Here is a link to an excellent paper by John Keown, which was recently published in the Cambridge Law Journal. The paper is entitled “The Logical Link Between Voluntary and Non-Voluntary Euthanasia.” Here is the abstract– “The logical “slippery slope” argument is of key relevance to the ongoing debate about “assisted dying”. The argument runs […]
Category: Death and dying
Here is a link to a Reuters story on the oral argument before the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts. The Court is considering whether there is a state constitutional right to assisted suicide. In 1997, the US Supreme Court rejected a federal constitutional challenge to laws banning assisted suicide.
Here is a link to a short item in the National Right to Life News mentioning that the Anscombe Bioethics Centre has recently released three papers on euthanasia. The papers are by David Albert Jones, John Keown, and Mark Komrad. All three are of high quality and are strongly recommended. Jones’s paper is entitled “Defining […]
Here is a link to a good article by Michael Cook describing a recently published study demonstrating flaws in the Belgian practice of euthanasia. The study, by Kasper Raus, Bert Vanderhaegen, and Sigrid Sterckx, was recently published in the Journal of Medicine and Philosophy. Here are some key findings, as summarized by Cook: “Yet the […]
Here is a link to a good piece by Wesley Smith documenting some of the disturbing trends concerning the legalization of euthanasia. Here is his conclusion: “Resisting assisted suicide and euthanasia isn’t about “winning,” but saving lives. So regardless of how things ultimately turn out, those of us who understand that hastening death corrupts medicine […]
Carter Snead’s new book should be of interest to anyone interested in the life issues. Here is a link to a press release describing the book. The book, which was published in October 2020 by Harvard University Press, is entitled “What it Means to be Human: The Case for the Body in Public Bioethics.” The […]
Here is a link to good essay by Michael Cook discussing the Vatican’s recent document on assisted suicide and euthanasia. In response to the trend towards legalization and acceptance of assisted suicide and euthanasia, the document (which is entitled Samaritanus Bonus) from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith sets forth a clear reaffirmation […]
Here is a link to a good essay by RJ Snell on the Michael Hickson case. Here is a key paragraph from the essay: “Behind the push for euthanasia, assisted suicide, “mercy killings,” and the refusal to treat Michael Hickson—refusing even to provide him hydration!—is a very basic, but utterly damning, philosophical mistake. Namely, no […]
Here is a link to a good essay by Margaret Somerville on the complex ethical issues involved in withdrawing artificial nutrition and hydration.
Here is a link to a good essay by Professor Thomas Cavanaugh. The essay was published in Public Discourse. Cavanaugh’s essay explores the great danger of the use of euphemisms in the assisted suicide debate. He concludes with these thoughts: “we should “not be afraid of words that speak the truth.” Rather, we should find […]