Last week, a revised version of Bill C-7 received royal assent and became law in Canada. The result is that now Canadians who are ‘suffering intolerably’ but whose death is not reasonably foreseeable can apply for euthanasia and assisted suicide.  Part of the legislative reform involved removing some of the so-called ‘safeguards’ contained in the original law, including the ten-day waiting period and the need for two witnesses. Continue reading

Tine Nys was 38 years old when the relationship with her then-boyfriend ended.  She was so upset that she wanted to end her life and sought help to do so.  Her GP said no, but another doctor falsified the relevant documentation, and gave her a lethal injection. He suffered no consequences Continue reading

Alison Day is an Australian mother of two, dying of stage four cancer.  How long she has to live depends on whether she can afford the tens of thousands of dollars needed for the cancer drugs that will extend her life. Continue reading

The dangers of legalising euthanasia and assisted suicide were articulated by experts at the recent HOPE Ireland conference, entitled End of Life Matters.  The conference heard the brutal and inescapable truth that legalising euthanasia inevitably leads to wrongful deaths and a multitude of problems for the vulnerable in our families and communities. Continue reading

One of the supposed ‘patient safeguards’ that is placed into euthanasia and assisted suicide legislation is that doctors and other health professionals are prohibited from raising the topic with their patients.  This prohibition recognises the significant power differential that exists between doctors and patients and how susceptible patients – already vulnerable due to the nature of their illness – might be to the suggestion of euthanasia if it comes from their doctor. Continue reading

At the recent parliamentary hearings on Bill C-7 in Canada, a Canadian physician and anaesthesiologist working in the United States, Dr Joel Zivot, raised some very important questions about the way that euthanasia and assisted suicide recipients are dying and questioned, based on his own research, whether it can be said categorically that such deaths are in fact, peaceful or pain-free. Continue reading

One of the more emotive arguments used by activists during the euthanasia debates in Victoria was that such laws would prevent the suicides of many Victorians who were currently “taking their own lives in painful, lonely and unacceptable ways.” The argument was that “one terminally ill Victorian was taking their life each week.” The exact same arguments were used in Western Australia when they were debating their legislation. Continue reading

“Our belief in the intrinsic value of lives is what protects the lives of all Australians.” – Dr Matthew Lennon Continue reading

    The Tasmanian Lower House has voted in favour of the Gaffney euthanasia and assisted suicide bill, with members of the Lower House voting 16 in favour and 6 opposed. Continue reading

The fourth report of Victoria’s Voluntary Assisted Dying Review Board has been released, and it includes the third round of statistics for Victoria’s euthanasia and assisted suicide regime. Continue reading