-of-life "care," but clearly the two are linked for many people in the industry. more

Wolves In Sheep's Clothing In NY Legslation

Here’s a beautiful piece of spin – chattering on about how great palliative care is (it is) but then slants to other darker angles. The dead giveaway is that the proposed NY legislation was introduced by the NY branch of Compassion & Choices, a pro-death outfit that were the force behind the assisted sucide laws in both Washington state and Oregon. And, the red flag in the opening paragraph – the economic aspects of end of life care. Death panel, anyone??

Frank Talk About Care at Life’s End

Legislators have begun to recognize the medical, humanitarian and economic value of helping terminally ill patients and their families navigate treatment options as they approach the end of life. more

Others' Care Changes Man's Mind About Euthanasia

This is encouraging: Several years ago a Hong Kong quadriplegic wrote to the government asking to be euthanized. The story prompted a outpouring of public support (as well as from the government) and he was eventually able to move back home. Guess what? With support, improved care, and knowing that people cared about him, he changed is mind about dying. I wonder how many people have died by assisted suicide, suicide, or euthanasia because they thought nobody cared about them or because they were not receiving adequate supportive care?

A quadriplegic man who six years ago wrote to Hong Kong's leader demanding the right to die has moved out of hospital. . . .  Tang Siu-pun later changed his mind and said he wanted to live, but he still believes that the choice to live or die is a basic human right. more

I Helped To Kill A Patient, Nah, Na-Na Naaa!!!

The dominoes in the UK are falling rather quickly, these days. Here’s a Scottish doctor who assists in a suicide (still illegal in the UK) and who then is incredibly arrogant about how she essentially got away with killing:

A RETIRED Scottish doctor who was facing prosecution in an assisted suicide case has had the charges against her dropped. Dr Libby Wilson, 84, a member of pro-euthanasia group Friends At The End, (FATE) was arrested by Surrey Police last September on suspicion of giving advice to multiple sclerosis sufferer Cari Loder, who took her own life using a helium cylinder and a hood. . . . .

Last night Dr Wilson, speaking from her home in Glasgow, spoke of her relief at the CPS decision but said she was "unrepentant".

"The CPS would not have had a leg to stand on trying to prosecute me. What jury would have convicted me? "But I know it's stressful to go to court and it would have been horrible being cross-examined. more

Healthy, But Tired Of Living? Why Not Kill Yourself??

So it goes: A few months ago a Dutch survey found that many elderly people favored assisted suicide or euthanasia for no other reason than they were "tired of living.” Guess what? Some pro-deathers are now calling for similar measures in the UK. Note that suicide is now a “rational” decision. Get it? Dying is rational, living irrational. ‘Nuff said.

The Society for Old Age Rational Suicide, led by a former GP known as “Dr Death”, says that pensioners should have the human right to declare “enough is enough” and die with dignity. more

Killing A Patient In Canada

For those who thought that Terri Schiavo being starved and dehydrated to death was some kind of sick anomaly (it’s not) here’s the latest case: A Canadian man who is not otherwise dying is being starved and dehydrated to death – in a hospital, no less. The pro-deathers are everywhere, including hospitals and hospices. From my good friend and colleague Alex Schadenberg: 

First: Joshua (48), who is not otherwise dying, is being dehydrated to death (euthanasia by omission). This is not a case when hydration and nutrition need to be withdrawn because he is actually dying and nearing death, but rather the decision appears to have been made to intentionally cause his death by withdrawing IV hydration and nutrition because he is unlikely to recover from his disability. . . .

Second: It is deplorable that the Consent and Capacity Board in Ontario, the hospital and the lawyer for the hospital, who are all paid by the government and have nearly unlimited resources to pressure people to consent to their will, appeared to appoint a Substitute Decision Maker (SDM) to make decisions on behalf of Joshua, based on that person’s willingness to agree to a non-treatment plan, even though there is no proof that the plan of non-treatment represented the values of the person. more

Lying About Assisted Suicide

Well Ray Gosling made headlines a while ago “confessing” to helping his partner die. The pro-deathers, of course, were in a swoon – such courage!!! Such honesty!!! Such humanity. Only one problem: It was a lie, who knows for what reason? Now Gosling is going to be charged with wasting the authorities’ time. Good. more