Rona's concerns were well-founded. When they met, with just a few weeks to go before the deadline, she discovered Colin was poorly informed of the assistance available to him, including how something as simple as a mobility scooter might help. "I'm a girl that likes to...
I will never forget it. I answered the phone one June morning in 2009. The voice on the phone said, “If you want to see your mother alive, you will come see her in the next few days.” A doctor was calling from Washington state and explained...
We are lucky to live in the 21st Century. Curing and prevention of disease and prolongation of life are achievable. We look to medicine to save our lives and to live longer. The consequence, however, is that the community expects this, even demands this. And if...
Last month, the New York state Court of Appeals dismissed a case filed by three terminally ill plaintiffs asking the court to declare a constitutional right to "aid in dying," better known as assisted suicide. The judges wrote, "this Legislature ...
Esther Ybarra’s “Celebration of Life” memorial service in September began in the same manner in which she lived, according to friends: in worship. Along with sounds of guitars and song, the Salem, Ore., chapel where 600 mourners gathered to commemorate the young woman rang with...
"As a society, we are hesitant to talk about death, which is considered a taboo subject." So claimed the authors of the Victorian Parliamentary inquiry into end of life choices last year, one of a number of reports that helped shape the impending bill on assisted dying. But...
Nearly 2,000 Canadians have taken their own lives with the help of doctors after the legalization of assisted suicide in the country. Apart from Canada, euthanasia is legal in the Netherlands, Belgium, Colombia and Luxembourg. Sputnik discussed the controversial law with Margaret Dore, an attorney...
When lawmakers do return to Albany, proponents of a bill authorizing medically assisted suicide for terminally ill patients plan to be ready. A petition signed by 7,500 New Yorkers supporting the measure was submitted to Cuomo on Thursday. The signatures were collected during the New York...
Opponents of the practice, which they call assisted suicide, include the Catholic Church and some groups that support those with disabilities. Kathleen Gallagher, with the Catholic conference says she believes it’s “dangerous to many vulnerable populations here in New York." “Including the elderly, people with disabilities,...
My very first anti-assisted suicide column in 1993 warned that it would lead to conjoining organ donation with euthanasia “as a plumb to society.” That is happening now in Netherlands and Belgium–including of people with mental illnesses, no less. Now–very alarmingly–the United Network for Organ Sharing seems...