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

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

  "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

  One might be forgiven for making the assumption that a 'discussion paper' might be framed in such a way as to seek the opinions of Tasmanians and other stakeholders as to whether or not euthanasia & assisted suicide was good public policy or no. Apparently, according to , that's not the case: Continue reading

  I'm sure South Australian MP,  The Hon Bob Such, would agree that he's no Arnold Schwarzenegger, but upon the defeat of his latest euthanasia bill on the 14th of June, he boldly proclaimed that he would Continue reading

 Cross posted from  :Bioedge Continue reading

  ELDER ABUSE[6.16 p.m.] Continue reading

  HOPE has taken this opportunity to survey all of the plus 400 candidates for their views on euthanasia & assisted suicide.A little more than 25% responded. Some candidates from the major parties chose to respond giving the party line. In the case of both the LNP and the ALP we were told that neither party planned to introduce euthanasia and/or assisted suicide legislation. Continue reading

  For those, like me, who oppose the introduction of legislation to allow people to be legally killed or for people to assist people to kill themselves, we sometimes just need to count to ten when every new euthanasia and/or assisted suicide bill is raised in some Australian Parliament.  Yes, they do have a right to push their barrow; to have their say.No-one should begrudge any Australian or group of Australian's from 'pushing their barrow' in seeking to further their agenda, whatever that might be. Continue reading

  Authorities estimate that something like 5% of Australians over the age of 65 will be abused at some time. But authorities also admit that the prevalence could indeed be double that figure given that one of the characteristics of this kind of crime is significant under reporting.In every Australian state and territory, the issue of Elder Abuse; that is: abuse of elderly people by a trusted relative or friend, often, but not exclusively, for financial gain, is becoming a serious problem. Continue reading