tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-92167870762619444672024-03-19T03:17:35.281-04:00Euthanasia Prevention CoalitionBlog maintained by Alex Schadenberg, International ChairAlex Schadenberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07649977828342637842noreply@blogger.comBlogger5398125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9216787076261944467.post-21796510142310981432024-03-18T14:58:00.004-04:002024-03-18T14:58:54.621-04:00California bill legalizes euthanasia and expands the criteria beyond terminal illness.<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Alex Schadenberg<br />Executive Director, Euthanasia Prevention Coalition</span></span><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlgKYOT-2pKJrmdUAnxtJCENfeCMRXMjUlvsXTktXaasI4xLqCj5r8Aix9yHCtpZ8_-oE9XHghmHRNbx5oEXeudK8cIEiQrl-iTkAbIXddIrI4AHF2wwt8ZCV2cNn_KvGN_E0tXqJuItp6FOdvJC0IDmRIOdReMMk1oGwCwuzrl_Q9BsJn8u8__yxGzpQT/s1200/assisted%20suicide%20expand%20in%20your%20state.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="628" data-original-width="1200" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlgKYOT-2pKJrmdUAnxtJCENfeCMRXMjUlvsXTktXaasI4xLqCj5r8Aix9yHCtpZ8_-oE9XHghmHRNbx5oEXeudK8cIEiQrl-iTkAbIXddIrI4AHF2wwt8ZCV2cNn_KvGN_E0tXqJuItp6FOdvJC0IDmRIOdReMMk1oGwCwuzrl_Q9BsJn8u8__yxGzpQT/w320-h166/assisted%20suicide%20expand%20in%20your%20state.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;">California legalized assisted suicide in 2016, they expanded the law in 2021 and they are now debating further expansions to medical killing.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">On <a href="https://alexschadenberg.blogspot.com/2024/03/california-bill-will-expand-law-from.html"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">March 8 I published</span></a> an article concerning California Senate Bill 1196, a bill that would:</span></span></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><u>Allow euthanasia</u>—by IV, as in Canada. Currently, California
permits <i>assisted suicide </i>(lethal poison that a person
takes orally at the time and place of their own choosing, with or without
witnesses)</span></span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Changing the criteria from terminally ill (6 month prognosis) to the
Canadian model: “<i>a grievous and irremediable medical condition</i>.” meaning <u>No time limit</u>. </span></span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Allow people with early to mid-stage dementia to consent to assisted suicide or euthanasia;
even though they have a condition that impairs their capacity to consent.</span></span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Remove the California residency requirement. This would allow California
to join Oregon and Vermont, which dropped their residency requirements and now allow suicide tourism.</span></span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Remove the 48 hour waiting period between first and second request by the patient. Same day death. </span></span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Remove the 2031 sunset clause in </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">the California assisted suicide law.</span></span></li></ol><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Maggie Hroncich wrote an article that was <a href="https://www.nysun.com/article/california-bill-looks-to-expand-assisted-suicide-beyond-terminal-illnesses"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">published in the New York Sun</span></a> on March 18, 2024 explaining the proposed changes to California's "End of Life Options Act. Hroncich writes:</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></p><blockquote><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Dubbed by critics as the ‘most extreme’ expansion effort in America, the
bill’s backers say it would give patients greater medical autonomy.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">As efforts to expand physician-assisted death ramp up across the
country, California lawmakers will consider a measure to expand access
to the procedures for dementia patients, add new ways drugs can be
taken, and open access to out-of-state residents. </span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Senate Bill 1196, introduced by a state senator, Catherine
Blakespear, would expand California’s End of Life Options Act to include
patients with a “grievous and irremediable medical condition” to
request doctor-assisted death in addition to patients with a terminal
disease. </span></span></p></blockquote><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Senate Bill 1196 uses similar language to Canada's euthanasia law. Hroncich writes:<br /></span></span><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></p><blockquote><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">In Canada, a shocking four percent of the country’s deaths were from
assisted suicide — leading to it being the fifth-leading cause of death
there, as the Sun has <a href="https://www.nysun.com/article/are-canadas-skyrocketing-assisted-suicide-death-rates-a-harbinger-for-america" rel="noreferrer noopener">reported</a>. Recently, <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/calgary-maid-father-daughter-court-injunction-judicial-review-1.7140782" rel="noreferrer noopener">reports</a>
have emerged that a father is asking a Canadian court to stop his
27-year-old daughter’s assisted suicide, whom he says has autism and
doesn’t meet the criteria for assisted death. </span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The California bill would set new conditions that would require a
patient to be in a state of “irreversible decline in capability” and
experiencing “physical or psychological suffering” that is “intolerable
to the individual and cannot be relieved in a manner the individual
deems acceptable.” Additionally, it must be “reasonably foreseeable”
that the condition would become the patient’s natural cause of death. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The legislation, if enacted, would also expand assisted-death to
allow patients with “early-to mid-stage dementia,” allow IV infusions of
the drugs rather than the current requirement that it must be taken
orally or through a digestive tract, remove the 2031 sunset date, and
remove the state’s residency requirement. </span></span></p></blockquote><p></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHZJS7zdtoXFLSiKdj322OuNYr0C9rc16WRVdf91IkSJ1vGtjr5rIrIosl6F7PPEdlCGL8h4HeogoB5nMovzAXZJGVtLc7Yk4eizprLWg47Dxi19x7WexDKOBXu8Z7RFvYrYFYiZCZODV9QIb3_RiRp1_PB1e7gCNg_CguAEQXpGhpQtJ3Iv-FbFhIXlDZ/s943/Alex%20Schadenberg%20blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="530" data-original-width="943" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHZJS7zdtoXFLSiKdj322OuNYr0C9rc16WRVdf91IkSJ1vGtjr5rIrIosl6F7PPEdlCGL8h4HeogoB5nMovzAXZJGVtLc7Yk4eizprLWg47Dxi19x7WexDKOBXu8Z7RFvYrYFYiZCZODV9QIb3_RiRp1_PB1e7gCNg_CguAEQXpGhpQtJ3Iv-FbFhIXlDZ/s320/Alex%20Schadenberg%20blog.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Hroncich quotes me explaining why the bill will permit euthanasia:<br /></span></span><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></p><blockquote><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">One vocal critic of the bill is the Executive Director of Canada’s Euthanasia Prevention Coalition, Alex Schadenberg, who is <a href="https://alexschadenberg.blogspot.com/2024/03/california-bill-will-expand-law-from.html" rel="noreferrer noopener"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">warning</span></a> California lawmakers not to “follow Canada’s lead.” </span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">“Changing the criteria from a terminal illness (6 months prognosis)
to having a ‘grievous and irremediable medical condition’ will lead to
people with disabilities ‘qualifying’ for death by lethal poison for
reasons of poverty, homelessness, an inability to obtain necessary
services or difficulty with obtaining medical treatment as has happened
in Canada,” he notes. </span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The bill could lead to “homicide tourism,” he adds, and the IV
infusion allowance would mean doctors are actively carrying out the
death rather than assisting a patient in self-administering the fatal
drugs. “Euthanasia is sold to the public as allowing competent adults
who are capable of consenting to die by lethal poison,” according to Mr.
Schadenberg. “Allowing euthanasia for people with dementia permits
medical practitioners to kill someone who is not competent and unable to
consent.”</span></span></p></blockquote><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Hroncich was careful in writing this article but clearly Senate Bill 1196 will not only expand the assisted suicide law, but it also legalizes euthanasia, otherwise known as homicide. This is not an expansion of the law but rather it legalizes euthanasia. </span></span><br /></p>Alex Schadenberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07649977828342637842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9216787076261944467.post-91031596198028123782024-03-17T21:49:00.003-04:002024-03-17T21:50:28.519-04:00Dutch doctors oppose euthanasia for "completed life."<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Alex Schadenberg<br />Executive Director, Euthanasia Prevention Coalition</span><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2BQ18NyGs2quKe1lSMSKLgqG-e_kLIZAmq8XNZown1bA7o2hkSAjvDvfmV9gNtDOHmQkMcA228fnk9tuxu84O5UMOSwzFosf4XIIgVdq54Ax7bAdormXktirkCoBbx3t1-6eMLA8VdkkfRN3B1WYu6nAUGDbBVoclHUNlpkdLAA4HcQsS6SR5oKq08V9U/s200/euthanasia%20prevention%20(1).png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="200" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2BQ18NyGs2quKe1lSMSKLgqG-e_kLIZAmq8XNZown1bA7o2hkSAjvDvfmV9gNtDOHmQkMcA228fnk9tuxu84O5UMOSwzFosf4XIIgVdq54Ax7bAdormXktirkCoBbx3t1-6eMLA8VdkkfRN3B1WYu6nAUGDbBVoclHUNlpkdLAA4HcQsS6SR5oKq08V9U/s1600/euthanasia%20prevention%20(1).png" width="200" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">On March 17, the NL Times reported that the Royal Dutch Medical Association maintained their opposition to euthanasia for "completed life." The <a href="https://nltimes.nl/2024/03/17/doctors-continue-oppose-bill-assisted-suicide"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">NL Times report</span></a> stated:</span><p></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4f4f4f; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1.2em;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"></span></p><blockquote><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1.2em;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Doctors are still opposing a proposal to make euthanasia possible for elderly people who feel their life is fulfilled. The Royal Dutch Medical Association (KNMG) says there are still too many risks for people in a vulnerable position.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1.2em;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">D66 submitted <a href="https://nltimes.nl/2023/11/07/d66-adjusts-completed-life-bill-longer-guidance-assisted-suicide" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box;">an amended "completed life" bill </a>in November. The bill states that people 75 years of age and older can decide to end their life when they feel they no longer wish to continue living. With the assistance of a new professional, the end-of-life counselor, they would be able to do so.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1.2em;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">There are usually complex problems behind suicidal ideation in elderly people, KNMG warns. They mention problems like loneliness, depression, social isolation, financial problems, or a weak socioeconomic position.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1.2em;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">The doctors' federation says more attention should be given to these issues. "The facilitating of suicide for the elderly in a vulnerable position is not a responsible or desirable way."</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1.2em;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">The age limit is also an issue for the KNMG, as it sends a signal "that life for the elderly is worth less than the life of younger people." KNMG expressed similar criticism about an earlier proposal.</span></p></blockquote><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1.2em;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 1.2em;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">The D66 party has been pushing for euthanasia for "completed life" for many years. In the last years general election the D66 fell from 24 - 9 seats. With the loss of political influence for the D66, it is unlikely that euthanasia will be extended to "completed life" any time soon.</span></p>Alex Schadenberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07649977828342637842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9216787076261944467.post-17164061405633282222024-03-15T21:00:00.001-04:002024-03-18T09:35:51.065-04:00Schadenberg message to the Isle of Man. Euthanasia: Don't go there.<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Alex Schadenberg<br />Executive Director, Euthanasia Prevention Coalition<br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt0pUcihxVgjcg3uHgAMOd85DHFBhidYPeUjtWVLcPrfo4NDnNp_e1FjqFXdIDJO8PXGYXFTtwV8s1TejaikWB1QnKXFGn3waKslYiwesuFXV1lwgp4OEoDA_RYf7L9_PNLznD_C9PxFDVg2Mjal9puwiibZ9GeN6lHretRO9OJu2c5IRRbkBl60Z1DoEU/s800/Alex%20Schadenberg%20Isle%20of%20Man.webp" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="449" data-original-width="800" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt0pUcihxVgjcg3uHgAMOd85DHFBhidYPeUjtWVLcPrfo4NDnNp_e1FjqFXdIDJO8PXGYXFTtwV8s1TejaikWB1QnKXFGn3waKslYiwesuFXV1lwgp4OEoDA_RYf7L9_PNLznD_C9PxFDVg2Mjal9puwiibZ9GeN6lHretRO9OJu2c5IRRbkBl60Z1DoEU/s320/Alex%20Schadenberg%20Isle%20of%20Man.webp" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alex Schadenberg (jet lag picture)</td></tr></tbody></table>I just completed meetings with elected representatives in Scotland and the Isle of Man. Medical professionals, under the banner of Manx Duty of Care, brought me to the Isle of Man.<br /><br />While in the Isle of Man I was interviewed, along with Dr Graham McAll, by the BBC. The <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cxez8243xxzo">BBC news report states</a>:<br /><blockquote>The Isle of Man should not "open the door" to proposed assisted dying laws, a Canadian campaigner has said.<br /><br />Alex Schadenberg from the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition believes proposed safeguards would be eroded over time.<br /><br />Mr Schadenberg is set to share his views at public meeting on the issue in Douglas on Tuesday, organised by a group of island medics who have raised concerns about the bill.</blockquote></span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">According to the BBC the proposed legislation stipulates to be eligible you must be an island resident diagnosed with a terminal illness, with a life expectancy of six months or less. I reportedly stated:<br /><blockquote>In 2021, Canada loosened its euthanasia laws to no longer require that a patient's condition be terminally ill, allowing people whose condition is serious and incurable to request it.<br /><br />Mr Schadenberg said: "Don’t go there... we were told in Canada it would only be for rare cases [but] you open the door to one thing, and you end up getting something else."</blockquote></span><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKZhTl0WcAyzTEifTKCjCad59UBdrjHeER1WkJnmp4oTPphBTmJ5Q8WUTQ7ewKRCJFcVIs8irBGPWX4iYtvWL3jdQ0bBpd2l1lcP4T1Hv0iH_a42rLllaZgPgOoMYZIvEArLwQZzgMSRjULR4HJkqOU1zv8WLimjD7XWsxlvQgPmbHIRwQAwDygty7tLaW/s800/Graham%20McAll.webp" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="449" data-original-width="800" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKZhTl0WcAyzTEifTKCjCad59UBdrjHeER1WkJnmp4oTPphBTmJ5Q8WUTQ7ewKRCJFcVIs8irBGPWX4iYtvWL3jdQ0bBpd2l1lcP4T1Hv0iH_a42rLllaZgPgOoMYZIvEArLwQZzgMSRjULR4HJkqOU1zv8WLimjD7XWsxlvQgPmbHIRwQAwDygty7tLaW/s320/Graham%20McAll.webp" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dr Graham McAll - Manx Duty of Care</td></tr></tbody></table>The BBC reported Dr Graham McAll stating</span></div><blockquote><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Retired GP Graham McAll is a member of Manx Duty of Care, an opposition group of about 150 health and social care workers and organisers of the meeting at the Manx Museum.<br /><br />He said he believed the proposals were "dangerous" as he feared they would be eventually extended and "we won't be able to stop it once we open the can of worms".<br /><br />The move was "unnecessary" as with improved care "the legislation should not be needed", Mr McAll said.</span></blockquote><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Manx radio provided a shorter but similar as the BBC report. <a href="https://www.manxradio.com/news/isle-of-man-news/canadian-campaigner-warns-against-legalising-assisted-dying/">Manx radio reported</a>:<br /><blockquote>Once assisted dying has been legalised, it's hard to stop the criteria for those eligible being expanded.<br /><br />That's the warning from a campaigner from Canada, who's been speaking at an event on the Isle of Man.<br /><br />Canada introduced laws similar to those being considered on the Isle of Man in 2016, before widening the groups able to request an assisted death in 2021.</blockquote></span><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">More than 130 people attended the public meeting and 9 members of the Manx parliament.</span></div>Alex Schadenberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07649977828342637842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9216787076261944467.post-47669074265260290972024-03-15T20:44:00.000-04:002024-03-15T21:06:32.108-04:00Assisted suicide is the wrong prescription<p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">The following article was <a href="https://www.kevinmd.com/2024/03/assisted-suicide-is-the-wrong-prescription.html"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">published by Kevinmd</span></a> on March 15, 2024.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">By Dr Joseph E Marine</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPckFmhXNigkSNSfYlMc8CnyAoGZkGPqhTkisqz2LS2s5YWH4dLOwXq1WbaxLjVUrvIaM81ra9Clq83CvXv4Hpp4yOtlZrePKc3YumxeQVZm3CxXRudhtlOklhZp49AnpbC59Yx5UDTC6MpuNY3HIl2q4tbBfsZiAI9xLrfjt7K3-agqk5OXRfeAwfIHr7/s2100/Assisted%20suicide%20is%20not%20health%20care.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1672" data-original-width="2100" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPckFmhXNigkSNSfYlMc8CnyAoGZkGPqhTkisqz2LS2s5YWH4dLOwXq1WbaxLjVUrvIaM81ra9Clq83CvXv4Hpp4yOtlZrePKc3YumxeQVZm3CxXRudhtlOklhZp49AnpbC59Yx5UDTC6MpuNY3HIl2q4tbBfsZiAI9xLrfjt7K3-agqk5OXRfeAwfIHr7/s320/Assisted%20suicide%20is%20not%20health%20care.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;">America expends much time, effort, and resources when people become
seriously ill, bringing many face-to-face with their own mortality. For
patients and their families, it is an emotional and difficult time under
the best of circumstances. As a cardiologist, I participate in the
decision-making that comes at this time, and it has provided me with the
honor of delivering care that has allowed patients to rebound from
acute illness and to live better with chronic heart disease. But it has
also provided me with the privilege of helping people nearing the end of
life.</span><p></p>
<p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Because I practice medicine within an excellent hospital system, I
know that our health care system has the capacity to provide life-saving
care in dire circumstances. But I also know that not everyone has equal
access to this care. For people with disabilities, people of color,
older Americans, and others who lack access, they too often face
inequitable barriers to care.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">While our health care system is geared toward healing, we all will
die. However, creating new public policy that would allow medical
professionals to help their patients take their own lives with a
prescription for lethal drugs is fraught with danger and has significant
consequences for the health system and for our society. The medical
profession crossing a red line from neither hastening nor prolonging
death into the realm of intentionally causing it for some people, based
on subjective criteria, has had terrible consequences throughout
history.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Based on my experience, research, and observation, I have come to
oppose legalization of assisted suicide, which is also known by several
confusing euphemisms. Regardless of the term used, it creates great
societal risk.</span></p><div class="ad_wrapper">
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<p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">While downplaying the role of palliative and hospice care programs,
advocates of assisted suicide continue to promote dangerous and
misguided public policy that would transform suicide into a “medical
treatment.” These policy proposals and legislation violate many basic
principles of patient safety, erase critical civil and legal protections
for vulnerable patients, and do nothing to address the real needs of
patients with advanced illnesses and disabilities.</span></p><div class="ad_wrapper">
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<p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Assisted suicide is not medical care. It has no basis in medical
science, practice, or tradition. In states that have passed assisted
suicide laws, <a data-wpel-link="exclude" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/a-year-after-dc-passed-its-assisted-suicide-law-only-two-doctors-have-signed-up/2018/04/10/823cf7e2-39ca-11e8-9c0a-85d477d9a226_story.html" rel="follow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">few physicians</a>
are willing to participate. In Oregon in 2021-2022, the median duration
of the patient relationship with the physician prescribing assisted
suicide was <a data-wpel-link="exclude" href="https://www.oregon.gov/oha/PH/ProviderPartnerResources/EvaluationResearch/DeathwithDignityAct/Pages/ar-index.aspx" rel="follow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">only five weeks</a>,
indicating that patients are getting the prescriptions from a small
number of willing providers who do not know them well and not their
regular physicians. The <a data-wpel-link="external" href="https://www.acponline.org/sites/default/files/documents/running_practice/ethics/issues/policy/pa_suicide.pdf" rel="nofollow external noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">American College of Physicians</a> and the <a data-wpel-link="external" href="https://code-medical-ethics.ama-assn.org/ethics-opinions/physician-assisted-suicide" rel="nofollow external noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">American Medical Association</a>,
the two largest medical societies in the country, have consistently
discouraged physician participation and not supported the legalization
of assisted suicide.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Furthermore, the lethal drugs used in assisted suicide have never
been scientifically tested for efficacy in causing death, and the U.S.
