Alex Schadenberg Executive Director - Euthanasia Prevention Coalition Nicole Ireland with CBC news reported that there have been more than 1324 euthanasia deaths in Canada. The CBC article that promotes euthanasia states:more than 1,300 people in Canada who have died with medical assistance since the option became law. For most of the country, that's been less than a year, as Bill C-14 governing medical assistance in dying passed on June 17, 2016. Quebec legalized medical assistance in dying six months before that, on Dec. 10, 2015. Continue reading

Alex Schadenberg Executive Director - Euthanasia Prevention Coalition The Dutch News reported that the number of reported assisted deaths increased by 10% in 2016 with 6091 reported assisted deaths, representing 4% of all deaths in the Netherlands up from 5561 reported assisted deaths in 2015. There were 5875 euthanasia deaths and 216 assisted suicide deaths.Since 2006, in the Netherlands, there has been a 317% increase in assisted deaths. Continue reading

by Paul Russell: A colourful exchange during ABC TV's panel program Q and A recently on the question of euthanasia and assisted suicide drove home to me the stark reality that what we're really talking about here is a lifestyle choice.We are well used to hearing the hackneyed sloganing around 'choice' that accompanies any discussion these days on this subject. Why wouldn't we all want 'choice' at the end of life? As far as it goes, choices are a good thing; but they don't come without consequences and nor should our society endorse every individual choice about all manner of things. There anarchy lies! Continue reading

by Paul Russell: The recent Western Australian State election created a new Labor Government, replacing the longstanding Liberal Government.In what must be said to be an unfortunate growing trend amongst the leaders of the two main state-based political parties across the country, the new Premier, Mark McGowan has made no secret of his support for euthanasia over a number of years and over two successive elections. Continue reading

by Paul Russell: A citizen's initiative to raise the issue of euthanasia in the Finnish Parliament (Eduskunta) passed the requisite 50,000 signatories required to trigger a parliamentary debate late last year. This week the matter came before the main chamber.The Uutiset news website reports that a broad concensus was reached on the need for universal access to palliative care; but a clear divide exists on the question of patient killing. Continue reading

Alex Schadenberg International Chair - Euthanasia Prevention Coalition I have sad news. Yesterday Germany's federal court decided that "in extreme circumstances" the refusal of a suicide drug is illegal.According to a DW news story: Continue reading

by Alex Schadenberg Executive Director - Euthanasia Prevention Coalition The Oregon Senate is currently debating Bill S.B. 893 that would expand assisted suicide to incompetent people who stated in a valid advanced directive, while competent, a wish to die by lethal drugs and the bill permits euthanasia.The bill officially also legalizes euthanasia. Continue reading

How a person dies affects others, not just in the present but in the future.by Margaret Somerville Some time ago, I was a member of an ethics committee set up as part of the Nuclear Waste Management Organization established by the Canadian Government to advise it on how it should deal with the complex issue of the disposal of nuclear waste.At the first meeting of the committee, the chairperson asked us each to introduce ourselves and to make some brief remarks relevant to the disposal issue. Continue reading