Tony Nicklinson RIP

News today from Britain  that Locked-In Syndrome sufferer, Mr. Tony Nicklinson has passed away after contracting pneumonia.Pneumonia is quite common in people who are bedridden or immobile as Mr. Nicklinson indeed was and often results in death. Continue reading

Paul and Philip Nitschke - debate in Adelaide

Thursday evening was cold, wet and windy in Adelaide. But that did not stop 120 people from turning up to a debate at Adelaide University between yours truly and Dr. Philip Nitschke.  Hosted by the Adelaide University Liberal Club (for non-Australian readers, The Liberal Party is the conservative party - yeah, go figure!) it was a very successful debate with many good and respectful questions - so much so that Philip and I fielded questions long after the official closing time. Continue reading

dangers of subtle coercive influence - the perils of euthanasia

The following article was written by John Gibb and published on August 15, 2012 in the Otago Daily News (New Zealand). Baroness Prof Ilora Finlay, a Welsh palliative care specialist, spoke about the need to protect the vulnerable. Her talk was sponsored by Hospice New Zealand, and the Otago Health Sciences Division, in association with the Otago Bioethics Centre. Dangers of euthanasia spelt out.By John Gibb - Otago Daily News - August 15, 2012 Continue reading

Euthanasia is not the answer - NZ MP

The following article was written by Isaac Davison and published on August 16, 2012 in the New Zealand Herald under the title:  Maggie Barry: Euthanasia is not the answer. Continue reading

Update on the Carter Case

  An update on the Carter Case in Canada from EPC head, Alex Schadenberg:  Continue reading

South Australia - going for Gold!

With the London Olympics coming to a close and the questions about Australia's overall lack of performance against high expectations, two South Australian MPs look certain to make sure that at least one Australian state holds a world record. If The Hon Bob Such Mp and Steph Key MP are true to their words on the last evening, then they will both be introducing new euthanasia bills into the parliament when sitting resumes in September. These will be the sixth and seventh bills introduced since this parliament began in March 2010. Readers are welcome to challenge my assertion, but I'm confident that this feat has not been achieved anywhere else on the planet. Continue reading

No one has the right to take another's life

Man pleads guilty to manslaughter for "assisting" a suicide death in Virginia  Paul Stephen Bricker (27) pled guilty to a charge of manslaughter in the "suicide" death of  Gerard Curran (45), a navy chief, and a superior of Bricker. Continue reading

Palliative Medicine Society goes on the front foot

  For those who don't understand the 'front foot' comment, it's a cricketing term meaning that the batsman goes on the attack. The have done just that over a story run on New Zealand TV last night. ( Continue reading

On polling and death

  "If a hopelessly ill patient, experiencing unrelievable suffering, with absolutely no chance of recovering, asks for a lethal dose, so as not to wake again, should a doctor be allowed to give a lethal dose or not ?"  Continue reading