Food and Drug Administration has never approved any drugs for this
purpose. Rather, the drug recipes for assisted suicide have been
invented by euthanasia practitioners, using methods known only to
themselves. Moreover, the movement away from the use of barbiturates
towards various <a data-wpel-link="exclude" href="https://www.oregon.gov/oha/PH/PROVIDERPARTNERRESOURCES/EVALUATIONRESEARCH/DEATHWITHDIGNITYACT/Documents/year25.pdf" rel="follow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">combinations of other sedative-hypnotic and cardiac drugs</span></a> indicates that assisted suicide physicians are <a data-wpel-link="exclude" href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2017/02/16/kaiser-docs-northwest-tweak-aid--dying-drugs-prevent-prolonged-deaths/98003110/" rel="follow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">experimenting with these poison cocktails</span></a> without any conventional safeguards or oversight, in violation of the principles of the <a data-wpel-link="external" href="https://www.wma.net/policies-post/wma-declaration-of-helsinki-ethical-principles-for-medical-research-involving-human-subjects/" rel="nofollow external noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Declaration of Helsinki</a>. Continued experimentation also suggests that the drug cocktails may not be “working” as well as proponents claim.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Proponents of assisted suicide assert that the enabling laws have
“strong safeguards”; however, a close look at the facts shows that these
safeguards are an illusion. The law in practice can be routinely
violated because it relies entirely on self-reporting, with broad
criminal, civil, and professional immunity given to physicians,
protection of records from discovery and subpoena, no witnesses to
consumption of drugs, falsification of death certificates (the cause of
death is not reported as suicide but as the underlying illness), and no
routine audits, investigations, or supervision by an independent safety
monitoring board. In addition:</span></p><div class="ad_wrapper">
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<ul><li><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Some patients have not died quickly and have <a data-wpel-link="exclude" href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2017/02/16/kaiser-docs-northwest-tweak-aid--dying-drugs-prevent-prolonged-deaths/98003110/" rel="follow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">suffered as a result</a>, in some cases taking <a data-wpel-link="exclude" href="https://www.oregon.gov/oha/PH/PROVIDERPARTNERRESOURCES/EVALUATIONRESEARCH/DEATHWITHDIGNITYACT/Documents/year25.pdf" rel="follow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2 to 3 days to die</a>.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Most other countries with legal assisted suicide use intravenous drugs because of complications and failure in up to <a data-wpel-link="exclude" href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10684914/" rel="follow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">20 percent</a> of patients who use pills.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">In Oregon, which has had assisted suicide for 25 years, officials
admit that in the 80 percent of cases with no medical witnesses, they
have <a data-wpel-link="exclude" href="https://www.oregon.gov/oha/PH/ProviderPartnerResources/EvaluationResearch/DeathwithDignityAct/Pages/ar-index.aspx" rel="follow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">no way to know</a>
if complications occurred. Without witnesses, the state does not know
whether the drugs were self-administered or whether some patients were
assisted to die in other ways.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">In states with assisted suicide, some patients have <a data-wpel-link="exclude" href="https://www.oregon.gov/oha/PH/ProviderPartnerResources/EvaluationResearch/DeathwithDignityAct/Pages/ar-index.aspx" rel="follow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">lived up to 3 years</a>
after receiving a prescription, in violation of the law, which requires
a 6-month prognosis, with no accountability or consequences for the
physician.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><a data-wpel-link="external" href="https://www.nhpco.org/hospice-care-overview/hospice-facts-figures/" rel="nofollow external noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">15 to 20 percent of U.S. patients</a> referred for hospice care survive their 6-month prognosis, and 6 percent are found not to be terminally ill.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Patients with some advanced illnesses have a <a data-wpel-link="exclude" href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23571209/" rel="follow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">50 to 75 percent</a> incidence of <a data-wpel-link="exclude" href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16116147/" rel="follow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">clinical depression</a>, and <a data-wpel-link="exclude" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/07/us/questions-on-safeguards-in-suicide-law.html" rel="follow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">at least one patient</a>
received a prescription in Oregon despite a history of severe
depression and suicidality. Yet fewer than 2 percent of Oregon patients
who received assisted suicide prescriptions had a formal mental health
evaluation.</span></li></ul>
<p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">These facts are clear evidence that assisted suicide laws are not
providing adequate protection for vulnerable patients and are ripe for
abuse. What patients with advanced illnesses and disabilities need
instead is more support and greater access to excellent palliative care,
hospice care, and pain management programs. America has some of the
best health care in the world. We should use it and not undermine our
health care system with assisted suicide laws. It is the wrong
prescription.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><em><a data-wpel-link="external" href="https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/profiles/details/joseph-marine" rel="nofollow external noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Joseph E. Marine</a> is a cardiologist.</em></span></p>Alex Schadenberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07649977828342637842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9216787076261944467.post-38772904704130863672024-03-15T20:33:00.004-04:002024-03-15T20:41:12.832-04:00Belgian euthanasia deaths increase by 15% in 2023.<p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYArMBRKo_X7SAKhNi6GRYsI55mNN_W4_Ro1s3Howi9beXQQuY8M6vwCrX25NoWTN83_Kvu9t4fOYyVFIXjCpVuZMvnZnA5IXrRcgumM-T7-DTh6KnxAYxnultckZQ5I8D2fzGDAXyEpgdeGnJ9BkRlGRlao-tf1wCYp4yr62KgDgciGHbBlV7SyhltAPb/s120/european%20institute%20of%20bioethics2.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="93" data-original-width="120" height="93" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYArMBRKo_X7SAKhNi6GRYsI55mNN_W4_Ro1s3Howi9beXQQuY8M6vwCrX25NoWTN83_Kvu9t4fOYyVFIXjCpVuZMvnZnA5IXrRcgumM-T7-DTh6KnxAYxnultckZQ5I8D2fzGDAXyEpgdeGnJ9BkRlGRlao-tf1wCYp4yr62KgDgciGHbBlV7SyhltAPb/s1600/european%20institute%20of%20bioethics2.jpg" width="120" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">The European Institute of Bioethics <a href="https://www.ieb-eib.org/fr/actualite/fin-de-vie/euthanasie-et-suicide-assiste/euthanasie-en-belgique-hausse-de-15-en-2023-vers-une-normalisation-de-la-mort-programmee-2212.html">published</a> the following report:</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">On Tuesday, February 27, the Federal Commission for the Control and Evaluation of Euthanasia in Belgium (CFCEE) published the figures relating to euthanasia's declared during 2023. The number of euthanasia's officially practiced reached a new record with 3,423 euthanasia's declared to the Commission in 2023.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwmsRzbbtTLnjGonumb5VA11BZ80C4pImnv-qqtUFP9jIe5hyphenhyphenVxg8u625uS2S8HeqITWAhmXC_mDNtGadXpH2j6RKYjSqqblxxDDfwLeIux2q0xLdu-BGmEBYP3Gi-Hnwh34vHyWSUc-Lzrf-9FZKgZ-D7IvvPTSvXnW8uX3Z5nzecPwTplter_DQ_QpTo/s1200/Belgium%202023%20graph.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="621" data-original-width="1200" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwmsRzbbtTLnjGonumb5VA11BZ80C4pImnv-qqtUFP9jIe5hyphenhyphenVxg8u625uS2S8HeqITWAhmXC_mDNtGadXpH2j6RKYjSqqblxxDDfwLeIux2q0xLdu-BGmEBYP3Gi-Hnwh34vHyWSUc-Lzrf-9FZKgZ-D7IvvPTSvXnW8uX3Z5nzecPwTplter_DQ_QpTo/s320/Belgium%202023%20graph.png" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">While the year 2022 had also been marked by an increase in cases (+10%), see. IEB news, this year marks an increase of 15% compared to 2022.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">To these euthanasia's officially declared to the Commission, scientific studies estimate that approximately 25 to 35% of undeclared euthanasia's should be added (JPSM, 2018).</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">If the majority of reported euthanasia's concern elderly people, note that almost a third (30%) of people officially deceased by euthanasia were under 70 years.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Euthanasia's carried out at home represent 48.6%. We observe a confirmed increase in euthanasia carried out in rest and care homes (16.4% in 2022 and 17.4% in 2023). 32% of euthanasias were carried out in hospitals and palliative care units. This proportion is up slightly compared to the previous year.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">The figures for 2023 also confirm the increase in euthanasias carried out due to multiple pathologies (+3% compared to 2022, i.e. the second type of condition mentioned, after cancer). Euthanasia for multiple pathologies thus represents 23.2% of euthanasia, of which almost half (47%) were carried out when death was not expected in the short term. As the Commission indicates, polypathologies designate “a combination of suffering caused by several chronic conditions which progress towards a final stage”. In practice, these conditions can notably consist of terminal heart failure, hemiplegia due to a stroke but also loss of vision or hearing, polyarthritis or incontinence.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Finally, in 76.2% of cases, physical and psychological suffering were mentioned simultaneously. Additionally, 89 people were euthanized due to psychiatric conditions (such as personality disorders or depression) or cognitive disorders (such as Alzheimer's disease). A figure again increasing compared to 2022.</span></p>Alex Schadenberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07649977828342637842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9216787076261944467.post-27311164867186843632024-03-15T19:32:00.002-04:002024-03-18T10:31:18.115-04:00UK Labour Party leader is dead wrong about assisted suicide.<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Alex Schadenberg<br />Executive Director, Euthanasia Prevention Coalition<br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaVL57i-KfcfYVQU2Odj2cfDLfEz7qlSwXx-37yLfMty-y4mlzi7fFCQhG3Phd17XGwwvc4G5wjWmbwdAQlozEi3wo7Ys_uMUmHsTELwfwdS8Aol78OoCVS8HHqZ7ViVwdKyS6fVTo84PAVd8ofGN6-lDfXBx6ztmYeXnhfzZZj3jP6u29zlSQwkVC_LiV/s720/Kevin%20Yuill%20new%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="720" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaVL57i-KfcfYVQU2Odj2cfDLfEz7qlSwXx-37yLfMty-y4mlzi7fFCQhG3Phd17XGwwvc4G5wjWmbwdAQlozEi3wo7Ys_uMUmHsTELwfwdS8Aol78OoCVS8HHqZ7ViVwdKyS6fVTo84PAVd8ofGN6-lDfXBx6ztmYeXnhfzZZj3jP6u29zlSQwkVC_LiV/w200-h150/Kevin%20Yuill%20new%202.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kevin Yuill</td></tr></tbody></table>Kevin Yuill who is an emeritus professor of history at the University of Sunderland and CEO of Humanists Against Assisted Suicide and Euthanasia (HAASE) wrote an article, <a href="https://www.spiked-online.com/2024/03/14/keir-starmer-is-dead-wrong-about-assisted-suicide/">that was published in Spiked</a> on March 14 challenging Keir Starmer, the leader of the UK Labour party, announced that he would bring forth an assisted suicide bill, if his party is elected in the next UK election. </span><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">I just completed meetings with elected representatives in Scotland and the Isle of Man. While in Scotland, the Keir Starmer news came out.</span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Yuill's states in his article in the Spiked:<br /><blockquote>He made the pledge earlier this week, in response to Esther Rantzen, the veteran broadcaster who is also a <a href="https://www.spiked-online.com/2023/12/21/what-esther-rantzen-gets-wrong-about-assisted-suicide/">vocal advocate for assisted suicide</a>. Starmer told her: ‘I’m personally in favour of changing the law. I think we need to make time. We will make the commitment.’</blockquote></span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Yuill writes that Starmer has flip flopped on issues in the past, but Starmer is known to support assisted suicide. Yuill wrote:</span><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><blockquote>He has, after all, continuously supported legalising assisted suicide. As an MP in 2015, <a href="https://www.theyworkforyou.com/mp/25353/keir_starmer/holborn_and_st_pancras/divisions?policy=6732">he voted in favour</a> of it. And when he was director of public prosecutions, in 2010, he <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2010/feb/25/dpp-releases-assisted-suicide-guidelines">issued guidelines</a> that strongly discouraged prosecutions against anyone who helped a terminally ill person end their life. Indeed, his position on assisted dying may be the only consistent one he has ever held.</blockquote></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Yuill then explains how Starmer's promised "safegaurds" are an illusion:<br /><a href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2024/03/13/keir-starmer-vote-legalise-assisted-dying-esther-rantzen/"></a><blockquote><a href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2024/03/13/keir-starmer-vote-legalise-assisted-dying-esther-rantzen/">Starmer</a> has promised that any change in the UK law must be accompanied by ‘safeguards with teeth to protect the vulnerable’ from abuse. But herein lies the fundamental problem with legalising assisted dying. In almost every country where it has been legalised, the safeguards that were initially put in place have been trampled on. Like a cancer, the so-called right to die inevitably spreads.</blockquote></span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Yuill then explains how Canada's safeguards have been withdrawn.<br /><blockquote>Canada is perhaps the most grim example of this. In less than a decade, its Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID) programme has <a href="https://www.spiked-online.com/video/assisted-dying-canadas-sinister-experiment/">expanded to a dystopian degree</a>. When it was first introduced in 2016, euthanasia was only legal when a patient’s death was ‘reasonably foreseeable’. Now, just about anybody suffering from an illness or disability can access a state-sponsored death. In 2027, the law is set to expand further still to allow those suffering with mental illness to apply for MAID.</blockquote>Yuill explains that expanding assisted suicide laws is a feature of legalization:<br /><blockquote>Expansion of the criteria is a feature, not a bug, of assisted-suicide laws. Once the right to die is enshrined in law, safeguards are almost immediately called into question by those who feel they are suffering unbearably, but do not qualify under the existing rules. There’s a grim logic to it. When death comes to be seen as the best treatment for suffering, then how can the state deny it to anyone who suffers?</blockquote>Yuill provides specific examples of expansion of the laws from Canada and the Netherlands:<br /><blockquote>As a result, some truly disturbing cases have emerged from the places where assisted dying is legal. In Alberta, Canada, a <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/calgary-maid-father-daughter-court-injunction-judicial-review-1.7140782?__vfz=medium%3Dsharebar">27-year-old autistic woman</a> was approved for MAID earlier this year. Her father has gone to court to try to stop her from being euthanised. He has argued that, aside from her autism diagnosis, she is perfectly healthy. Despite this, two doctors signed off on her death. The case is still ongoing.<br /><br />It’s a similar story in the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/euthanasia-autism-intellectual-disabilities-netherlands-b5c4906d0305dd97e16da363575c03ae">Netherlands</a>, where assisted suicide and euthanasia have been legal since 2002. Between 2012 and 2021, 39 people suffering only from autism and / or other intellectual disabilities have been euthanised. Nearly half of them were under 50.<br /><br />One such case was an autistic man in his twenties. His record said that he was a victim of regular bullying, that he ‘had felt unhappy since childhood’ and that he ‘longed for social contacts but was unable to connect with others’. On this basis, and on his request, his doctor euthanised him.</blockquote></span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Yuill ends the article by encouraging Starmer to flip flop on assisted suicide.<br /><blockquote>The essential problem with assisted suicide is that it turns death into a ‘solution’ to life’s problems. It does not alleviate people’s suffering. It merely encourages them to seek death, as an alternative to decent medical treatment or proper social support. Keir Starmer ought to think twice before setting the UK down this path. For once, his flip-flopping would be more than welcome.</blockquote>Previous articles by Kevin Yuill on euthanasia and assisted suicide. (<a href="https://alexschadenberg.blogspot.com/search/label/Kevin%20Yuill">Link to the articles</a>)</span>Alex Schadenberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07649977828342637842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9216787076261944467.post-64707121497377294242024-03-15T07:22:00.002-04:002024-03-15T07:23:04.754-04:00Jurisdictions that legalize euthanasia or assisted suicide will regret it. Just look at Canada.<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Alex Schadenberg<br />Executive Director, Euthanasia Prevention Coalition<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik2m14a34k-zCuz_pU8UCEj7C3XflhWxKgkG51AvlxnKpKyJfPGR6Q0C0S-CdubWbtVjFRDsZfRMZ6zkyUlgUKAnNH6kM-depUuTLPz1wG7oGNcowiBUjhVSatwXXpJuFejBMhLhkcn8vwmqAU0YG19XnhGTYSGVi8pQS-iZNiMarcwnqbSBzGC4EzdJ0q/s265/Canada%20euthanasia3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="149" data-original-width="265" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik2m14a34k-zCuz_pU8UCEj7C3XflhWxKgkG51AvlxnKpKyJfPGR6Q0C0S-CdubWbtVjFRDsZfRMZ6zkyUlgUKAnNH6kM-depUuTLPz1wG7oGNcowiBUjhVSatwXXpJuFejBMhLhkcn8vwmqAU0YG19XnhGTYSGVi8pQS-iZNiMarcwnqbSBzGC4EzdJ0q/s1600/Canada%20euthanasia3.jpg" width="265" /></a></div>I am just returning from a speaking tour which included meetings with elected representatives in Scotland and the Isle of Man. Both jurisdictions are debating the legalization of euthanasia and assisted suicide. While in Scotland, a news story was published concerning Keir Starmer, the leader of the UK Labour party, who promised that if elected he would bring forth a bill to legalize assisted dying.