This article was published by Access Magazine, a disability rights magazine in the UK and on Alex Schadenberg's Blog. Dr Kevin Fitzpatrick OBE is the Spokesperson/Convener of the Not Dead Yet UK Campaign. Kevin was recently hired as the Director of the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition International.Advocates of assisted suicide say that it is for people who are terminally ill, not disabled people. But assisted suicide will not be confined to those dying imminently. Falconer's Bill includes people with progressive conditions. Continue reading

  Wesley Smith writes:Here's the advocacy con advanced by suicide promoters in the UK to bludgeon Parliament into legalizing doctor-prescribed death. Continue reading

  The UK Daily Mail reports on a new survey that shows that fewer than one in five doctors would be willing to help patients end their lives.Lord Falconer's Assisted Dying Bill - which is being considered by Parliament - would offer the chance of assisted dying to terminally ill patients deemed mentally capable and within six months of likely death. Continue reading

  Dr Kevin Fitzpatrick of Not Dead yet UK reports on the UK campaign against Lord Falconer's 'assisted dying' bill. (First published on Alex Schadenberg's blog)In the (British) House of Lords, another attempt to legalise assisted suicide/euthanasia was debated at 2nd reading stage July 18, 2014 through Lord Falconer's 'assisted dying' Bill. It was rumoured that a vote would be forced and it was estimated, in advance of the debate, that speakers for the assisted suicide would outweigh those against by a 2:1 margin. On the day of the debate, neither turned out to be so. The Bill 'passed' to the committee stage without a vote, after ten hours of discussion in the chamber, but to our pleased surprise speakers were split about 50:50 for and against the Bill. Continue reading

  Many of our readers have asked for an update on Lord Charles Falconer's assisted suicide bill currently in the UK House of Lords.This is a great summary from the UK Care NOT Killing Alliance: Continue reading

  Stephen Drake, from Not Dead Yet USA shares an excellent analysis of the UK debate and the modus operandi and larger goals fo the pro-euthanasia and assisted suicide lobby:Right now, I want to focus on a strategy being used by pro-assisted suicide advocates in the UK. Very aware that one major criticism of legalization of assisted suicide is expansion or "slippery slope" into making nonterminally ill, old and disabled people targets of the legislation. Naturally, this has meant that advocates try to steer clear of discussing the Benelux countries, which have embraced the euthanasia of nonterminally ill people, people with depression, old people who say they're tired of living and the euthanasia of "severely disabled" infants - in the Netherlands, children with Spina Bifida have been the main target of medical killing according to reports. And of course most people are aware of the group Dignitas in Switzerland, whose eligibility criteria involves mostly the ability to pay hefty fees rather than any concern about the medical diagnosis of an individual. Continue reading

Coroner names Exit International after suicide death of 47 year old woman  The same evening as the Australian Medical Board announces the suspension of Philip Nitschke's medical licence, another story - this time from the UK - casts a long, dark shadow over the clandestine death industry.The woman, Gillian Clarke, was found dead in her home in April. The finding was that she died of asphyxiation. She had also consumed a 'potentially lethal dose of a sedative' said the Telegraph and Argus report. Continue reading

With Lord Falconer's ássisted dying' bill moving into committee stage in the UK House of Lords, Peter Saunders from the UK Care NOT Killling Alliance reports on what happens to public opinion once the facts of the bill are known. There is ample poll data showing that the majority of the British public support legalising assisted suicide (AS) in principle.The former Voluntary Euthanasia Society (now rebranded Dignity in Dying) claims a figure of 80% although I have previously argued that such levels of support are uncommitted, uninformed and unconvincing. Continue reading

  In what is seen as a surprise move, the UK Guardian newspaper has editorialized their opposition to the Falconer Bill about to be debated in the UK House of Lords.The Guardian view on assisted dying: safeguard life Continue reading

  On the eve of the debate on the UK's latest assisted suicide bill, this summary of the opposition case from Peter Saunders.On the eve of the House of Lords' debate on Lord Falconer's Assisted Dying Bill, Care Not Killing, an alliance of 40 organisations, has called on peers to reject the proposed legislation on grounds of public safety. Continue reading