April 1, 2024
Euthanasia / Suicide
March 28, 2024
OHA Says Death with Dignity Act Lethal-Dose Prescriptions, Deaths Rose Markedly in 2023
(KTVS) – Oregon Health Authority has released its 26th annual report on the Oregon Death with Dignity Act, which shows an almost 30% increase in the number of prescriptions written for lethal doses of medication under the Act in 2023, partly … Read More
March 28, 2024
N.H. House Approves Proposal to Legalize Medical Aid in Dying
(Boston Globe) – The New Hampshire House narrowly passed a bill that would legalize medical aid in dying in a vote of 179 to 176 Thursday. The controversial proposal outlined in House Bill 1283 also is often called physician-assisted suicide, … Read More
March 26, 2024
British Riding Star Caroline March Dies Aged 31 in Assisted Suicide After Career-Ending Spinal Cord Injury
(LBC) – The family of British riding star Caroline March have shared a final letter from the star revealing she chose to end her life aged 31 using assisted suicide following a horror spinal cord injury. The British rider suffered … Read More
March 25, 2024
Calgary Judge Rules 27-Year-Old Can Go Ahead with MAID Death Despite Father’s Concerns
(CBC) – Dignity and right to self-determination’ outweigh parent’s concerns, judge says A Calgary judge has issued a ruling that clears the way for a 27-year-old woman to receive medical assistance in dying (MAID) despite her father’s attempts through the … Read More
March 25, 2024
New Articles from BMC Medical Ethics Are Now Available
March 21, 2024
A New Edition of Clinical Ethics Is Now Available
March 18, 2024
Group Urges Illinois Lawmakers to Reject Assisted Suicide Legislation
(Center Square via MSN) – A group called Stop Assisted Suicide Illinois is taking a stand against the proposed legislation, and Wednesday during a news conference urged lawmakers to reject the measure. “I believe that the role of a physician … Read More
March 13, 2024
Father Asks Court to Stop 27-Year-Old Daughter’s MAID Death, Review Doctor’s Sign-Off
(CBC) – The father of a 27-year-old woman who has been approved for Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID) has asked a Calgary judge to dig into the circumstances that led to two of three doctors approving his daughter’s application. A … Read More
March 12, 2024
France’s Macron Announces Legislation Allowing ‘Aid in Dying’ Under Strict Conditions
(Associated Press) – French president Emmanuel Macron has announced new legislation to legalize “aid in dying” that will allow adults facing end-of-life illness to take lethal medication, a first in the country. The move follows last year’s report indicating that … Read More
March 8, 2024
Editorial: ‘Right to Die’ Debate Comes to Illinois. Both Sides Have Merit, But We Would Vote No.
(Chicago Tribune) – For that reason, and others, we believe that Illinois should not pass this legislation and join the 11 jurisdictions (California, Colorado, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Montana, Maine, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Vermont and Washington) that have … Read More
March 4, 2024
U.S. Senators Demand Answers from Pfizer About a $50 Donation to a Canadian MAID Group
(CBC) – A group of Republican lawmakers in the United States is demanding answers from Pfizer over a financial contribution in Canada — an allegedly minor one. They have written a letter to the pharma giant’s CEO grilling him over … Read More
March 4, 2024
‘It’s Certainly Over’: Aid-in-Dying Bill Falters in Md. Senate for This Year
(Maryland The Daily Record) – Lawmakers have tabled a fiercely debated bill that would have granted terminally ill Maryland residents the right to end their lives, a setback to supporters who hoped it would finally pass this year. Senate President … Read More
February 28, 2024
Palliative Psychiatry Offers a New Path for Some People with Serious Mental Illness
(STAT News) – The main objective of palliative care is to maximize the patient’s comfort and quality of life by effectively controlling symptoms, especially pain, while providing psychological and spiritual support. Palliative care is gaining traction in the United States … Read More
February 26, 2024
Illinois Should Not Legalize ‘Physician-Assisted Suicide.’ There’s Too Much Potential for Abuse.
(Chicago Sun Times) – Right now, those of us with disabilities are facing a significant battle: the defeat of a growing movement that wants to make physician-assisted suicide legal in Illinois. This fight is one with the goal to, literally, … Read More
February 14, 2024
‘Duo Euthanasia’: In the Netherlands, a Famous Couple Chooses to Die Together
(Washington Post via MSN) – The vow is “til death do us part.” But for former Dutch prime minister Dries van Agt and his wife, Eugenie, the aim was to leave this life the same way they had spent the … Read More
February 12, 2024
Canadians Without Life Threatening Diseases Are Being Encouraged to Consider Suicide, Opinion
(Newsweek via MSN) – A confession: Initially, I welcomed the idea of assisted dying, believing it could be a humane choice for those at the late stages of irreversible illnesses to make choices on their own behalf. However, my growing … Read More
February 9, 2024
More States Are Considering Bills Allowing Medically Assisted Death This Year
(Axios) – A push to let physicians prescribe life-ending drugs to terminally ill patients is getting major attention in statehouses this year, with lawmakers in 19 states considering bills to allow the practice. The big picture: Despite continuing skepticism from … Read More
February 9, 2024
Ecuador’s High Court Decriminalizes Euthanasia, Following a Lawsuit by a Terminally Ill Patient
(ABC News) – Ecuador’s high court on Wednesday decriminalized euthanasia and ordered lawmakers and health officials to draft rules and regulations for the procedure. The decision of Ecuador’s Constitutional Court came in response to a lawsuit from a terminally ill … Read More
February 7, 2024
Former Doctor Accused of Helping Person Die by Suicide in New York Motel Is Charged with Manslaughter
(NBC News) – Miller serves on the advisory board of Choice and Dignity — an end-of-life nonprofit group based in Arizona that believes “everyone has the right to have their individual end-of-life plans respected and honored,” according to its website. … Read More
February 2, 2024
28-Year-Old Lauren Hoeve Died By Euthanasia–To a Degree, I Understand Her Pain
(The Telegraph via MSN) – Last Saturday, an autistic Dutch woman died at home by assisted suicide, with her parents and best friend by her side. Her passing is significant to those far beyond her circle or who followed her … Read More
January 31, 2024
Real Aid in Dying Means Caring for the Dying, Not Helping Them to Die
(Newsweek) – As state legislatures convene for 2024, 18 states have had assisted-suicide-enabling legislation introduced, or have it pending from last year, when such legislation was introduced in 15 states. Arguments will be made that the prospect of pain at … Read More
January 30, 2024
Canada Delays Plan to Offer Medically Assisted Death to the Mentally Ill
(New York Times) – Canada is postponing a plan to offer people suffering from mental illnesses the option of a medically assisted death, two cabinet ministers said on Monday. The announcement by Mark Holland, the health minister, and Arif Virani, … Read More
January 15, 2024
The Lobby Group That Owns the Conversation Around Assisted Deaths
(The Walrus) – Dying with Dignity Canada isn’t just a charity; it’s also the country’s biggest pro-MAID lobby group. Theoretically, lobby groups are meant to allow for the interests of all stakeholders to be represented to the government. But when … Read More
January 4, 2024
Terminally Ill Connecticut Woman Ends Her Life on Her Own Terms, in Vermont
(Associated Press) – A Connecticut woman who pushed for expanded access to Vermont’s law that allows people who are terminally ill to receive lethal medication to end their lives died in Vermont on Thursday, an event her husband called “comfortable … Read More