<br /><br />At the same time the French President, Emmanuel Macron, announced that an "assisted dying" bill would be introduced on May 27. As horrific as Canada's experience with euthanasia has been, the terrible euthanasia stories out of Canada is creating a hesitancy in other countries when they debate legalizing poisoning by doctors.<br /><br />The recent article by Michael Deacon that was published in the Daily Telegraph is titled: <a href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/columnists/2024/03/14/starmer-legalises-assisted-dying-euthanasia-regret/">If Starmer legalises assisted dying, we’ll live to regret it... Euthanasia may start off as being for those with terminal illnesses, but its justification would soon blur – just look at Canada</a>.<br /><br />Deacon writes:<br /></span><blockquote><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">“I’m personally <a href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2024/03/13/keir-starmer-vote-legalise-assisted-dying-esther-rantzen/">in favour of changing the law</a>,” Sir Keir Starmer told Dame Esther in a personal phone call – before promising her that a Labour government would give MPs a vote on it. “Esther,” he declared, “I can give you that commitment right now.”<br /><br />Admittedly, Sir Keir has a less than 100 per cent record on honouring his “commitments”. In the past, I’ve often criticised him for it. In this particular case, though, I hope he performs another of his famous U-turns. Because, if he does legalise assisted suicide, I fear we’ll live to regret it.</span></blockquote><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Deacon continues:<br /></span><blockquote><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Have they really managed to miss all the horror stories coming out of <a href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2022/11/14/canadas-harrowing-euthanasia-experiment-should-warning-world/">Canada</a>?<br /><br />Assisted suicide was legalised there in 2016. And ever since, there have been numerous cases showing how humane intentions can lead to chilling consequences. Take the 61-year-old man who was euthanised in 2019, even though the only health problem he’d listed on his application form was hearing loss. Or the 41-year-old woman who was euthanised in 2021 after telling doctors she wanted to end the suffering caused by her fibromyalgia. In private, however, she’d told friends that she actually wanted to die because she was so poor</span></blockquote><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Deacon makes it clear, Canada's experience will also happen in the UK:<br /></span><blockquote><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">We may tell ourselves that we’d never let that happen here. But I wouldn’t be so sure. After all, Canadians have long held a well-deserved reputation for being the nicest people on earth. And yet all of a sudden, here they are, eagerly clamouring to bump off the poor. Forget helping them find a decent home and a solid job. Just slip them a lovely, lethal dose of propofol. Well, it’s an awful lot cheaper.<br /><br />This is the trouble with <a href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/02/29/assisted-dying-increasingly-likely-legal-britain-euthanasia/">assisted dying</a>. You start off legalising it solely for people suffering from terminal illness. But then there’s pressure to legalise it for other health conditions, and depression, and eating disorders, and drug addiction – until before you know it, you daren’t even visit your GP any more, for fear of what he might prescribe.</span></blockquote><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Deacon ends his article with some cautious leavity:<br /></span><blockquote><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">“Good morning, doctor. I think I’ve sprained my ankle.”<br /><br />“Not to worry. There’s a wonderful new treatment that’s guaranteed to end your pain. And not just in your ankle, either.”<br /><br />Such a scenario may sound far-fetched. Not least because getting a GP appointment in this country is next to impossible. But even so, it’s as well not to grant the state too much power – because it may well end up using that power in ways we never intended. <br /><br />Think how often we’re warned that the future of our very society is imperilled by our rapidly ageing population. Back in 2010, Martin Amis proposed a solution. On each citizen’s 70th birthday, he or she would be handed “a martini and a medal”, and then marched to a street corner “euthanasia booth”. <br /><br />Amis was of course joking. At least, he thought he was.</span></blockquote><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Deacon is correct. When Canada legalized euthanasia we were told that we wouldn't follow the Netherlands and Belgium experience. In fact, we are surpassing them.</span>Alex Schadenberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07649977828342637842noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9216787076261944467.post-17610083127426375772024-03-14T20:17:00.003-04:002024-03-15T17:45:59.719-04:00Treatment Resistant Depression Disorder Recovery and Euthanasia <span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">By Meghan Schrader<br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFJLvLNgVdLiy3XQmuA5Vetx8FuQNNwJHiVzbxCWF8Wqr6YAlW95Ae-DnZXvclxdjTYg7hpVdWtphAJybh-TUY-FuvscrWq-4F_a-xHOsQnKNH66szfu1dCOJ81XljtpJIk1FmZsrOOuHKK1vy3W3Wrv5GmlFAG1eu9Az5ohhQUND26HBJahEIqarynt9f/s200/Meghan%20Schrader.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="177" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFJLvLNgVdLiy3XQmuA5Vetx8FuQNNwJHiVzbxCWF8Wqr6YAlW95Ae-DnZXvclxdjTYg7hpVdWtphAJybh-TUY-FuvscrWq-4F_a-xHOsQnKNH66szfu1dCOJ81XljtpJIk1FmZsrOOuHKK1vy3W3Wrv5GmlFAG1eu9Az5ohhQUND26HBJahEIqarynt9f/s1600/Meghan%20Schrader.jpg" width="177" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Meghan Schrader</td></tr></tbody></table>Meghan is an autistic person who is an instructor at E4 Texas - University of Texas (Austin) and an EPC-USA board member.</span><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br />In his 2015 essay “<a href="https://jme.bmj.com/content/41/8/577">Treatment Resistant Depression Disorder and Assisted Dying</a>,” Udo Schuklenk says that people with treatment resistant depression should be helped to die by suicide not only because the disorder can be excruciatingly painful, but because the person essentially has “two selves”: a real self that existed prior to the onset of the clinical depression, and a depressed self that has taken over the person’s life. He asserts that for some people this former “real self” is never coming back, and so the kindest thing is to give them the option of being put out of their misery. <br /><br />Indeed, as someone who has experienced episodes of treatment resistant depression since my teens, I must say that the most painful thing about my disorder is that I have not felt like myself. Between the ages of about seven and 16, before my mental illness started, I was considered unusually mature, wise, caring and polite for my age. So how did I go from that to the F word being every other word out of my mouth? Why was I yelling at people all the time and sharing whatever immature or rude thought that came into my mind? I had always been a good student, so why was my mind so cloudy now, like I was trying to think through static? I was a talented vocalist, so why didn’t I have the energy to sing anymore? Why was my impulse control suddenly so bad that I impulsively did foolish things that “the real me” would never do? <br /><br />These changes in myself caused deep hurt. When I was about nine, my mom’s good friend told me that everyone had a metaphorical “love light” inside of them that guided how they treated others, and she kindly remarked that my “love light” was very bright. But in my late teens I began thinking and acting in ways that made me feel as though my “love light” had gone out or was constantly flickering. The real me was still “in there somewhere,” but I couldn’t put her back in the driver’s seat. The mental illness was always at least partially in control, and the intense dysphoria that it caused was like a stalker that wouldn’t leave me alone. This change in myself has sometimes been very difficult to understand. <br /><br />There are, however, some logical explanations for why I’ve felt as though my “love light” isn’t functioning properly. I’m an adoptee, and since meeting my biological family about 10 years ago, I’ve learned that a lot of these issues are genetic. My bio family has a lot of terrific people in it and I’m glad that they are my family, but also many of those terrific people have suffered from severe mental illness. So, clearly there is a biological component to my symptoms that would exist no matter what, and that’s one of the reasons that I’ve experienced the sense of my “love light” not burning brightly anymore. <br /><br />The other reason for that change is lack of accommodation for my Nonverbal Learning Disability. The disability is not painful by itself, but it causes a severely impaired sense of direction, slow processing speed, and various executive functioning weaknesses. However, despite that disability coming from a mild brain injury that I got when I was being born, people often don’t believe me when I tell them it exists. Usually that disability is not accommodated properly, no matter how many times I patiently explain what accommodations I need. That situation causes toxic stress: I experience getting hopelessly lost in public and having to constantly ask strangers for help, panic-induced autistic hand-flapping, making loud exclamations of despair that everyone around me hears, and having people stare at me because of these embarrassing behaviors. That situation naturally incites anger and depression; indeed, these kinds of circumstances lead to many neurodiverse and disabled people having suicidal thoughts. (<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/09/opinion/learning-disability.html ">Link</a>) And of course those kinds of feelings get in the way of adding fuel to one’s “love light.”<br /><br />This lack of accommodation for my neurological impairment and its impact on my “love light” is cruel. It’s not a situation that I chose, it’s a result of how the world has been designed. I firmly believe that I would have landed in the psychiatric hospital far less often-and maybe not at all-if only people would stop complaining about what a terrible hassle accommodating me is and just consistently do it. <br /><br />But, in the last few years, a wonderful thing has happened to me and my “love light.” A mentor who loves me helped me find my job at the University of Texas’s postsecondary program for people with intellectual disabilities. I get all the accommodations that I need for my learning disability, so much of the environmental impetus for depression has been removed. My employer basically allowed me to create my own job mentoring students, advocating at the Texas state capitol, and offering lessons in ethics, the fine arts, independent living and peer support. In 2021 I accompanied a student who had a diabetic crisis to an emergency room and stayed with him until his family arrived. I consoled another student who was having suicidal thoughts. Last year I helped a student advocate for a bill to add disability history to the Texas state history curriculum. I take students to music performances at UT’s school of music to expose them to opera and symphonies and Caribbean music. This year I helped a student who was struggling with incontinence when she had an embarrassing accident. And this is the best part of my job: because of my work with these students, I have felt as though my “love light” has been turned back on, and the real me is alive again. <br /><br />In Schuklenk’s world, mentally ill people should die — I should have died — because their (my!) unaccommodated disorders contributed to people's “love lights” going out. What a terrible waste it would have been if policies created by Schulenk and his pals had been able to shape my fate in such a heartless, thoughtless, evil way!</span></div>Alex Schadenberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07649977828342637842noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9216787076261944467.post-70385707459891421982024-03-12T10:09:00.006-04:002024-03-12T18:34:03.028-04:0027 year old autistic Alberta woman approved for euthanasia. Her father is challenging the decision in court.<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Alex Schadenberg<br />Executive Director, Euthanasia Prevention Coalition</span><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Link to the CBC News video (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S1lWzF8p90M">Link to video</a>).<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIIz87uGl0CuUV6AOjdbJYcpNL00Dj-iGQP3aaYQeFy2PMYM6K0OsbWs3M6EK0CrofTMm9O381ORb_8PfEPF6g7NZbr0a3ocas9JHZ-6L1AbwCYDXTohFFvLQ7MmMbLUBPWSIwsbjEritHSwTRVdthhEulyfPk6q3pvYQ299At17T1vK1nBuFE0LqURQ74/s178/euthanasia%20for%20poverty2.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="100" data-original-width="178" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIIz87uGl0CuUV6AOjdbJYcpNL00Dj-iGQP3aaYQeFy2PMYM6K0OsbWs3M6EK0CrofTMm9O381ORb_8PfEPF6g7NZbr0a3ocas9JHZ-6L1AbwCYDXTohFFvLQ7MmMbLUBPWSIwsbjEritHSwTRVdthhEulyfPk6q3pvYQ299At17T1vK1nBuFE0LqURQ74/w320-h180/euthanasia%20for%20poverty2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>CBC News reported on March 12, 2024 of an <a href="https://ca.news.yahoo.com/father-asks-court-stop-27-003444543.html?guccounter=1">Alberta court case</a> concerning a father who has petitioned the court to prevent the euthanasia death of his 27-year-old autistic daughter, who lives at home. The father is stating that his daughter does not have a medical condition that qualifies under the law, whereas the daughter has already been approved for death by lethal poison.</span><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">This case affects me greatly since I have an autistic son and I have significant life experience concerning my sons lived reality.<br /><br />CBC News reported on the case that:<br /><blockquote>A publication ban protects the identities of the parties and the medical professionals. CBC News will identify the daughter as M.V. and the father as W.V.<br /><br />At issue is whether the courts can step in when family members, with no legal standing, have concerns about the MAID approval process.</blockquote>CBC news stated that there is no explanation for the MAID qualification.<br /><blockquote>Court of King's Bench Justice Colin Feasby heard that M.V. — who lives with her father — was approved in December. Her date to receive MAID was set for Feb. 1.<br /><br />The day before she was scheduled to die, W.V. was successful in seeking a temporary injunction, preventing M.V. from accessing MAID.<br /><br />She has not submitted any medical documentation that could explain why she qualifies for MAID.<br /><br />In a brief filed with the court, W.V. argued "M.V. suffers from autism and possibly other undiagnosed maladies that do not satisfy the eligibility criteria for MAID."</blockquote>The lawyer for the daugher, "M.V." is stated that it is none of her father's business.<br /><blockquote>But M.V.'s lawyer Austin Paladeau argued she's "not trying to withhold or hide anything."<br /><br />"She's saying 'it's none of [W.V.'s] or the public's business, I've been approved by two doctors, I am entitled to this and, court, it's none of your business either.'"<br /><br />Sarah Miller, the lawyer for the father, called the situation "a novel issue for Alberta."<br /><br />"As it stands, AHS [Alberta Health Services] operates a MAID system with no legislation, no appeal process and no means of review," wrote Miller in her brief for the court.<br /><br />Miller has asked Feasby for a judicial review of M.V.'s MAID approval.</blockquote>CBC reported that the father stated that his daughter's claims are unreliable.<br /><blockquote>The father submitted a 2021 report with the court, authored by a doctor at a neurology clinic who concluded M.V. required no followup and was "normal" and sent her back to her family doctor.<br /><br />Miller also pointed out that on her initial MAID application, M.V. indicated her death had become "reasonably foreseeable" yet she was approved as a "track 2" MAID patient, which means death is not reasonably foreseeable.<br /><br />"Therefore M.V. is not a reliable witness," wrote Miller in her brief.</blockquote>According to CBC the father argued that his daughter is also depressed.<br /><blockquote>W.V. believes M.V. is not eligible for MAID and that her "capacity to consent to MAID is impacted by mental illness." He also feels she's been "unduly influenced by a third party," according to one of the documents filed with the court.<br /><br />If the MAID approval process is not followed as set out in the Criminal Code, medical practitioners could be charged criminally.</blockquote>CBC reported that a lawyer for the father argued that MAiD (euthanasia) is unique because a person who is wrongfully approved is dead.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><blockquote>Emily Amirkhani, another lawyer for W.V., argued that MAID is "an incredibly unique system" where if a person seeking MAID is wrongfully approved, "that person is never going to cause anyone to look behind that curtain" because they got what they wanted.<br /><br />"It's unlike any situation I can think of where the wrongful administration of the system cannot be brought to light but for someone besides the patient," said Amirkhani.</blockquote>CBC reported that the lawyer for the daughter argued that he understands that the father doesn't want his daughter to die, but she has autonomy.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><blockquote>M.V.'s lawyer Austin Paladeau stressed the case boils down to an adult's right to medical autonomy.<br /><br />"He's at risk of losing his daughter and while this is sad, it does not give him the right to keep her alive against her wishes," said Paladeau.<br /><br />"One of the real challenging parts of this process … is what's actually happening," said Paladeau.<br /><br />"I completely understand [W.V.] does not want his daughter to die … I represent [M.V.], I don't want her to die either but that doesn't play into account here.<br /><br />"Even though we have or may have very strong views … at the end of the day this is [M.V.'s] decision."</blockquote>The Judge stated that this is a vexing case. The only medical assessment that was given is from 2021 and it indicates that the daughter is not ill. The Judge reserved his decision on the injunction.