Hot on the heels of HOPE's call for a parliamentary inquiry into Exit International and following closely upon Disability Advocates, Lives Worth Living, joining their voice, Victorian Upper House MP, Rachel Carling-Jenkins has now called upon her Federal colleagues to 'take this on board as a matter of high priority.' In her statement, just released, Rachel Carling-Jenkins MLC welcomes the decision of the medical board to restrict Dr Nitschke's association with Exit and suicide advocacy adding that, 'This is just the tip of the iceberg.''We know vulnerable Australians have been falling victim to the dark world of suicide advocacy, especially through Exit International. This includes young Australians who had their whole lives ahead of them.' Carling-Jenkins said today. Continue reading

This article is crossposted from MercatornetBY MARGARET SOMERVILLE Many know the saying "You have to fish or cut bait". Many fewer know the law's equivalent, "You can't approbate and reprobate". But the Canadian Medical Association's recent dealing with their 2007 Policy on Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide makes it seem they are unaware of the warning and wisdom these axioms communicate.That CMA policy unambiguously declares: "Canadian physicians should not participate in euthanasia or assisted suicide." Despite that, a motion passed at the recent CMA General Council meeting, which ostensibly was meant only to ensure freedom of conscience, has allowed the CMA to make the following statement in its intervener factum in the upcoming appeal in the Supreme Court of Canada in the Carter case: Continue reading

This article was published by Euthanasia Free New Zealand (PDF Link). By Dr David Richmond (pictured)Advocates of legalising euthanasia are desperate to argue for the ethical equivalence of two acts: Continue reading

By Paul Russell: After holding the line against euthanasia and assisted suicide and re-affirming opposition to it as recently as August 2013 the Canadian Medical Association rolled over and played dead earlier this month in the wake of the passage of euthanasia legislation in the Province of Quebec.To be fair, the CMA Annual General meeting did re-affirm its earlier statement on euthanasia and assisted suicide but also debated and passed the following motion that supports: Continue reading

The CMA consultation report determined that 71.5% agreed with the current CMA policy on euthanasia and Physician-Assisted Death, 25.8% disagreed with its current position and 2.6% were unsure. By Alex Schadenberg Executive Director: Euthanasia Prevention CoalitionThe Canadian Medical Association (CMA) published the results of its online poll and it national dialogue concerning euthanasia, assisted suicide and end-of-life care. Continue reading

 As stated by the CMA, the national dialogue on end-of-life care focused on three issues: advanced care planning, palliative care, and euthanasia and physician assisted dying. The secondary focus of the CMA national dialogue was to establish common definitions and terminology and to inform Canadians of the current legal and legislative framework on these issues. The outcome of the CMA national dialogue was published on the CMA website June 10, 2014 through a  and a 17 page document titled:  Continue reading

  Belgium: accelerating down the slippery slope Continue reading

This statement paper, developed by members of the Belgian Society of Intensive Care Medicine Council, is not about giving analgesics or sedative agents to combat pain or agitation, nor about the so-called double effect, wherein analgesics given to alleviate pain may have the adverse effect of shortening the dying process. The discussion here is about the administration of sedative agents with the direct intention of shortening the process of terminal palliative care in patients with no prospect of a meaningful recoveryâ�¦ Moreover, we explain our belief in the concept that shortening the dying process by administering sedatives beyond what is needed for patient comfort can be not only acceptable but in many cases desirable.Shortening the dying process with use of medication, such as analgesics/sedatives, may sometimes be appropriate, even in the absence of discomfort, and can actually improve the quality of dying; this approach can also help relatives accompany their loved one through the dying processâ��such a decision should be made with due consideration for the wishes of family members. Continue reading