Staff Editor at the Boston Phoenix, S.I. Rosenbaum opposes Ballot Question 2 from personal experience and sound reasoning:  K Continue reading

Whether you liked his politics or not,   was a giant of American politics. Kennedy was a Senator for the New England state of Massachusetts where voters will consider a ballot question on Assisted Suicide on November 6th. Victoria Kennedy's comments are worth considering:Senator Kennedy Continue reading

This is an excellent yet disturbing report on the incidence of elder abuse in the Canterbury region of the South Island of New Zealand which was ravaged by a series of earthquakes over the past few years. Particularly effected was the beautiful city of Christchurch.  This report highlights some concerning statistics but also makes perfectly clear what elder abuse is, who is vulnerable and how the abuse often takes place. Continue reading

The Canadian Government has released its statement to the Canadian Court ahead of its appeal of the Carter judgement that sought to force the government to overturn the longstanding prohibition of Assisted Suicide. Alex Schadenberg reports: The lawyers for the Government of Canada have submitted their reasons for appealing the decision by Justice Smith in BC.On June 15, Justice Smith decided in the Carter case that Canada's assisted suicide law was unconstitutional, that euthanasia needed to be legalized for limited circumstances, that Gloria Taylor, one of the plaintiffs could have a constitutional exemption to euthanasia and assisted suicide and she ordered parliament to legalize euthanasia and assisted suicide by June 15, 2013. Continue reading

puts the 2011 data from the Netherlands in perspective: Alex SchadenbergThe Continue reading

Earlier this month, New Zealander,  Evans Mott was set free by the Auckland High Court when the judge refused to record a conviction against him for the 2011 death of his wife, Rosie. Continue reading

By Dr Peter Saunders, Campaign Director, Care Not Killing Alliance - UK  More than seven out of ten MPs refuse to back calls to legalise assisted suicide, according to a new survey released today (See reports from  Continue reading

  Readers will recall the stories and my comments a few weeks ago about Philip Nitschke and Exit International's new death scheme, providing hypoxic (suffocation) death using nitrogen.  Continue reading

For the past few days I've enjoyed a unique and inspiring experience as a delegate to the First European Symposium on Euthanasia & Assisted Suicide held in Edinburgh. Yesterday, during conference, a new British Health Minister came out in favour of assisted suicide. This comes shortly after the judgement in the Nicklinson case upheld the existing prohibition in the UK and as Scottish MP, Margo Macdonald prepares to introduce her second attempt at legalising assisted suicide in the Scottish Parliament.For a junior health minister to fly the flag for such a change is strange enough (though we have seen that in other jurisdictions in recent times), but one wonders at the timing of such an announcement that elicited support from a Lib Dem MP as well. Continue reading

It took a while, but Exit International supremo, Philip Nitschke has responded today to the issues raised last week in respect to his latest move to supply nitrogen kits for suicides. Contrary to his assertions, my interest is not a political consideration at all. I'm concerned solely about the public safety aspect.Nor am I motivated to somehow dispose of a euthanasia activist. Nitschke's activism actually supports our cause in strange ways in that his advocacy for such things as death clinics and mobile death vans actually shows where euthanasia & assisted suicide type legislation ultimately could go. Continue reading