</span></div></div>Alex Schadenberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07649977828342637842noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9216787076261944467.post-27508644950107224682024-03-12T09:17:00.001-04:002024-03-12T09:17:16.939-04:00Euthanasia lobby poll indicates that a majority of UK citizens support assisted dying for hard cases.<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Alex Schadenberg<br />Executive Director, Euthanasia Prevention Coalition<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD_0TOC8AV_aVjspeOWD2sE3SnRG4shVAk6rh1XSpu9ldpNkqJY3dY6TJw1pVMUkxsua05vrBAOGGPcuy9Gv3FxNfKHQHLnhvT3hit4FBFKrQEbyzGNeeohQcSxoTz_GN3Zj2gUgRoYHJ8ULhDlh79TQruTXOpIjkMd_HgyU7pudubr9xJLhcvRxvMSZOp/s200/poll%20opinion.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="146" data-original-width="200" height="146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD_0TOC8AV_aVjspeOWD2sE3SnRG4shVAk6rh1XSpu9ldpNkqJY3dY6TJw1pVMUkxsua05vrBAOGGPcuy9Gv3FxNfKHQHLnhvT3hit4FBFKrQEbyzGNeeohQcSxoTz_GN3Zj2gUgRoYHJ8ULhDlh79TQruTXOpIjkMd_HgyU7pudubr9xJLhcvRxvMSZOp/s1600/poll%20opinion.png" width="200" /></a></div>Paul Brand <a href="https://www.itv.com/news/2024-03-11/overwhelming-majority-support-assisted-dying-largest-ever-poll-says">reported for ITV news</a> on March 11 that a poll conducted by the UK euthanasia lobby group, Dignity in Dying, found that 75% of the repondents in the UK support legalizing assisted dying.<br /><br />The news article did not publish the poll question, but it is known that when people are asked the question - Should terminally ill people who are suffering be able to ask for assisted dying, that the majority will say yes.<br /><br />When you poll a group of people with a question that is based on a hard case scenario -- the person is terminally ill and suffering uncontrolled pain -- the respondent will react to that specific question.<br /><br />If you ask people in a poll about real life scenario's, such as in Canada where we are having euthanasia deaths for poverty, homelessness, disability or an inability to obtain medical treatment (not based on futility but based on medical backlogs) then the response changes.<br /><br />When you poll a group of people with a question that employs inaccurate language, then you will get stronger support. The media article indicates that the Dying in Dignity poll asks if a person should be legally allowed to seek assisted dying.<br /><br />It is one question to be legally allowed to seek, it is another question whether a doctor or nurse should be legally allowed to poison their patients to death. </span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Also, the term assisted dying is intentionally imprecise. We all want "assistance in dying". That assistance could be home-care or pain and symptom management (if necessary) but the euthanasia lobby use the term assisted dying to confuse us about the act of doctors and nurses killing their patients with poison.</span><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br />Finally, it is the real life stories that are important.<br /><br />When you legalize euthanasia or assisted suicide you may think that you are opening the door to specific scenario's but based on human reality there is always other doors behind the door that you have opened.<br /><br />The recent court case in Alberta is a prime example of the further doors that are opened when you legalize euthanasia.<br /><br />The <a href="https://ca.news.yahoo.com/father-asks-court-stop-27-003444543.html?guccounter=1">Alberta court case</a> concerns a father who has petitioned the court to prevent the euthanasia death of his 27 year old autistic daughter, who lives at home. The father is stating that his daughter does not have a medical condition that qualifies under the law, whereas the daughter has already been approved for death by lethal poison.<br /><br />The father says that his daughter, who is autistic, has been influenced to believe that death is the answer to her social and personal difficulties, but she doesn't have an irremediable medical condition, as required by the law. Her father also believes that his daughter is depressed but depression doesn't qualify under the law.<br /><br />The lawyer for the daughter is arguing that it is understandable that the father doesn't want his daughter to die by euthanasia, but the law doesn't give him legal standing. The lawyer for the daughter is saying that the law only requires approval by two medical professionals, and that has been accomplished.<br /><br />When debating the legalization of euthanasia, the public is presented with the hard case scenario -- the terminally ill person who is suffering uncontrolled pain -- but the reality is that euthanasia cannot be legalized for specific hard case scenario's. The end result is a case of an otherwise healthy 27 year old autistic woman who lives at home who has been approved for death by lethal poison.</span><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Killing is never the solution to social problems, we need a society that offers care.</span></div>Alex Schadenberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07649977828342637842noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9216787076261944467.post-44880071292964789962024-03-12T08:00:00.001-04:002024-03-12T08:00:00.148-04:00Minnesota Assisted Suicide Bill is on a paved road to euthanasia.<p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Testimony in strong opposition to Minnesota Bill HF 1930 End of Life Option Act<br />March 12, 2024<br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr6e6I-qUd7AZcTeyNgztypV6nufpN-IZJjnp-IozXK7nWGLNN08DcRyxPKuhhhnrwo88sZyOXyCvmbiZ6qn_zYEycAQvJ4EGvBjeJkpqj6f7ifyLULz13jIWu3NlRkOdnHGd2bOMVJBMNql_glkXfva4pfSt2EGW1d5tIUJSxREItWwhNUvBD5t30Fniq/s259/Stephen%20Mendelsohn%20new.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="259" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr6e6I-qUd7AZcTeyNgztypV6nufpN-IZJjnp-IozXK7nWGLNN08DcRyxPKuhhhnrwo88sZyOXyCvmbiZ6qn_zYEycAQvJ4EGvBjeJkpqj6f7ifyLULz13jIWu3NlRkOdnHGd2bOMVJBMNql_glkXfva4pfSt2EGW1d5tIUJSxREItWwhNUvBD5t30Fniq/s1600/Stephen%20Mendelsohn%20new.jpg" width="259" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stephen Mendelsohn</td></tr></tbody></table>By Stephen Mendelsohn</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Rep. Jamie Becker Finn and members of the House Judiciary and Civil Law Committee:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">I am an autistic adult and one of the leaders of Second Thoughts Connecticut, a coalition of disabled people opposed to the legalization of assisted suicide. I also serve on the board of directors of Euthanasia Prevention Coalition-USA.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">I submit this testimony in response and opposition to previous testimony from Thaddeus Mason Pope, JD, PhD on March 7, 2024 before the House Public Safety Finance and Policy Committee.1 Pope argues that there is no “slippery slope” leading to a radical euthanasia regime like that in Canada. I will demonstrate that this “slippery slope” is actually a paved road, in which proponents have openly boasted about using an incrementalist, bait-and-switch strategy to first pass less ambitious legislation and then later expand the law whether by legislation or through the courts.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Pope erroneously claims that the Minnesota Legislature has total control to regulate the parameters of assisted suicide (which he calls “medical aid in dying” or MAID). Not so: Compassion & Choices has successfully sued the states of Oregon and Vermont to get them to eliminate their residency requirements. They currently have a lawsuit against New Jersey on the same issue. This shows that states that have legalized assisted suicide do not have full control over regulating the parameters of the legislation they pass.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">It is true that under Washington v. Glucksberg, the Supreme Court has ruled there is no constitutional right to assisted suicide, and state courts have consistently rejected attempts to compel enactment of these laws. Nonetheless, challenges to laws legalizing assisted suicide based on equal protection and/or the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) from both sides remains largely an untested issue.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">While one case (Shavelson et al. v. Bonta et al.) seeking to force California to allow for lethal injections for persons who may not be capable or may lose the ability was denied, it is easily conceivable that another court in another jurisdiction would rule otherwise. The core “safeguards” of six months terminal illness, mental competence, and self-administration all make distinctions on the basis of disability, granting some people suicide prevention and others suicide assistance. I would also note there is currently a disability-rights lawsuit, United Spinal Association et al. v. State of California et al., seeking to overturn the End of Life Option Act on ADA and 14th Amendment equal protection grounds.2</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Pope claims that “… no U.S. legislature has ever even considered removing the terminal illness requirement. No U.S. legislature has ever even considered removing the self-ingestion requirement.” His testimony was rendered utterly false a mere one day after it was submitted. On March 8, 2024, California State Senator Catherine Blakespear submitted a press release on SB 1196, explaining the provisions of her bill to radically expand that state’s End of Life Options Act.3 This legislation would eliminate the terminal illness requirement, replacing it with “a grievous and irremediable medical condition” similar to what was originally enacted in Canada. It would allow people with early to mid-stage dementia to access the law, and would also allow for lethal injection, moving from assisted suicide to active euthanasia. In addition, it would eliminate the meager 48 hour waiting period, allowing for a same-day death.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Pope himself is a zealous advocate of expansion in this direction.4 He posted to his Medical Futility Blog, “California Makes Big Move on Medical Aid in Dying,” approvingly.5 Even under current law, he has advocated using voluntary stopping of eating and drinking (VSED) as a bridge to enable non-terminal patients to qualify for assisted suicide in states such as Oregon, California, New Mexico, and Hawai‘i which have either significantly shortened the waiting period or allowed it to be waived. Pope published an article in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society approvingly citing the case of Cody Sontag, an Oregon woman with early-stage dementia who used VSED to qualify for lethal drugs under that state’s law.6 He notes that “if anyone can access VSED, then anyone can qualify for MAID,” thereby doing an end-run around the law’s terminal illness requirement.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">The American Clinicians Academy on Medical Aid in Dying (ACAMAID) has an “Ethics Consultation Service” report on “Voluntary Stopping of Eating and Drinking and Medical Aid in Dying” noting that:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Legally, there is nothing in the letter of the law of any of the U.S. states’ aid in dying bills that explicitly prohibits accepting voluntary stopping of eating and drinking as a terminal diagnosis to qualify for aid in dying. This remains a legal gray zone.7<br />ACAMAID confirms that allowing VSED to qualify for lethal prescriptions would “essentially eliminate the criteria of terminal illness to qualify.”<br /><br />Most significantly, if passed, HF 1930 would be the most expansive and permissive assisted suicide law in the nation to date. Similar to the extreme euthanasia bill in California, it has no waiting period at all, thus allowing anyone—theoretically even otherwise healthy people who may be depressed—to instantly qualify for the lethal dose and die on the same day. It would thereby enact two principal elements of Canada’s radical death regime—widespread eligibility for non-terminal conditions and same day deaths.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Passage of HF 1930 would also shift the Overton window toward more radical legislation. Over the past two years, while no new states have enacted laws to legalize assisted suicide, several states have moved to expand their laws. It is far easier to pass an expansion bill after a state accepts the principle that it is acceptable for doctors to prescribe lethal drugs to patients than it is to pass legislation to legalize the practice in the first place.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Proponents of assisted suicide bills across the United States have not been shy about their incrementalist bait-and-switch strategy and desire for future expansion. In my home state of Connecticut, Rep. Josh Elliott openly admitted he wanted to get anything on the books even if it was unusable so it could be later expanded. Paul Bass reports in the New Haven Independent:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Elliott has been sponsoring bills for years to allow terminally ill people to take their lives (aka “aid in dying”). The bill finally passed the legislature’s Public Health committee; it got stuck in Judiciary.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">The version he plans to resubmit this year has been narrowed to cover terminally ill people with prognoses of less than six months to live, with sign-offs from two doctors and a mental health professional, monthly check-ins, and at least a year of state residence.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">“Almost no one” would qualify under that restricted version of the law, Elliott said. But passing it would open the door to evaluation and expansion.8</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Here is the full on-air quote from Rep. Elliott on Dateline New Haven:<br /></span></p><blockquote><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">The bill would be, um, exceptionally narrow in scope, it would be the most narrow in scope bill of this kind were we to pass it. It would be, uh, six months left to live, you have to get sign-offs from multiple doctors—two doctors and one mental health physician—uh, and then you need to go for frequent check ins—I think it's like once a month—and you have, there is a one year residency requirement, so there are so many ways we limit who could actually use this bill, to the point I believe if we were actually to implement the way that we are talking about it, almost nobody would use it. But the important thing for me is to get this bill on the books, and then see how it's working, and if it's not and people aren't using it, than make those corrections to actually allow people to use it. So that is what we've been discussing.9</span></blockquote><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Similarly, J.M. Sorrell, Executive Director of Massachusetts Death with Dignity, was quoted on a similar bill in his state, saying “Once you get something passed, you can always work on amendments later.”10 And Compassion & Choices past president, Barbara Coombs Lee said almost ten years ago regarding assisted suicide for people with dementia unable to consent, ““It is an issue for another day but is no less compelling.”11</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">There is much here that I have not covered. To cite a couple of examples, there is an explicit requirement in HF 1930 Section 12 to falsify the death certificate as to the cause and manner of death, thereby covering up foul play. There is also widespread evidence, most recently from ACAMAID, that the laws in other states are not being followed, and with no consequences to the prescribing medical practitioners.12 You will hear plenty of testimony on other problems with this legislation, particularly from others in the disability rights community.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">I conclude by emphasizing that HF 1930 is not merely a “slippery slope,” but a paved road north to Canada’s radical euthanasia regime where disabled people are routinely denied services needed to survive but offered “medical aid in dying” instead. Please do not put Minnesota—and the rest of the nation—on this path. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Please reject HF 1930. Thank you.</span></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br />1 Thaddeus Mason Pope, JD, PhD, Written Testimony in Support of H.F. 1930 , Before the Minnesota House of Representatives Committee on Public Safety Finance and Policy: https://www.house.mn.gov/comm/docs/peqp-qSyH0aRdWY7Tn41Bw.pdf, pp. 95-98<br />2 United Spinal Association et al. v. State of California et al. https://endassistedsuicide.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Complaint_Accessible.pdf; for more detail, see https://endassistedsuicide.org<br />3 Senator Catherine Blakespear, Factsheet on SB 1196: https://img1.wsimg.com/blobby/go/cd607dce-3325-492b-b030-b0a22331af65/downloads/SB%201196%20(Blakespear)%20Factsheet.pdf?ver=1709911469736<br />4 Thaddeus Mason Pope (2023) Top Ten New and Needed Expansions of U.S. Medical Aid in Dying Laws, The American Journal of Bioethics, 23:11, 89-91, DOI: 10.1080/15265161.2023.2256244 https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/15265161.2023.2256244<br />5 https://medicalfutility.blogspot.com/2024/03/california-makes-big-move-on-medical.html<br />6 Thaddeus Mason Pope, JD, PhD, Lisa Brodoff, JD, Medical Aid in Dying to Avoid Late-Stage Dementia, “ https://agsjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/jgs.18785?domain=author&token=VA68TTBJN9VDRCRMRPIP<br />7 American Clinicians Academy on Medical Aid in Dying, Ethics Consultation Service, “Voluntary Stopping of Eating and Drinking and Medical Aid in Dying, January 3, 2023: https://www.acamaid.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Voluntary-Stopping-Eating-and-Drinking-and-Medical-Aid-in-Dying.pdf Pope is part of ACAMAID’s Ethics Consultation Service’s team.</span><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">8 Paul Bass, Elliott Readies Next Legislative Steps Toward Freedom, New Haven Independent, January 4, 2004: https://www.newhavenindependent.org/article/elliott_readies_next_legislative_steps_toward_freedom<br />9 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0hWOjITspE at clip position 21:30</span></div>Alex Schadenberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07649977828342637842noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9216787076261944467.post-53831157635067760982024-03-10T17:50:00.004-04:002024-03-13T07:23:49.391-04:00Quebec euthanasia deaths increase in 2023 to the highest euthanasia rate in the world.<p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span>2023: Québec had a 17% increase in euthanasia deaths. 7.3% of all deaths were euthanasia.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span>Alex Schadenberg<br />Executive Director, Euthanasia Prevention Coalition</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4mZLVRHjIC9-N7sN05zkhyphenhyphenJy5oKI17f5HLTanrPQ9pgKGOKomgbPOezooNaoaox5rm5sTSn36-TTdMA60woQNEXGeiQBx9OMCbn_YYmTuFktznDL5_fZV0IXbLUWOh-8FO4mBF2GajEpU0MpFslZC0aXo6hozGp87oduuS0kRqRRtGfxLlkCj2RT4Sna8/s286/Quebec%20euthanasia.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="176" data-original-width="286" height="123" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4mZLVRHjIC9-N7sN05zkhyphenhyphenJy5oKI17f5HLTanrPQ9pgKGOKomgbPOezooNaoaox5rm5sTSn36-TTdMA60woQNEXGeiQBx9OMCbn_YYmTuFktznDL5_fZV0IXbLUWOh-8FO4mBF2GajEpU0MpFslZC0aXo6hozGp87oduuS0kRqRRtGfxLlkCj2RT4Sna8/w200-h123/Quebec%20euthanasia.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">CBC Radio Canada published an <a href="https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/2055938/aide-medicale-mourir-quebec-hausse"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">article on March 9, 2024</span></a> stating that there was a 17% increase in Québec euthanasia deaths with <span>5,686 reported deaths representing </span><span>7.3% of all deaths, which is the highest rate in the world in 2023. The Radio Canada report is based on the Quebec euthanasia deaths between <u>January 1 - December 31, 2023</u>.<br /></span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span><a href="https://alexschadenberg.blogspot.com/2024/03/how-many-quebec-euthanasia-deaths.html"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">I recently wrote an article</span></a> based on the analysis by Amy Hasbrouck, the leader of <i>Toujour Vivant - Not Dead Yet</i> concerning the inconsistent data published in the </span><span>The Quebec Commission on End-of-Life Care Annual Reports.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span>The Quebec Commission on End-of-Life Care <a href="https://csfv.gouv.qc.ca/fileadmin/docs/rapports_annuels/rapport_annuel_dactivites_2022-2023.pdf"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Eighth Annual Report</span></a> indicated that there were 5211 reported
