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Abortion Assisted suicide Eugenics Euthanasia Philosophy Philosophy Politics Stem cell research

Communication and Moral Complexity

SSRN lists a new article, Moral Conflict and Complexity: The Dynamics of Constructive Versus Destructive Discussions Over Polarizing Issues. The authors’ abstract, which you can access here, describes the contents as: Moral conflicts, whether over abortion, the death penalty, or the ‘right’ approach to addressing terrorism, pose serious challenges to societies worldwide. They can quickly […]

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Assisted suicide Australia Euthanasia International Legislation

No euthanasia legislation to be introduced by premier of Victoria, Australia

Premier of Australia’s second largest state, Victoria, has declined a cancer patient’s request that the premier initiate legislation authorizing euthanasia, saying that the issue should be decided at the national level. A bill legalizing euthanasia was defeated in the Victorian Parliment in 2008. The news story can be found here.

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Assisted suicide Canada Euthanasia International

Rasouli decision from the Ontario Court of Appeals supports the role of the family in medical decisions

Here is report on the recent Rasouli decision from the Ontario Court of Appeals. http://www.lifesitenews.com/news/ontario-appeals-court-rules-doctors-dont-have-right-to-remove-life-support The court found that doctors didn’t have the right to withdraw medical treatment despite the family’s objection. Here is commentary from the National Right to Life website. http://www.nationalrighttolifenews.org/news/2011/07/toronto-star-agrees-with-rasouli-decision/#more-2916 Richard M.

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Assisted suicide Euthanasia International

Euthanasia and Organ Procurement

Wesley Smith notes the increased acceptance of coupling euthanasia with organ harvesting in his July 4 Weekly Standard article. He notes that Julian Savulescu, a Romanian born Oxford bioethicist, supported this trend in a scholarly paper published in Bioethics. Wesley notes that Belgian doctors and bioethicists have been promoting the idea since at least 2008, […]

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Assisted suicide Euthanasia Religious views

“To Live Each Day with Dignity”

This is a quick follow up to my post of June 6, 2011. On June 16, 2011, the US Bishops approved a statement on physician-assisted suicide. Here is the link. http://www.usccb.org/toliveeachday/bishops-statement-physician-assisted-suicide.pdf The statement provides a useful summary of the problems posed by the campaign to legalize assisted suicide. The Bishops advocate “the way of love […]

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Assisted suicide Euthanasia Religious views

US Catholic Bishops to discuss a document on assisted suicide

Here is a LifeNews story on a new document opposing assisted suicide that the US Catholic bishops will conider at a meeting in mid-June.http://www.lifenews.com/2011/06/01/catholic-bishops-to-vote-on-document-opposing-assisted-suicide/  This is a welcome development. After the major public battles on the issue in the mid-1990s, this issue has to some extent flown under the radar. Richard M.

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Assisted suicide Euthanasia

Jack Kevorkian Dies in Hospital at 83

Here is the LifeNews story on the death of Jack Kevorkian. http://www.lifenews.com/2011/06/03/assisted-suicide-crusader-jack-kevorkian-dies-in-hospital/ Kevorkian killed more than 100 people through assisted suicide. He was convicted for the killing of Thomas  Youk and spent years in prison before being released in 2007. He was a deeply troubled man who was sympathetically treated by the media for many years. Here is […]

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Assisted suicide Euthanasia

Wesley Smith comment on suicide obsession

Here is an interesting item from Wesley Smith entitled “Modern Suicide Obsession a Troubling Sign of Nihilistic Times.”  http://www.firstthings.com/blogs/secondhandsmoke/2011/05/23/modern-suicide-obsession-a-troubling-sign-of-nihilistic-times/ Richard M.

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Assisted suicide Canada International

Euthanasia case to be heard by Canadian court

Here is a link to the Life News story on the Rasouli case that will be heard by a Canadian court next month.  http://www.lifenews.com/2011/04/19/canada-supreme-court-to-hear-key-euthanasia-case-in-may/ The Rasouli case involves an important issue concerning whether doctors need consent before withdrawing life sustaining medical treatment. Richard M.

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Assisted suicide Euthanasia Hospice

Dr. Diane Meier on assisted suicide

Courtesy of Wesley Smith’s blog, here is a link to some insightful commentary by Dr. Diane Meier on assisted suicide. Meier was a proponent of assisted suicide, but has changed her view on the issue.  Her emphasis is on palliative care. http://www.firstthings.com/blogs/secondhandsmoke/2011/04/08/assisted-suicide-ex-proponent-dr-diane-meier-speaks-wisdom/ Richard M.