By Victor Lee Austin The term “aid in dying” refers to assisted suicide, and legally often refers to a physician being able to prescribe upon request, without prosecution, lethal drugs for dying persons to self-administer. Generally the person must be terminally ill and capable of making the decision and consuming the medicine autonomously. The death remains … [Read more...] about Ethics: Aid in Dying
euthanasia
Dean Presides at Couple’s Euthanasia
Kelly Grant of The Globe and Mail in Toronto writes about the joint euthanasia of George and Shirley Brickenden: [T]hey bid farewell to more than 20 members of their immediate family at a bon voyage dinner at their daughter Pamela’s apartment. The evening of their deaths was more intimate, Pamela, Angela and Saxe told me two days later. “It couldn’t have been a better way to … [Read more...] about Dean Presides at Couple’s Euthanasia
Anglicans Oppose Euthanasia
The Melbourne Diocesan Synod has urged politicians in the Australian state of Victoria not to legalize medically assisted suicide and euthanasia. The Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill will be debated in the 40-member Legislative Council, the upper chamber of the State Parliament, next week. The bill was passed by the lower house, the Legislative Assembly, last week after a … [Read more...] about Anglicans Oppose Euthanasia
Eliminate Pain, not People
Seven Christian bishops based in Melbourne have asked the state premier to reconsider the proposed legalization of assisted suicide and euthanasia. The Most Rev. Philip Freier, Primate of the Anglican Church of Australia, is among the seven leaders who published an open letter to Premier Daniel Andrews as an ad in the daily Herald-Sun. “Human dignity is honoured in living … [Read more...] about Eliminate Pain, not People
Assisted Suicide Perishes
By John MartinThe House of Commons has resoundingly rejected state-approved assisted suicide by a three-to-one vote (330 to 118). Faith groups led the public argument against a “yes” campaign that had vastly more funding, almost daily celebrity pronouncements, and maximum publicity from deaths at the Dignitas suicide clinic in Switzerland.The “no” campaign had the support of … [Read more...] about Assisted Suicide Perishes
‘Some Slopes Are Slippery’
Archbishop Justin Welby writes in the Evening Standard:Whenever assisted suicide is discussed, supporters of a change in the law are quick to pour scorn on “slippery slope” arguments, dismissing them as scare-mongering. The truth is, however, that some slopes are slippery and it is important to identify them.When MPs debate Rob Marris’s Assisted Dying Bill in the House of … [Read more...] about ‘Some Slopes Are Slippery’
Parliament Debates Euthanasia
By John MartinOn Sept. 11 the House of Commons will vote on a bill to allow people with terminal illnesses to take their own lives with the assistance of doctors. If the bill passes in this second reading stage of the Parliamentary process, little will stand in the way of its becoming law.The bill would allow euthanasia for mentally competent adults who are deemed to have less … [Read more...] about Parliament Debates Euthanasia
Leaders Oppose Euthanasia
Adapted from the Archbishop of Canterbury’s websiteThe Archbishop of Canterbury has joined more than 20 British faith leaders calling for Lord Falconer’s Assisted Dying Bill not to be enacted.In a joint statement ahead of the House of Lords debate on Friday, the faith leaders said that if passed the bill would have “a serious detrimental effect on the wellbeing of individuals … [Read more...] about Leaders Oppose Euthanasia