euthanasia deaths (<u>April 1, 2022 - March 31, 2023</u>) which was up from
3663 in the previous year (April 1, 2021 - March 31, 2022).</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span>Hasbrouck's analysis of the Eighth annual report found that there were:</span></span></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span>5,211 euthanasia reported by doctors in declaration forms (§ 3.2 p. 13)</span></span></li><li><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span>5,401 euthanasia reported by hospitals and institutions (table C6 p. 46) </span></span></li><li><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span>5,208 euthanasia declaration forms received by the Commission (§ 2.1, p. 6) </span></span></li></ul><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span>This means that there was a discrepancy of 190 euthanasia deaths in the Eight Annual Report. Further to that, the Seventh Annual Report had a discrepancy of 289 euthanasia deaths.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span>In my article I asked the question: <a href="https://alexschadenberg.blogspot.com/2024/03/how-many-quebec-euthanasia-deaths.html"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">How many Quebec euthanasia deaths actually occur</span></a>? <br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span>In early February I wrote an article stating that: <a href="https://alexschadenberg.blogspot.com/2024/02/there-were-approximately-16000-canadian.html"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><i>There were approximately 16,000 Canadian euthanasia deaths in 2023 and more than 60,000 since legalization</i></span></a> I made my prediction based on the euthanasia data from Ontario, Quebec, Alberta and Nova Scotia.</span></span> <br /></p>Alex Schadenberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07649977828342637842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9216787076261944467.post-50051577363388155812024-03-10T13:22:00.000-04:002024-03-11T08:22:13.976-04:00Zoom Meeting (March 21): Euthanasia in Canada. What's Next?<span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwk3fwqRuOnuRPKJFFNmQ5oPxeya5NlErSseY3jPKLsG6LqrzgvYp0XhmOBDi7vIKzPItr1QXdFaGcAnUowwIJZKkQR7DN-PdYmbmdfJzaEV9y5Rfg5AYR5xNTM_7K95hIchp7FXa8jh0HS82sBgUa6OjvCdpHhuDSqO7epBCLZDs9Tm9dBr_D7CXKzP-K/s1200/canada-what's-next.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="628" data-original-width="1200" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwk3fwqRuOnuRPKJFFNmQ5oPxeya5NlErSseY3jPKLsG6LqrzgvYp0XhmOBDi7vIKzPItr1QXdFaGcAnUowwIJZKkQR7DN-PdYmbmdfJzaEV9y5Rfg5AYR5xNTM_7K95hIchp7FXa8jh0HS82sBgUa6OjvCdpHhuDSqO7epBCLZDs9Tm9dBr_D7CXKzP-K/s320/canada-what's-next.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Join the rescheduledZoom meeting on Thursday, March 21 at 2 pm (Eastern Time) (11 am Pacific Time) </span></span><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Alex Schadenberg, Executive Director, Euthanasia Prevention Coalition, Kathy Matusiak Costa, Director of Compassionate Community Care and Ottawa human rights lawyer, Lia Milousis will discuss - <a href="https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEsf-6qqDorH929Bje2XYZ3XvfBjHrJOTgY"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Euthanasia in Canada. What's Next?</span></a></span></span><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><div>Register in advance for this meeting: (<a href="https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEsf-6qqDorH929Bje2XYZ3XvfBjHrJOTgY"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Registration Link</span></a>). </div><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyCZNA6OhYMoDkgE0fYdWrpSImFDX_yio0RLwAvQ7vh7-fae2MFzg0DHOHHyrPv1j3l2mVo09zjgLf8jTGIPFtTnuLSj8JqGwkL6AUBuvnwlZPJDNzCguOsDe35cLAt06KNvNWGHFVV4V0e-6KdLsqle_KYvZgq1AGIJ6Bk6AFdvCIyOiT-YTOQNoMxqO3/s623/Lia3.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="623" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyCZNA6OhYMoDkgE0fYdWrpSImFDX_yio0RLwAvQ7vh7-fae2MFzg0DHOHHyrPv1j3l2mVo09zjgLf8jTGIPFtTnuLSj8JqGwkL6AUBuvnwlZPJDNzCguOsDe35cLAt06KNvNWGHFVV4V0e-6KdLsqle_KYvZgq1AGIJ6Bk6AFdvCIyOiT-YTOQNoMxqO3/w200-h113/Lia3.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lia Milousis</td></tr></tbody></table>Lia has become an expert on euthanasia based on her professional and personal experiences.<br /><br />Kathy Matusiak Costa will discuss the direction of Compassionate Community Care and its programs that provide training and support for community groups and families.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJcGbxoY-uLgQ1016VlEB9GyKlq9zzqNUrr1OcpmWpsw_JG7KZNp31bFkAQHGkmzbf6rznyNrokNynGXi7dd5lRZy_o97MTwA2PSYGeuuTKoc0DMICM5EBgwHnzdzpQQ6Mga9DhQl0YWJ8jqpD9MPVKbApDmdZfrBoMLy13Mp5hYIGnkWgCrrL4ufIW6ZM/s889/Alex%20blog%20new.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="889" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJcGbxoY-uLgQ1016VlEB9GyKlq9zzqNUrr1OcpmWpsw_JG7KZNp31bFkAQHGkmzbf6rznyNrokNynGXi7dd5lRZy_o97MTwA2PSYGeuuTKoc0DMICM5EBgwHnzdzpQQ6Mga9DhQl0YWJ8jqpD9MPVKbApDmdZfrBoMLy13Mp5hYIGnkWgCrrL4ufIW6ZM/w200-h113/Alex%20blog%20new.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alex Schadenberg</td></tr></tbody></table>Alex Schadenberg will speak about the direction of the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition.<br /><br />Bill C-62, the bill to postpone the implementation of euthanasia for mental illness alone until March 2027 has passed. We will talk about what is next.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />We will discuss the problems and opportunities for Canadians to stop euthanasia.</span></span></div></div>Alex Schadenberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07649977828342637842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9216787076261944467.post-54460879874023520352024-03-09T21:46:00.002-05:002024-03-09T21:47:54.561-05:00California Senator drops the mask, proposes the legalization of euthanasia.<p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg67ybkxpin_utAFrCykLAStsWkExsbjUc6AnhpJmeOgtJKq-AYuHLecpS4hVcAzxIFpZfJc2EuWe2PsWQBiyviD17fm4tzq9rYVqGSwHX37V-h83cvV-6OApHo1jq7kOlv0TXzBPeQbVfCyeAVWKfO4Z681uJlC3SROPvM7SGVRmJGslcRnC5rqKzyj7NH/s1110/Gordon%20Friesen%20press%20confere.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1110" data-original-width="625" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg67ybkxpin_utAFrCykLAStsWkExsbjUc6AnhpJmeOgtJKq-AYuHLecpS4hVcAzxIFpZfJc2EuWe2PsWQBiyviD17fm4tzq9rYVqGSwHX37V-h83cvV-6OApHo1jq7kOlv0TXzBPeQbVfCyeAVWKfO4Z681uJlC3SROPvM7SGVRmJGslcRnC5rqKzyj7NH/s320/Gordon%20Friesen%20press%20confere.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gordon Friesen<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>By Gordon Friesen<br />President, Euthanasia Prevention Coalition</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: 14pt;">Critical statements have
quickly appeared across the web, denouncing proposed "expansions" to
California's assisted death system. However, with respect, I would suggest that
this word is not nearly strong enough. For although it is still hard to say
exactly what California is up to (considering that the full text of proposed
Senate Bill 1196 is not yet available), a </span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://img1.wsimg.com/blobby/go/cd607dce-3325-492b-b030-b0a22331af65/downloads/SB%201196%20(Blakespear)%20Factsheet.pdf?ver=1709911469736"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: 14pt;">preliminary fact sheet</span></a><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> clearly reveals that a new phase may be
reached in that State's march towards a true, Canadian-style, poison death-medicine
paradigm.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="http://euthanasiadiscussion.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/minimally_intrusive_liberty_of_assisted_death_gordon_friesen_nov_12_2023.pdf"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">In another place</span></a><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> (please see appendix i table) I have demonstrated that there are two
main regimes of medically justified assisted death (not to be confused with
true "right-to-die" countries like Germany and Switzerland). And that
one of these (including Canada, Belgium, the Netherlands and Spain) has a
proportion of assisted deaths which is ten times greater that of its lessor
competitor (commonly known as the "Oregon Model, and which includes all of
the American States having legalized assisted death thus far).</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: 14pt;">What accounts for the lower
numbers reported by American States lies in their common requirement of a
"terminal condition" (usually understood to mean a six months
prognosis) and self-ingestion (the exclusion of doctor-performed euthanasia).
The basic idea being that someone who is already facing death might choose
exactly how and when they would actually die. Hence the name of existing
California Law: the "End of Life Options Act". <br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: 14pt;">Crucially, there is no
mention in this scheme of physical (or other) suffering, as we shall see:
any legislation based on suffering is truly a "horse of a different
color".</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: 14pt;">In Canada, by way of
comparison, eligibility is all about suffering (for which euthanasia is
explicitly defined as a medical treatment). And it is this fact which explains
why all of the original Canadian "safeguards" have so rapidly fallen
apart in that country (either through court challenge or new legislation). One
after another --"major age", "capacity to consent",
"death reasonably foreseeable"-- all have fallen by the way-side,
because "suffering" knows no such boundaries.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: 14pt;">Should SB 1196 pass
(which, to be sure, it has every likelihood of doing) it is the Canadian model which
California will effectively be adopting. The appropriate headline, therefore,
should be: "California prepares to embrace Canadian-Style substitution of
death for medical treatment".</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">Proposed changes in legal
text</span></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: 14pt;">Getting down a little farther
"into the weeds" (to satisfy the curiosity of those who have been
following the nuance of legislative texts on this subject), the main change in
SB 1196 is to be found in the replacement of "terminal disease" to
"a grievous and irremediable medical condition", which term, as
textually lifted from Canadian Law, is defined as "(a condition which)
Causes the individual to endure physical or psychological suffering due to
illness, disease, or state of decline that is intolerable to the individual and
cannot be relieved in a manner the individual deems acceptable". <br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: 14pt;">It will be most interesting
to see whether or not California legislators will actually dare to take the
final step of definitely defining "Medical Aid in Dying" like some
other States have done, as "the medical practice of...". However,
this is hardly even necessary, in light of the all-embracing "grievous
condition" definition cited above, and of the fact that not only
assisted-suicide, but euthanasia also (intravenous administration) will now be
available in California. For how could euthanasia be considered in any other
way than that of a true medical treatment, when it is defined as a procedure
performed by a doctor in order to alleviate suffering?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: 14pt;">In sum: we are rapidly approaching
the end of any further obfuscation or deceit.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">Practical effect of the
medical definition</span></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: 14pt;">As seen in Canada, euthanasia
(as a medical treatment for suffering) cannot be reserved for people at the end
of life, or for those capable of consent, or for those of major age. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: 14pt;">But there are also other
factors which have, thus far, received little attention:</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: 14pt;">1) Euthanasia as a preventive
measure, applied to perfectly stable patients, with the goal of avoiding not
present, but potential future suffering (as presently practised in Canada, at
the mere pronouncement of any serious diagnosis).</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: 14pt;">2) The systematic promotion
and prescription of euthanasia (to all and sundry) by enthusiastic doctors who
believe they are simply performing their most fundamental duty of proposing
what they sincerely believe to be optimum medical treatment in specific
circumstances.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: 14pt;">3) (as also seen in Canada)
The institutional normalization of euthanasia practice and promotion, which just
happens to be in the budgetary interest of public health services such as the
Veterans' Administration, Medicare and Medicaid. <br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: 14pt;">4) Lessor development and
availability of other treatments (for conditions such as cancer) which will
inevitably be reduced in exact proportion to the adoption of euthanasia as a
legitimate medical substitute.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">In short:</span></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: 14pt;">California SB 1196 does not
represent a mere expansion of eligibility requirements for a choice-based
system of assisted death. It actually signals a full-blown tipping-point, where
publicly funded medicine in that State will begin its transition to a
euthanasia-based utilitarian paradigm of death-medicine --a routine
substitution of death for care-- as already observed in Canada (from which
place the relevant legal language has been textually copied).</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">One bright spot:</span></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: 14pt;">It will at least become more
difficult for apologists of assisted death to keep a straight face --or even to
make eye contact-- when using the word "safeguards" (or disparaging
the "slippery slope"). </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: 14pt;">Gordon Friesen, March 9,
2024</span></p>
Alex Schadenberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07649977828342637842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9216787076261944467.post-11583187735285581822024-03-08T16:42:00.009-05:002024-03-08T22:58:12.773-05:00California Bill will expand law from assisted suicide to euthanasia and more.<p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Alex Schadenberg<br />Executive Director, Euthanasia Prevention Coalition.<br /></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiceQAoF2agM7ZQJWohm4EPM7uP2dtLanA0sun5pHCqKRFS2wABwLUe8JnBF3E6CGk4eOCV9dcZwlcsPfFf54M-9F9b1m224rZsGll4DRnhCMVPixUg4YNgh69S5eLNABEU-e_fN4NnkdFUSlGB-UsMPvK_sISUEG6Wi03F6jYZ4lHfiML4BzaXq1RkhNLt/s1200/assisted%20suicide%20expand%20in%20your%20state.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="628" data-original-width="1200" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiceQAoF2agM7ZQJWohm4EPM7uP2dtLanA0sun5pHCqKRFS2wABwLUe8JnBF3E6CGk4eOCV9dcZwlcsPfFf54M-9F9b1m224rZsGll4DRnhCMVPixUg4YNgh69S5eLNABEU-e_fN4NnkdFUSlGB-UsMPvK_sISUEG6Wi03F6jYZ4lHfiML4BzaXq1RkhNLt/w320-h166/assisted%20suicide%20expand%20in%20your%20state.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">California Senator Catherine Blakespear (D) has sponsored the most extreme assisted suicide expansion bill in America by introducing <a href="https://img1.wsimg.com/blobby/go/cd607dce-3325-492b-b030-b0a22331af65/downloads/SB%201196%20(Blakespear)%20Factsheet.pdf?ver=1709911469736"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Senate Bill 1196</span></a>. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">SB 1196 will expand the California assisted suicide law by:</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></p><blockquote><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">1.
Changing the criteria from terminally ill (6 month prognosis) to the
Canadian model: “<i>a grievous and irremediable medical condition</i>.” meaning <u>No time limit</u>. <br /></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">2.
Allow people with early to mid-stage dementia to consent to assisted suicide/euthanasia;
even though they have a condition that impairs their capacity to consent. </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">3.
<u>Allow euthanasia</u>—by IV, as in Canada. Currently, California
permits <i>assisted suicide </i>(lethal poison that a person
takes orally at the time and place of their own choosing, with or without
witnesses) <br /></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">4.
Remove the California residency requirement. This would allow California
to join Oregon and Vermont, which dropped their residency requirements and now allow suicide tourism.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">5.
Remove the 48 hour waiting period between first and second request by the patient. Same day death. <br /></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">6.
The California assisted suicide law is scheduled
to sunset in 2031. This bill proposes to remove the sunset date.</span></span></p></blockquote><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Changing the California assisted suicide law to euthanasia, is not simply changing how the act is done it is legalizing a new act by amending California Homicide Laws. Assisted suicide requires medical practitioners to be directly involved in an act of killing someone. Euthanasia requires the medical practitioner to actively carry out the act. Canada legalized euthanasia by creating an exception to homicide, California will need to do the same.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Changing the criteria from a terminal illness (6 months prognosis) to having a '<i>grievous and irremediable medical condition</i>' will lead to people with disabilities "qualifying" for death by lethal poison for reasons of poverty, homelessness, an inability to obtain necessary services or difficulty with obtaining medical treatment as has happened in Canada. (<a href="https://alexschadenberg.blogspot.com/2023/08/canadas-maid-program-has-gone-mad.html"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Article Link</span></a>). <br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Euthanasia is sold to the public as allowing competent adults who are capable of consenting to die by lethal poison. Allowing euthanasia for people with dementia permits medical practitioners to kill someone who is not competent and unable to consent.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Removing the 48-hour waiting period will enable a same day death by euthanasia.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Homicide tourism would be permitted if Bill SB 1196 is passed since the bill permits death by euthanasia/homicide and it removes the California residency requirement.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Thank you to Dr Mark Komrad for alerting me to the purpose of Bill SB 1196.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">California needs to reject Bill SB 1196.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Don't follow Canada's lead.</span></span><br /></p>Alex Schadenberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07649977828342637842noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9216787076261944467.post-53278644408948045602024-03-07T17:29:00.005-05:002024-03-08T22:51:34.169-05:00Slovenian government announces referendum on euthanasia.<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Alex Schadenberg<br />Executive Director, Euthanasia Prevention Coalition<br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOhouKugdvs-fQ4jWuOc1-svoBSqxFLeVLjbbK_p81EZlgdw3yQDy1rHKq1W5-llUQns3NZpOpR-KbgE_vPiNtCdnT6Rj1cLOo1356D-ivu4xXPEmI46Uic6LMOu5Xy0XGPvp3_77hyStX32z_lWXbOSZUmVcsG0ym7FhhqYSOFU13pa4fudlEpP-_KO7w/s943/Alex%20Schadenberg%20blog.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="530" data-original-width="943" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOhouKugdvs-fQ4jWuOc1-svoBSqxFLeVLjbbK_p81EZlgdw3yQDy1rHKq1W5-llUQns3NZpOpR-KbgE_vPiNtCdnT6Rj1cLOo1356D-ivu4xXPEmI46Uic6LMOu5Xy0XGPvp3_77hyStX32z_lWXbOSZUmVcsG0ym7FhhqYSOFU13pa4fudlEpP-_KO7w/w200-h113/Alex%20Schadenberg%20blog.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Picture from Slovenian interview</span></td></tr></tbody></table>I recently travelled to Slovenia to talk about Canada's experience with euthanasia. As I reported in July 2023, <a href="https://alexschadenberg.blogspot.com/2023/07/slovenia-debates-assisted-suicide.html"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Slovenia has been debating a bill to legalize euthanasia and assisted suicide</span></a>. When I closely examined the bill, it was clear that Slovenia was debating a Canadian style euthanasia bill.</span><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">In late January 2024, I had the opportunity to speak with Slovenian politicians, several media outlets, television news, interview shows and to a large audience in Ljubljana, Slovenia's capital, where I felt that my message had caused a stir.</span></div></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1H-i3TQVbhUZ3vmGc92WH4lcPzD_9TzzcmoO_pMt-2TMmp0YmXxKPM_W9eKHg54L1tw37SzUuYpSoppp1pCwWXM3NXxcdxbrl7ZNoCNfJYLXhi7r4k-xUqadApoVmupfkGDDIHhCmagIdCDsaKEgVgzs5uLHPBxjxO_IP1LiFDowMClL20WP4rKimflyC/s1036/Slovenia.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="733" data-original-width="1036" height="141" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1H-i3TQVbhUZ3vmGc92WH4lcPzD_9TzzcmoO_pMt-2TMmp0YmXxKPM_W9eKHg54L1tw37SzUuYpSoppp1pCwWXM3NXxcdxbrl7ZNoCNfJYLXhi7r4k-xUqadApoVmupfkGDDIHhCmagIdCDsaKEgVgzs5uLHPBxjxO_IP1LiFDowMClL20WP4rKimflyC/w200-h141/Slovenia.png" width="200" /></a></div>Today I was informed by the leader of the groups that are opposing euthanasia, that the Slovenian government defeated the euthanasia bill. I also learned that the Slovenian government announced that intend to have a referendum on the "basic question" of euthanasia rather than the bill that they have been debating.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">The groups who oppose euthanasia have not seen the language of the referendum but they are organizing to win.</span></div>Alex Schadenberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07649977828342637842noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9216787076261944467.post-82945049353552201332024-03-07T17:04:00.002-05:002024-03-07T17:04:36.429-05:00Illinois Assisted Suicide Bill SB 3499 is a more permissive bill.<p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Alex Schadenberg<br />Executive Director, Euthanasia Prevention Coalition<br /><br /></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvIjf75bXBZI3HwVAKq9mCTXd_PIlnaLA46Hn8HDH0NOVGUMEq8OFq7hSqBRPXlGs1j23D7ZTh3JYsjs8RmlUsVDFYQBhvXBeslWLWdorSSNdkJxxtgI0v0wpxQrv83qNpQnplXAlUg2rHb53oZwrAftHyNcM0y0ZOMRt_kQ1F3IB3pg3AwwoB2SWiZr6v/s240/Assisted%20suicide%20no4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="175" data-original-width="240" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvIjf75bXBZI3HwVAKq9mCTXd_PIlnaLA46Hn8HDH0NOVGUMEq8OFq7hSqBRPXlGs1j23D7ZTh3JYsjs8RmlUsVDFYQBhvXBeslWLWdorSSNdkJxxtgI0v0wpxQrv83qNpQnplXAlUg2rHb53oZwrAftHyNcM0y0ZOMRt_kQ1F3IB3pg3AwwoB2SWiZr6v/s1600/Assisted%20suicide%20no4.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;">I have <a href="https://alexschadenberg.blogspot.com/2024/02/the-assisted-suicide-lobby-goal-is-to.html"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">recently written</span></a> how most of the assisted suicide bills are "bait and switch" bills, meaning, they are intentionally written in a "tighter" manner with the intention of passing the bill and expanding it later.<br /><br />Illinois <a href="https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/fulltext.asp?DocName=&SessionId=112&GA=103&DocTypeId=SB&DocNum=3499&GAID=17&LegID=153199&SpecSess=&Session="><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Assisted Suicide Bill SB 3499</span></a> is not a "tightly" worded bill, but even the provisions in the bill, once legalized, will soon be pushed for further expansion.<br /><br />Almost all assisted suicide bills have employed a 15-day waiting period. SB 3499 has a 5-day waiting period that can be waived if the assessor considers the person to be nearing death.<br /><br />Almost all assisted suicide bills require that a person be a resident of the State. Bill SB 3499 also requires that a person be a resident of Illinois, but the bill then has 11 statutes explaining how a person can establish themselves as being an Illinois resident. It doesn't take very long to obtain an Illinois drivers license.<br /><br />The typical concerns with assisted suicide bills remain part of Bill SB 3499. For instance, a person with questionable competency may be referred for a mental health capacity test, but the licensed mental health professional only needs to determine if the person is mentally capable. A person can be determined to be mentally capable and at the same time be depressed and feeling hopeless.<br /><br />The assisted suicide lobby claims that no slippery slope exists, yet, in the past few years existing assisted suicide laws have been expanded by: reducing or eliminating waiting periods, allowing non-doctors to participate in assisted suicide, allowing assisted suicide approvals by tele-health, expanding the meaning of terminal illness and removing state residency requirements.<br /><br />Assisted suicide law expansion bills have been passed in California (2021), Hawai'i (2023), Oregon (2019, 2023), Vermont (2022, 2023) and Washington State (2023).</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Illinois needs to reject assisted suicide Bill SB 3499 and commit to a caring culture. <br /></span></span></p><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span>More resource articles on this topic:</span></span></span></span></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span>The assisted suicide lobby wants to legalize assisted suicide in your state (<a href="https://alexschadenberg.blogspot.com/2024/02/the-assisted-suicide-lobby-goal-is-to.html"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Link</span></a>)</span></span></span></span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span>The Nationalization of assisted suicide in America (<a href="https://alexschadenberg.blogspot.com/2024/02/the-nationalization-of-assisted-suicide.html"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Link</span></a>).</span></span></span></span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span>Minnesota assisted suicide bill is lethally deceptive (<a href="https://alexschadenberg.blogspot.com/2024/01/minnesota-assisted-suicide-bill-sf.html"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Link</span></a>). </span></span></span></span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span>EPC - USA statement to the New York legislature (<span style="color: #2b00fe;"><a href="https://alexschadenberg.blogspot.com/2024/02/epc-usa-statement-to-new-york.html">Link</a></span>).</span></span></span></span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span>The assisted suicide lobby pass restrictive bills and expand them later (<a href="https://alexschadenberg.blogspot.com/2024/01/the-assisted-suicide-lobby-will-pass.html"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Link</span></a>).</span></span></span></span></li></ul></div>Alex Schadenberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07649977828342637842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9216787076261944467.post-9030385610696257432024-03-07T15:40:00.002-05:002024-03-07T21:29:14.301-05:00West Virginia Resolution would add - Protection from Assisted Suicide in the Bill of Rights.<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Alex Schadenberg<br />Executive Director, Euthanasia Prevention Coalition.</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2dEUQqOwnKAKDFDKl-PnRElynXNEN4cmpSWXxfJsbNjmETZ1MDEPuxLoFX5yhyphenhyphenciybrBu6osCHcA7VP9D8S6uaYSujoMRBjKU0ILK0fvjs5q3X1XkeeerRFPPX9zthyiXRGIdMTDhxf22B1p16g5rH_tw_cfX6vKSmNVu1OCtyeuoi-2qogvRCE1h_-tX/s1600/West%20Virginia%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1178" data-original-width="1600" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2dEUQqOwnKAKDFDKl-PnRElynXNEN4cmpSWXxfJsbNjmETZ1MDEPuxLoFX5yhyphenhyphenciybrBu6osCHcA7VP9D8S6uaYSujoMRBjKU0ILK0fvjs5q3X1XkeeerRFPPX9zthyiXRGIdMTDhxf22B1p16g5rH_tw_cfX6vKSmNVu1OCtyeuoi-2qogvRCE1h_-tX/w200-h148/West%20Virginia%202.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Roger Hanshaw who is the Speaker of the House in West Virginia has sponsored House Joint Resolution (<a href="https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Status/bills_text.cfm?billdoc=hjr28%20intr.htm&yr=2024&sesstype=RS&i=28&houseorig=h&billtype=jr"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">HJR 28</span></a>) to add protection from assisted suicide in the state Bill of Rights. HRJ 28 states the following:</span><div><blockquote><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the State of West Virginia amending Article III thereof by adding thereto a new section, designated section twenty-three, relating to the protection from medically-assisted suicide or euthanasia in West Virginia; numbering and designating such proposed amendment; and providing a summarized statement of the purpose of such proposed amendment.<br /><br />Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia, two thirds of the members elected to each house agreeing thereto:<br /><br />That the question of ratification or rejection of an amendment to the Constitution of the State of West Virginia be submitted to the voters of the state at the next general election to be held in the year 2024, which proposed amendment is that Article III thereof, be amended by adding thereto a new section, designated Section twenty three, to read as follows:<br /><b><br />ARTICLE III. BILL OF RIGHTS.</b><br /><br /><b>§3-23. Protection from medically-assisted suicide.</b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBmqXH2VEK9k0eOakx4HkC9hte78jllEuVHydtOm87wpFUrBHVVxYGU4O8o3m6eR5VVcvRkOu4YHXSWrSaZZZc3n_RZBDbPHLM-oWMr0kkwblUmY6nMsldBYe5Di8NBJfa3dBLLAeC-xlQGWCqtIvaGglYs8WXAMSBwQN7WwqI3MXwhKRHuHJOs-v1I-t2/s180/Assisted%20suicide%20no3.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="180" data-original-width="180" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBmqXH2VEK9k0eOakx4HkC9hte78jllEuVHydtOm87wpFUrBHVVxYGU4O8o3m6eR5VVcvRkOu4YHXSWrSaZZZc3n_RZBDbPHLM-oWMr0kkwblUmY6nMsldBYe5Di8NBJfa3dBLLAeC-xlQGWCqtIvaGglYs8WXAMSBwQN7WwqI3MXwhKRHuHJOs-v1I-t2/s1600/Assisted%20suicide%20no3.png" width="180" /></a></div>No physician or health care provider in the State of West Virginia shall participate in the practice of medically-assisted suicide, euthanasia, or mercy killing. Nothing in this section prohibits the administration or prescription of medication for the purpose of alleviating pain or discomfort while the patient's condition follows its natural course; nor does anything in this section prohibit the withholding or withdrawing of life-sustaining treatment, as requested by the patient or the patient's decision-maker, in accordance with State law, so long as the intention is not to kill the patient.<br /><br />Resolved further, That in accordance with the provisions of article eleven, chapter three of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, such amendment is hereby numbered "Amendment 1" and designated as the "Protection from medically-assisted suicide" and the purpose of the proposed amendment is summarized as follows: "The purpose of this amendment is to recognize that West Virginians shall not have medically-assisted suicide or euthanasia forced upon them by prohibiting such actions."</span></blockquote><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Currently HRJ 28 passed in the House by a vote of 88 to 9. It still needs to pass in the Senate.</span></div>Alex Schadenberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07649977828342637842noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9216787076261944467.post-68489656035257909442024-03-06T15:41:00.000-05:002024-03-08T14:51:36.234-05:00A day for people grieving after a euthanasia death. Saturday May 25 in Toronto.<p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4qQNgK5dZS_uAG51YmLbbw0LhLI5JIG5zVPE7gposkokcnmENwvL5I9lk35e6f-ClQb20jGbmsRpawehGM3RlUrmXq2rthMZYQ17-C1b7Mji-eZ5lrB29BXR2lAq419DRWQG_XzcHhY13essfFUCsqJmLp6A2gFuVJU8tZhO8ijbgtbM21kpgg1FHHkLq/s186/White%20Cabbage%20Rose.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="186" data-original-width="186" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4qQNgK5dZS_uAG51YmLbbw0LhLI5JIG5zVPE7gposkokcnmENwvL5I9lk35e6f-ClQb20jGbmsRpawehGM3RlUrmXq2rthMZYQ17-C1b7Mji-eZ5lrB29BXR2lAq419DRWQG_XzcHhY13essfFUCsqJmLp6A2gFuVJU8tZhO8ijbgtbM21kpgg1FHHkLq/s1600/White%20Cabbage%20Rose.jpg" width="186" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Are you grieving the loss of a loved one through Medical Assistance in Dying (euthanasia)?</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span>Compassionate Community Care and St John The Compassionate Mission are hosting a retreat day for hospitality, support, reflection and sharing for those who are hurting from losing a loved one (friend or family) through (MAiD) euthanasia.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span>Anyone who is grieving is welcome. <br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Link to the event poster (<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1EWNnDxZrR0IBRmYz6juqTbjzUVA1L3r9/view"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Link</span></a>).<br /></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyxv5HHtElav1XpORnSSEVQvlYt2sV7fLM5DkTKwb7oEUr6mvBs9l_RWZ7lAw89Hx5W1k64KfNxJfe29t152aOTz6LvBzrCHV3G19CjBcHDi7S4id-Y_yWdcMZU57Npt-sG7Ps4lesFDxr6IsfFWIiXsmYEnJ9-7M9K_BBggvK-4_WGC-qjj2wwSKNazJY/s300/Compassionate%20Community%20Care.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="300" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyxv5HHtElav1XpORnSSEVQvlYt2sV7fLM5DkTKwb7oEUr6mvBs9l_RWZ7lAw89Hx5W1k64KfNxJfe29t152aOTz6LvBzrCHV3G19CjBcHDi7S4id-Y_yWdcMZU57Npt-sG7Ps4lesFDxr6IsfFWIiXsmYEnJ9-7M9K_BBggvK-4_WGC-qjj2wwSKNazJY/w200-h200/Compassionate%20Community%20Care.png" width="200" /></a></span></div><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The event is: Saturday May 25, 2024 from (noon) 12 pm to 8 pm.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">The location: 155 Broadview Ave., Toronto ON M4M 2E9<br /><br />There is a <u>suggested donation</u> of $100. Meals are provided.<br /><br />For more information and to register email: <a href="mailto:outreach@stmarysrefuge.org"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">outreach@stmarysrefuge.org</span></a><span style="color: #2b00fe;"> </span></span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span>Project Anna and Simeon</span></span></p>Alex Schadenberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07649977828342637842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9216787076261944467.post-63525438648558274452024-03-05T13:36:00.007-05:002024-03-06T22:16:53.736-05:00How many Quebec euthanasia deaths actually occur?<p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Alex Schadenberg<br />Executive Director, Euthanasia Prevention Coalition<br /></span></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWmQnS8KFONHsz2lilzmpcKPJuw59s2w_kByeqNsNSdo5IOVMuJIvzJdftuAudL_sQMqc_BPdvqlIzlLArQEG2vfUflY4PN_jOCMbR-FJmo01CHqKvNWyysUeJghE-ziwRBvWlV1At2Uxpu7l-205DlHSLys5Q3iMUgTSLFafQke0BL8pd8BIzYhdlULVP/s889/Alex%20blog%20new.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="889" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWmQnS8KFONHsz2lilzmpcKPJuw59s2w_kByeqNsNSdo5IOVMuJIvzJdftuAudL_sQMqc_BPdvqlIzlLArQEG2vfUflY4PN_jOCMbR-FJmo01CHqKvNWyysUeJghE-ziwRBvWlV1At2Uxpu7l-205DlHSLys5Q3iMUgTSLFafQke0BL8pd8BIzYhdlULVP/w200-h113/Alex%20blog%20new.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alex Schadenberg<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">In early February I wrote an article stating that: <a href="https://alexschadenberg.blogspot.com/2024/02/there-were-approximately-16000-canadian.html"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><i>There were approximately 16,000 Canadian euthanasia deaths in 2023 and more than 60,000 since legalization</i></span></a> I made my prediction based on the euthanasia data from Ontario, Quebec, Alberta and Nova Scotia. I wrote in my <a href="https://alexschadenberg.blogspot.com/2024/02/there-were-approximately-16000-canadian.html"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">February article</span></a>:<br /></span></span><p></p><blockquote><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The Quebec Commission on End-of-Life Care <a href="https://csfv.gouv.qc.ca/fileadmin/docs/rapports_annuels/rapport_annuel_dactivites_2022-2023.pdf"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">released</span></a> it's Eighth Annual Report which indicated that there were 5211 reported euthanasia deaths (April 1, 2022 - March 31, 2023) which was up from 3663 in the previous year (April 1, 2021 - March 31, 2022). According to the data there have been 15,997 reported euthanasia deaths from legalization until March 31, 2023 in Quebec.<br /><br />This represents more than a 42% increase in Québec euthanasia deaths in 2023 representing 6.8% of all Québec deaths, which is the highest in the world.<br /><br />The report also indicates that from April 1 - June 30, 2023 the number of reported Québec euthanasia deaths increased by another 24%, a slower pace of growth, but substantial considering the massive number of euthanasia deaths.</span></span></blockquote><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjss4NeBOqj40HlGC118KjQFrKNIZxji7kBiXY6SA-ffshRMUaB3kIlLJiz_VLtP8mhBfGNJq7-vcG4JkpGmqZ-D4ofSVgVsWV7Z4gC8yiVPBOl1_fX1SQEwJCZzormssMk30H9cOSmKZph-DLch5yWWpD8ZnRoHcp6m0j-omY368lwqv6AbFgxNQfEp2wE/s150/Amy%20Hasbrouck%20NDY.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="150" data-original-width="150" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjss4NeBOqj40HlGC118KjQFrKNIZxji7kBiXY6SA-ffshRMUaB3kIlLJiz_VLtP8mhBfGNJq7-vcG4JkpGmqZ-D4ofSVgVsWV7Z4gC8yiVPBOl1_fX1SQEwJCZzormssMk30H9cOSmKZph-DLch5yWWpD8ZnRoHcp6m0j-omY368lwqv6AbFgxNQfEp2wE/s1600/Amy%20Hasbrouck%20NDY.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amy Hasbrouck<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">When analyzing the
Québec data I noticed some significant concerns. Were there 5211 Quebec euthanasia deaths or were there 5401?</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Amy Hasbrouck from
<i>Toujours Vivant - Not Dead Yet</i>, provided further analysis of the
data found in the Eight Annual Report of the Québec Commission on
End-of-Life care. </span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Hasbrouck's indicates the following: </span></span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>How many Euthanasia deaths? </b></span></span></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">5,211 MAiD reported by doctors in declaration forms (§ 3.2 p. 13)</span></span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">5,401 euthanasia reported by hospitals and institutions (table C6 p. 46) </span></span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">5,208 MAiD declaration forms received by the Commission (§ 2.1, p. 6) <br /></span></span></li></ul><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Total euthanasia deaths since legalization?</b></span></span></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">15,997 Adjusted MAiD from declaration forms (figure 3.2 p. 13, Row 3) or</span></span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">16,044 (p. 28, “Observations”) </span></span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">18,532 Total declared by hospitals and institutions. (AR Table C6, <a href="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1U3Meh4ZJ3I1I5AHV0XAFZTaseeJXz9XQ9LTF7dCjpuY/edit?usp=sharing">QAR stats</a> Row 7) <br /></span></span></li></ul><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Non-compliance with the law:<br /></b></span></span></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The Commission concluded that 16 people did not have a serious and incurable illness</span></span></li><ul><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Some people had loss of independence due to aging,</span></span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Others had serious symptoms, but not clear diagnosis,</span></span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Three people had disabilities, but no serious illness, which is a requirement for Québec’s statute </span></span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">One non-compliant because doctor did not get confirmation from a second physician,</span></span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">One form was not signed by a health or social service professional,</span></span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Two
did not have valid QC health insurance. Since May 2022, the Commission
no longer declares as “non-compliant” cases where the health insurance
card has expired. This applied to 11 additional cases documented in the
8th annual report.</span></span></li></ul></ul><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">It must be noted that every year the Québec report admits to cases of non-compliance with the law. None of these cases have resulted in legal or professional actions. In August 2023, </span></span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Dr. Michel
Bureau, the President of the Québec Commission on End-of-Life Care <a href="https://alexschadenberg.blogspot.com/2023/08/quebec-commission-on-end-of-life-care.html"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">sent a letter to euthanasia doctors urging them to stop abusing the law</span></a>. In that letter Bureau claimed that there were two to three euthanasia deaths each month that did not fit the criteria of the law.<br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The 2022 - 2023 report was not the first year with concerns. In fact, all of the reports of the Québec Commission on End-of-Life Care have contained issues.<br /><br />Hasbrouck reported in her article on the 7th Annual report that:<br /></span></span></p><blockquote><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">The <a href="https://www.assnat.qc.ca/depots-du-jour/2022-12-09/Rapport%20annuel/46-RAA%202021-2022%20Commission-soins-fin-de-vie.pdf,">seventh annual report</a> from Québec’s Commission on end of life care was filed in Québec’s National Assembly on December 9, 2022. The report covers the 2021-2022 period (April 1, 2021 to March 31, 2022). <br /><br />The Commission reported 3,663 euthanasia deaths declared by doctors during the fiscal year (p. 13), while the number of euthanasia deaths reported by facilities (3,629) and the Collège des Médecins du Québec (323) totalled 3,952 (p. 25 at note 25); a discrepancy of <u><span style="color: #2b00fe;">289 deaths</span></u>.</span></blockquote><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Hasbrouck stated in that article:<br /><blockquote>In light of the discrepancy (289 deaths) between the number of euthanasia reported in doctors’ declaration forms (3,663) and the facilities’/CMQ reports (3,952), and the unaccounted MAiD requests that didn’t end in euthanasia, (78 people) it’s hard to take seriously the Commission’s claim that 99.6% of euthanasia complied with the requirement of the MAiD law. </blockquote></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Québec is the only Canadian province that has two streams for euthanasia reporting, enabling the uncovering of under-reported euthanasia deaths. Quebec is also the only province that provides information indicating that some of the euthanasia deaths were outside of the law.<br /><br />It is likely that under-reporting and non-compliance with the law exists in other provinces except that the other provinces don't have a dual reporting system and they are not analyzing the reports to determine if all of the deaths fit the criteria of the law. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">For the sake of
brevity, I will provide links to previous articles concerning anomalies
from the Québec reports on End-of-Life Care. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Previous Quebec reports on End-of-Life Care:</span></span></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Quebec euthanasia deaths increase by 51% in 2021 - 22 annual report. A discrepancy of 289 deaths (<a href="https://alexschadenberg.blogspot.com/2022/12/quebec-euthanasia-deaths-increase-by-51.html"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Link</span></a>).</span></span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Quebec 2020 - 2021 annual euthanasia report. Euthanasia deaths increase by 37% unreported deaths continue (<a href="https://alexschadenberg.blogspot.com/2021/11/quebec-2021-annual-euthanasia-report.html"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Link</span></a>).</span></span></li></ul><a href="https://alexschadenberg.blogspot.com/2022/12/quebec-euthanasia-deaths-increase-by-51.html"></a><p></p>Alex Schadenberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07649977828342637842noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9216787076261944467.post-68113527555332712272024-03-04T17:18:00.001-05:002024-03-04T17:18:48.565-05:00Assisted suicide causes pain and suffering for family members.<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">By Dr Jacqueline Abernathy Ph.D., MSSW</span></span><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0e101a; font-family: georgia;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCYf8IIStl401WwTB17jgqXY0548qTqUCoNNQWY_EEPVYGGv-Y9HNjnu4BINkv8pkFsoxMIFYlqJ18tXLyZ9No7YM0wONKjk5X5IbegAqMKKNh-emcJdgxGr1KrZs7USI6ezTHlznPK7KIsIx8YN0QYe63HQBtFyKfOO_6EucJMnGJGNI6UU0d3xQOeGkw/s261/Jacqueline%20Abernathy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="261" data-original-width="193" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCYf8IIStl401WwTB17jgqXY0548qTqUCoNNQWY_EEPVYGGv-Y9HNjnu4BINkv8pkFsoxMIFYlqJ18tXLyZ9No7YM0wONKjk5X5IbegAqMKKNh-emcJdgxGr1KrZs7USI6ezTHlznPK7KIsIx8YN0QYe63HQBtFyKfOO_6EucJMnGJGNI6UU0d3xQOeGkw/w148-h200/Jacqueline%20Abernathy.jpg" width="148" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Jacqueline Abernathy</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>On Thursday, February 29, the Colorado
State Assembly Senate Health & Human Services Committee voted in a rare
bi-partisan 7-1 approval for assisted suicide expansion Bill SB 068. The committee has a 6 to 3 Democrat majority, so passage was sadly
expected since this issue settled down party lines in recent years, but this
was not a party-line vote but a nearly unanimous endorsement of an issue so
contemptuous, that it took over two and a half hours of alternating two-minute
testimonies to get through all the registered witnesses, myself included. Across my twenty-plus years of activism and 12
years of post-doctoral academic scholarship on end-of-life laws in the
United States, I have testified in many capitols, sometimes waiting to
conclude hearings lasting over ten hours. This hearing marked two milestones
for me: my first time to testify remotely against assisted suicide and my first
experience as a witness in a state where it was already legal. The latter was
eye-opening. I heard new arguments from those in favor of easing access to
self-destruct that gave me new insight into problems this practice creates that
I never before considered, namely the emotional trauma of waiting for the means
to kill yourself and the pain that knowing this self-imposed, unnecessary act
will cause. </span></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0e101a; font-family: georgia;">The testimony I heard was sobering and the
lack of public engagement was a disconcerting sign of how desperately we must
fight back on assisted suicide. As always, the case in favor of assisting a suicide was purely
anecdotal, devastating accounts of sick and scared people who see suicide as
the only way out of their circumstances, whereas my testimony and other
opponents were pragmatic points of concern for the vulnerable and appeals to
refuse violence as a substitute for real medical care and true compassion. Witnesses
in opposition pointed out the dangers of SB 068, a bill that would strip the requirement that only physicians can prescribe
lethal drugs, and reduce the waiting period from two weeks to just two days.
Furthermore the bill would allow suicide tourists to obtain the
lethal poison after just 48 hours to reflect upon this ultimate, irreversible
decision: it would allow non-Coloradans to visit for the purpose of suicide and
to subvert the laws in their home states, effectively creating a market large
enough to sustain specialty suicide clinics that would profit off
desperate, terrified people trading their money for a deadly dose of
barbiturates from a total stranger with an ideological and financial stake in
enabling many people to destroy themselves as possible. </span></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0e101a; font-family: georgia;"> </span></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0e101a; font-family: georgia;">The talking points
suggested that loosening the assisted suicide provisions was rooted in improving flaws in the
law Coloradans and would have some face validity if the bill
did not expand eligibility to non-residents. But as I said in my testimony, the
amendments clearly accommodated out-of-state visitors so adding these
individuals to the bill makes it appear that these changes are meant to cater
to them, and residents are an afterthought who get to share the supposed benefits
of quicker, easier access to assisted suicide. Stories from bill supporters
were, as always, deeply heartbreaking and disturbing. It aches my heart to hear
what people endure and wish so much that it didn’t wrongly appear that
opposing assisted suicide means that we do not equally wish to see an end to their
pain.<br /></span></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0e101a; font-family: georgia;"> </span></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0e101a; font-family: georgia;">Most often assisted
suicide is not about pain, but ableism when people can no longer enjoy life as
much due to their condition which implies that life is only valuable for the
physically able-bodied. There is also the fear of what dying from an underlying
condition will entail vs. a certainty when choosing the means to kill. The
reduction from fourteen days to 48 hours before a patient could take their own
life was a key theme among witnesses who concurred that this wait was
emotionally agonizing for those who were fearful that they might die naturally
during the interim or the impending knowledge that they would be dead
immediately once the medication was dispensed.</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0e101a; font-family: georgia;"> </span></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0e101a; font-family: georgia;">It was one such particular story that struck
me the most deeply. A bereaved sister named Lindsay Menough recalled losing her
brother, Eric Carlson, to assisted suicide in 2020. She testified in his
honor that self-violence was his preferred alternative to dying naturally
from brain cancer, not because he was in pain but because he “could no longer
live independently and would die naturally within 6 months.” </span></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0e101a; font-family: georgia;"> </span></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0e101a; font-family: georgia;">I also lost my
sibling to the same underlying condition Mr. Carlson faced. Elizabeth Harvey
died of cancer in 2022, from a tumor that spread to her brain. I could relate to the pain in this woman’s voice and
the agony associated with watching a sibling battle such a merciless malady,
but what hurts me the most is how different our experiences were in the same
circumstance because legal assisted suicide enabled a torment I couldn’t
imagine and thanks to my sister’s strong convictions against violence, an act
she would have never subjected us to even if it has been a legal option. Menough spoke favorably of assisted suicide like it was a mercy but spoke of
how cruel it is to know when someone who does not have to die yet still puts an
unnecessary doomsday clock counting down the time they have left with you
rather than treasuring whatever time they are given. She said, “Imagine your
loved one would die on a particular day. Imagine that those days counting down
would be like simply waiting, knowing the awful inevitable end was coming.” I
can’t imagine because it is not meant to be this way. I know what it is like
not knowing when that day would be when my sister would die much like I don’t
know when anyone’s time will end, but with my sister, I knew that the day would
soon come when Beth could no longer speak to me and would soon after, take her
last breath. </span></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0e101a; font-family: georgia;"> </span></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0e101a; font-family: georgia;">My experience was nothing like what this poor woman described
while waiting for her brother to die by assisted suicide, impatiently awaiting the
first available chance to end his life once he could do so with the assistance
of “medication.” Menough explained, “The seventeen days from when Eric made
a decision until the day he finally passed away were excruciating for Eric, for
me, and for our entire family. The clock ticked, the days changed and with
every passing second my brother grew more and more frustrated because he was
simply there, able-bodied, of a sound mind, just waiting to die.” </span></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0e101a; font-family: georgia;"> </span></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0e101a; font-family: georgia;">Able-bodied,
of a sound mind is very much alive and able to live life to the fullest, the
way my sister actually did until that life was over. Menough stated, “Eric
lived a full life up until his last breath.” as If choosing to take his last
breath as soon as possible didn’t throw that full life away, and recounts that
he enjoyed aspects of being alive shortly before taking poison to die months
ahead of schedule. “An hour</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span lang="EN-US"> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0e101a;">before he started the
process, we were walking in his woods. He enjoyed his favorite cocktail in front
of the fireplace while listening to the Rolling Stones with the people he loved
most.” Near the end, I was grieved by knowing time was limited with my sister
to take walks and listen to music together. I knew eventually she would need
heavy pain control and be mostly sedated and that even before she ultimately
died, I would lose her because I would never be able to talk to her again, but I
was comforted in that my sister didn’t arbitrarily cut that time short on
purpose. </span></span></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0e101a; font-family: georgia;"> </span></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0e101a; font-family: georgia;">Menough lost her brother and the time she should have had, which
can only further complicate the same grief from the same kind of loss that I
too endured. She concluded as if assisted suicide preserved the value of Erik’s
life rather than taking that value away completely, stating, “He never lost any
part of himself in the process of battling brain cancer.” I am glad she thinks
this is so, but in taking his life, I think he truly lost all of himself while
also taking himself from those who loved him. He let suicide steal months of
fireside cocktails and nature walks. </span></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0e101a; font-family: georgia;"> </span></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0e101a; font-family: georgia;">My sister never let cancer steal anything
more from her or any of those she loved to the extent she was able to fight
back. I got to have every conversation with her and enjoy every single moment
of her company that she had left before she eventually fell into a coma and
passed away peacefully. Had she taken a poison cocktail to become comatose months
early while waiting for the poisons to kill her, she would have let her disease
take more from her than it had to. </span></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0e101a; font-family: georgia;"> </span></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0e101a; font-family: georgia;">This bereaved sister was lobbying to cut the
time to even less before people could further limit their lives that were already
cut short by a terminal disease. The torment of knowing when the last day would
be was an additional and unnecessary trauma caused by assisted suicide. She wanted to shorten this torment not
realizing that the torment should not exist and nor should letting a terminal
diagnosis coerce you into just throwing away what precious life you have left.
Our experiences prove that assisted suicide does not make loss easier, only
harder. It was not until I heard stories like this that I came to understand
just how much assisted suicide steals from those in dire circumstances. Once
able to destroy lives, assisted suicide laws only grow into bills like SB 068
where the victims cry for it to steal even more from those already devastated
by terminal illness. Although my fellow witnesses like Menough were fighting
in honor of her late brother to only increase pain like hers, she is also a
victim of pain I was spared by a sister who was committed to loving us with all
the time she had left. We need to convey to those hurt by assisted suicide that
the answer is not to make it easier to endure added unnecessary pain, but not
to enable such pain at all.</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0e101a; font-family: georgia;"> </span></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0e101a; font-family: georgia;">I encourage more life
advocates to turn out against the companion bill in the House committee once
announced and for Colorado residents to make their values known to their
representatives. Even as a non-Coloradan, I intend to continue fighting for the
vulnerable people that inspired me to testify like I always have, but now, I
will do it also for those hurt by assisted suicide who will, unfortunately, be
testifying on the opposite side without knowing that there is a better way to
face terminal illness than with elective violence. </span></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0e101a; font-family: georgia;"> </span></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0e101a; font-family: georgia;">I will do so, not just in
honor of my late sister but for other bereaved siblings like myself and more so,
for victims like Menough. Stories like hers that I heard at this hearing
and the inevitable added damage detailed in my testimony only prove how
necessary it is for us to fight back against bills like SB 068 that only make
an already bad law somehow, far worse. I hope you will join me as we continue
to fight assisted suicide not just in Colorado, but everywhere it threatens
human life. <span> </span></span></span></p>
Alex Schadenberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07649977828342637842noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9216787076261944467.post-52497682655084467302024-03-04T16:05:00.004-05:002024-03-06T11:49:43.887-05:00Indiana Resolution opposing assisted suicide passes in Committee<p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZFt68G9TpsaiQQOQgqy4BbnWefiG0wE9pi9s25XHnYsbc_ly7rFhug1DyZ3feOPDqP-4QyUSKpuqNbT-noSLZ8YZBbElIbNPXGCIbn05JDncGTbDddpY1jTn-1JFqDHBlfRdVWwvvFEmojCOkftBCaldm9yRTCLX9W8WIK7VpSetXNPEy7kIRG8Kt4PQI/s300/Indiana%20new.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="300" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZFt68G9TpsaiQQOQgqy4BbnWefiG0wE9pi9s25XHnYsbc_ly7rFhug1DyZ3feOPDqP-4QyUSKpuqNbT-noSLZ8YZBbElIbNPXGCIbn05JDncGTbDddpY1jTn-1JFqDHBlfRdVWwvvFEmojCOkftBCaldm9yRTCLX9W8WIK7VpSetXNPEy7kIRG8Kt4PQI/w200-h112/Indiana%20new.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Indiana Resolution 17 titled: <a href="https://iga.in.gov/pdf-documents/123/2024/senate/resolutions/SC0017/SC0017.02.COMS.pdf"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">A Concurrent Resolution opposing and condemning assisted suicide</span></a> passed on Wednesday February 29 passed on the Indiana Senate Committee on Health and Provider Services by a vote of 9 to 2. The following is the wording of the resolution. </span></span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Whereas,
The State of Indiana has an unqualified interest in the preservation of
human life and the State's prohibition on assisting suicide in IC
35-42-1-2.5 both reflects and advances its commitment to the State's
interest;</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span>Whereas, Neither the United States Constitution nor the Constitution of the State of Indiana contain a right to assisted suicide and neither include a right for one individual to authorize another to end their life in violation of federal or state criminal laws;</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span>Whereas, Suicide is not a typical reaction to an acute problem or life circumstance, and many individuals who contemplate suicide, including the terminally ill, suffer from treatable mental disorders, most commonly clinical depression, which frequently goes undiagnosed and untreated by physicians;</span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh1tC9VcEmu9F4IA-VjB4ViMuW1VBDsiMXKTA05WJjcAS1w8pVl74wXfxwjAXdNirRO1FxGpQ8n8tdz30O-kFfs1sOMV1-aIw6yDj3hD3hLTOYJzn3Zho1cXtgv5QI03ZGT2iBgJr4bsp6KvvHwlz1cz-fzozsf7fVHIpC9N7uNS18cgBo1Qwm8AQzK4H3/s225/Assisted%20suicide%20No2.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh1tC9VcEmu9F4IA-VjB4ViMuW1VBDsiMXKTA05WJjcAS1w8pVl74wXfxwjAXdNirRO1FxGpQ8n8tdz30O-kFfs1sOMV1-aIw6yDj3hD3hLTOYJzn3Zho1cXtgv5QI03ZGT2iBgJr4bsp6KvvHwlz1cz-fzozsf7fVHIpC9N7uNS18cgBo1Qwm8AQzK4H3/s1600/Assisted%20suicide%20No2.png" width="225" /></a></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span>Whereas, In Oregon, 46 percent of patients seeking assisted suicide changed their minds when their physicians intervened and appropriately addressed suicidal ideations by treating their pain, depression, or other medical problems;</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span>Whereas, Palliative care continues to improve and altering the treatment focus to relieving pain and allows a person to die naturally, comfortably, and in a dignified manner without a change in the law; <br /><br />Whereas, Experiences in Oregon and the Netherlands explicitly demonstrate that palliative care options deteriorate with the legalization of physician-assisted suicide;</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span>Whereas, A physician's recommendation for assisted suicide relies on the physician's judgment — to include negative perceptions — that a patient's life is not worth living, ultimately contributing to the use of "futility care" protocols and euthanasia;</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span>Whereas, The legalization of assisted suicide sends a message that suicide is a socially acceptable response to aging, terminal illnesses, disabilities, and depression and subsequently imposes a "duty to die";</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span>Whereas, The medical profession as a whole opposes physician-assisted suicide because it is contrary to the medical profession's duty to the Hippocratic Oath and their role as healer, and undermines the physician-patient relationship;</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span>Whereas, Assisted suicide is significantly less expensive than other care options and Oregon's experience demonstrates that cost constraints can create financial incentives to limit care and offer assisted suicide;</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span>Whereas, As evidenced in Oregon, the private nature of end-of-life decisions makes it virtually impossible to police a physician's behavior to prevent abuses, making any number of safeguards insufficient;</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span>Whereas, Assisted suicide is a direct threat to human dignity, patient rights, and the disabled when the medical goal must be to eliminate suffering rather than the person who suffers;</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span>Whereas, Patients should be allowed to die naturally through the use of ordinary treatment to sustain needs, increase comfort, and place the focus from curing back to caring rather than obligate the use of extraordinary medical treatment that would prolong their dying; and</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span>Whereas, A prohibition on assisted suicide, specifically physician-assisted suicide, is the only way to protect vulnerable citizens from coerced suicide and euthanasia: Therefore,</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span>Be it resolved by the Senate of the General Assembly of the State of Indiana, the House of Representatives concurring:</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span>SECTION 1. That the Indiana General Assembly, in its unqualified interest in the preservation of human life, strongly opposes and condemns physician-assisted suicide.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span>SECTION 2. That the Indiana General Assembly strongly opposes physician-assisted suicide because anything less than a prohibition leads to foreseeable abuses and eventually to euthanasia by devaluing human life, particularly the lives of the terminally ill, elderly, disabled, and depressed, whose lives are of no less value or quality than any other citizen of this State.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span>SECTION 3. That the Indiana General Assembly strongly opposes physician-assisted suicide even for terminally ill, mentally competent adults because assisted suicide eviscerates efforts to prevent the self-destructive act of suicide and hinders progress in effective physician interventions, including diagnosing and treating depression, managing pain, and providing palliative and hospice care.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span>SECTION 4. That the Indiana General Assembly strongly opposes physician-assisted suicide because assisted suicide undermines the integrity and ethics of the medical profession, subverts a physician's role as healer, and compromises the physician-patient relationship.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span>SECTION 5. The Secretary of the Senate is hereby directed to transmit copies of this Resolution to Governor Eric Holcomb, the Commissioner of the Indiana Department of Health, and the Indiana State Medical Association.<br /><br />Madam President: The Senate Committee on Health and Provider Services, to which was referred Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 17, has had the same under consideration and begs leave to report the same back to the Senate with the recommendation that said resolution DO PASS. <br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span>(Reference is to SC 17 as introduced.)<br />CHARBONNEAU, Chairperson<br />Committee Vote: Yeas 9, Nays 2</span></span></p>Alex Schadenberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07649977828342637842noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9216787076261944467.post-88467283391966822262024-03-03T08:39:00.010-05:002024-03-06T22:40:25.259-05:0024 Years ago, Jeanette Hall had terminal cancer and she wanted assisted suicide. She is happy to be alive today.<p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Alex Schadenberg<br />Executive Director, Euthanasia Prevention Coalition</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">With contribution from Margaret Dore.<br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwvMd2f8W7n3HrLfJjaluhZtMQX6DXwxX7cYlL_bc0hsqh6oT1PoGhhzA5u0WrfHDpqKkWtK8-h-bhDIwQLPfyr7mBpwSEIEzfyIm7a8LJofFgr8-kDhA6G0jVYOgi3MWxnreBZiFe4sOpg70Iska3w-OpEJJag6FnWcuYO5DTJOAdBmowiMNm_UwHfqdc/s320/Jeanette%20Hall%20and%20group%202.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="210" data-original-width="320" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwvMd2f8W7n3HrLfJjaluhZtMQX6DXwxX7cYlL_bc0hsqh6oT1PoGhhzA5u0WrfHDpqKkWtK8-h-bhDIwQLPfyr7mBpwSEIEzfyIm7a8LJofFgr8-kDhA6G0jVYOgi3MWxnreBZiFe4sOpg70Iska3w-OpEJJag6FnWcuYO5DTJOAdBmowiMNm_UwHfqdc/w320-h210/Jeanette%20Hall%20and%20group%202.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">I was speaking this weekend in Oregon and Dr Kenneth Stevens gave us an incredible gift by bring Jeanette Hall to the event. <br /><br />(Picture: Alex Schadenberg, Jeanette Hall, Kenneth S<span style="background-color: white;">tevens, and Wesley Smith)</span></span><p></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Oregon's assisted suicide law came into effect in 1998. In 2000, Jeanette Hall had cancer and she was give six to 12 months to live. Jeanette made a settled decision to use Oregon's assisted suicide law in lieu of being treated for cancer. Her doctor, Kenneth Stevens, who opposed assisted suicide, thought that her chances with treatment were good. Over several weeks, he stalled her request for assisted suicide and finally convinced her to be treated for cancer.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white;">Yes, Dr Stevens was against assisted suicide, but he also thought that Jeanette was a good candidate for treatment and indeed she was. She has been cancer free for 24 years. In a previous article, <a href="https://www.choiceillusion.org/p/jeanette-her-son-scott-in-2000-by.html" style="color: blue; text-decoration-line: none;">Jeanette stated</a>:</span><br style="background-color: white;" /></span><blockquote class="tr_bq" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">I wanted to do our law and I wanted Dr. Stevens to help me. Instead, he encouraged me to not give up and ultimately I decided to fight the cancer. I had both chemotherapy and radiation. I am so happy to be alive!</span></blockquote><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Jeanette told me that at the time of her assisted suicide request, she had lost hope. Her Aunt had died by cancer, her mother had Alzheimer's and her brother had recently died by suicide. She felt that there was no reason to live.</span></span><div><br /></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUQGwajTOk9NsiNacA4Fx-ObTMJuMLQZv0AIZPNdluFNxsm_-0UCMBtI42brLjwmz0wPcuvf-ucVAkQqxKp8ZLuu6W4gwbYI_0quO6XV_OEvXbInIaI_bBuZIRpmheqn5IT3fNn13fLrH18xXATVKcRNiwCi5EDus6YKb6-UFmz7grAl8r_ZpYVfzjLEIE/s294/Jeanette%20Hall%20and%20son.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="171" data-original-width="294" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUQGwajTOk9NsiNacA4Fx-ObTMJuMLQZv0AIZPNdluFNxsm_-0UCMBtI42brLjwmz0wPcuvf-ucVAkQqxKp8ZLuu6W4gwbYI_0quO6XV_OEvXbInIaI_bBuZIRpmheqn5IT3fNn13fLrH18xXATVKcRNiwCi5EDus6YKb6-UFmz7grAl8r_ZpYVfzjLEIE/s1600/Jeanette%20Hall%20and%20son.jpg" width="294" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jeanette with her son at his graduation.</td></tr></tbody></table>Dr Stevens helped Jeanette find meaning and purpose by asking her about her son. Her son was in the police academy and Dr Stevens assured her that with treatment she would be able to attend her son's graduation. Jeanette not only attended her son's graduation but she overcame her cancer.</span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">We are thankful that Dr. Stevens didn't give-up on Jeanette, that he convinced her to try effective treatment and that Jeanette is alive today.</span></span><div><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">As Jeanette said to me:</span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><blockquote>"It is now 24 years later and I am happy to be alive."</blockquote></span></span></div></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">This article is based on previous articles concerning Jeanette Hall:</span></span></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">If Dr Stevens had believed in assisted suicide - I would be dead (<a href="https://www.choiceillusion.org/p/jeanette-her-son-scott-in-2000-by.html"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Link</span></a>).</span></span></li><li><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Oregon woman changed her mind on assisted suicide after her doctor helped her find a reason to live. (<a href="https://alexschadenberg.blogspot.com/2018/11/oregon-woman-decided-not-to-die-by.html">Article Link</a>).</span></span></li></ul></div>Alex Schadenberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07649977828342637842noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9216787076261944467.post-38128763261675194842024-03-01T18:01:00.003-05:002024-03-01T18:01:44.917-05:00Great News: Maryland Assisted Suicide Bill is Dead<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Alex Schadenberg<br />Executive Director, Euthanasia Prevention Coalition</span><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK6MjUmTnEAq9_TtbvTuR-Elix96NEDHZq7z7_tSjJRcD-YeelvwCdHiN7tmGQzItdDU71LJaRfd_yUbRsaDpQFNtvSd-XkXBzjmctZ6IzRLXC_vF3hTgALPQ_x0Ya_h1yBQEZj2SwsToqX-qT7266wa1-gkQCJGs5hU7HzqACg2KTv4CT-doozYSc-i5m/s291/Maryland.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="173" data-original-width="291" height="119" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK6MjUmTnEAq9_TtbvTuR-Elix96NEDHZq7z7_tSjJRcD-YeelvwCdHiN7tmGQzItdDU71LJaRfd_yUbRsaDpQFNtvSd-XkXBzjmctZ6IzRLXC_vF3hTgALPQ_x0Ya_h1yBQEZj2SwsToqX-qT7266wa1-gkQCJGs5hU7HzqACg2KTv4CT-doozYSc-i5m/w200-h119/Maryland.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Sapna Bansil reported on March 1, 2024 for the Capital News Service that Maryland's assisted suicide bill (HB403/SB443) is dead because it didn't have support in the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee. Bansil reported:<br /></span><blockquote><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Senate President Bill Ferguson, D-Baltimore City, said in a press conference Friday that the measure had not won enough support among the 11 members of the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee to move forward this term. Ferguson indicated he was unwilling to bring the bill for a vote if it was likely to fail.<br /><br />“For this year, it’s certainly over,” said Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee Chair Will Smith, D-Montgomery, noting the bill would have fallen one or two votes shy of passing his committee.<br /><br />The bill’s failure elicited strong emotions from its supporters on Friday, many of whom have experienced years of setbacks on the issue.</span><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"></span></div></blockquote><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Sen. Ariana Kelly, D-Montgomery, a member of the Judicial Proceedings Committee and a bill co-sponsor said that she has public support for the bill.</span></p><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Sen. Mike McKay, R-Allegany, Garrett and Washington said that he was pleased with the decision.<br /><br />Bansil reported that Senate President, Bill Ferguson, believes that another assisted suicide bill will likely be introduced next year.</span></div></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">A similar assisted suicide bill was defeated in Maryland last year and assisted suicide bills were introduced in Maryland every year between 2015 and 2020.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Congratulations to all of the people in Maryland who have worked for many years to continue defeating assisted suicide bills.</span></div>Alex Schadenberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07649977828342637842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9216787076261944467.post-25393352838318100012024-03-01T08:53:00.005-05:002024-03-01T08:53:36.401-05:00When I was Anorexic I would have "chosen" assisted suicide.<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Alex Schadenberg<br />Executive Director, Euthanasia Prevention Coalition<br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPQD8s6WMyNsBuxtaKr4g0qDdcee-b9TURHr0r5h0psmMyZQkpFIzK-J_kwBc7ouoPBE7G3NUjPx3DxarIyo0YdQo8vr236ee98aMZorhJ3V4zfNZsolxcx1jF1FJmww4tMG_0mHUNgbR6vzUniTMTii4BIdHcTtvfDc11e8ui6OrM3T0U8mdhaw6kkpca/s290/Chelsea%20Roff.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="174" data-original-width="290" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPQD8s6WMyNsBuxtaKr4g0qDdcee-b9TURHr0r5h0psmMyZQkpFIzK-J_kwBc7ouoPBE7G3NUjPx3DxarIyo0YdQo8vr236ee98aMZorhJ3V4zfNZsolxcx1jF1FJmww4tMG_0mHUNgbR6vzUniTMTii4BIdHcTtvfDc11e8ui6OrM3T0U8mdhaw6kkpca/s1600/Chelsea%20Roff.jpg" width="290" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chelsea Roff</td></tr></tbody></table>An excellent article was written by Chelsea Roff and <a href="https://www.newsweek.com/i-was-anorexic-would-have-chosen-assisted-dying-1870648">published by Newsweek</a> on February 23, 2024 concerning the false diagnosis of terminal anorexia and its connection to assisted suicide. Roff explains:</span><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><blockquote>Nineteen years ago, I was hospitalized for severe anorexia. I was in dire shape: My skin was yellow from liver failure. I was unable to stand up, walk, or bathe myself. At 5'6" tall, I weighed 58 pounds.<br /><br />Had I been hospitalized today, physicians might have debated whether I met the criteria for a new, controversial condition—terminal anorexia. Not yet an official diagnosis, the term appeared in the <a href="https://jeatdisord.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40337-022-00548-3">Journal of Eating Disorders</a>, in an article describing the deaths of three patients with "severe and enduring anorexia."<br /><br />According to the authors, their prognosis was grim, but treatment was "medically futile." Instead of forcing hospitalization, the consulting physician felt the most compassionate response was to allow them to die.<br /><br />They were offered palliative care, and two patients received prescriptions for Medical Aid and Dying (MAiD). One patient died after ingesting a lethal dose, the other of malnutrition before she could take the medication.<br /><br />The article sparked an outcry, igniting a debate about whether right-to-die laws allow patients with anorexia to end their own lives. MAiD is now legal in eleven states, but its use for a psychiatric disorder is a legal gray area.</blockquote>Roff explains that in most states where assisted suicide is legal, the law requires that the person have a six month prognosis for death in order to qualify for assisted suicide. "Terminal Anorexia" may become a legal pathway to assisted suicide. Roff continues:<br /><blockquote>But it is especially complex in anorexia, a disorder in which patients appear rational in all ways except their ability to do the one thing that could save their lives—eat.<br /><br />Even at the height of my illness, I was a convincing narrator of my mental capacity. I was remarkably lucid, yet could not comprehend the risk that starvation posed to my life.<br /><br />One of the most striking neurological effects of starvation is how it distorts your emotional perception of risk and reward.<br /><br />I felt comfort when I was hungry, but apathetic about my failing organs. If I had not been forcibly hospitalized, I would have continued starving.</blockquote></span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Roff explains that many of her doctors had little hope for her recovery. They tried multiple treatments and therapies but she was obstinate, stubborn and appeared treatment resistant. She felt like a burden on her family and she states:</span><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><blockquote>If the option for assisted dying had been available, I would have taken it.</blockquote></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFTr-U8Pu26ayKPkqaTJBnKtD8pc5Mx_WJhWwo_UN9mtTh3ll3mvkEt8PYMrDIyr9vj0Ly_K2Mk6SphY8l6Z_fens2u3NNBKxWpa02GQHoEDEsgYZq9BS4XFE0yKenoawqY9jU67AkzXi9GQ1cWiuAr8VS5vlbxClwctkxl8kzUewdC7bsX2IMycrp7ch8/s311/Anorexia%20recovery%20good.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="143" data-original-width="311" height="143" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFTr-U8Pu26ayKPkqaTJBnKtD8pc5Mx_WJhWwo_UN9mtTh3ll3mvkEt8PYMrDIyr9vj0Ly_K2Mk6SphY8l6Z_fens2u3NNBKxWpa02GQHoEDEsgYZq9BS4XFE0yKenoawqY9jU67AkzXi9GQ1cWiuAr8VS5vlbxClwctkxl8kzUewdC7bsX2IMycrp7ch8/s1600/Anorexia%20recovery%20good.jpg" width="311" /></a></div>She states that she was state mandated for 16 months in a treatment program which resulted in her recovery and today she runs a non-profit for people with eating disorders. She continues:</span></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><blockquote>For years, I believed I had a chronic and likely terminal disease. I was told by well-meaning medical professionals that relapse was inevitable. I met people who had cycled in and out of treatment for decades—they said anorexia never goes away.<br /><br />These ideas are unscientific and misleading, eroding the sense of agency and self-efficacy you need to recover.<br /><br />The notion that anorexia is a terminal disorder has no place in medicine. Anorexia is difficult to recover from, but it is a treatable condition. Even with a paucity of <a href="https://journals.lww.com/co-psychiatry/fulltext/2017/11000/evidence_based_clinical_guidelines_for_eating.8.aspx">evidence-based treatments</a>, <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28002660/">most people will recover</a>.</blockquote></span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Roff explains that Anorexia has the highest mortality rate of any psychiatric disorder but 72% of patients can make a partial recovery and almost 50% will make a complete recovery. She then states that:</span><blockquote><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Assisted dying laws require physicians to deem with "reasonable medical certainty" that the patient will die within six months.</span><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br />But in mental illness, there are no standardized tests to determine disease progression like there are in physical illnesses like cancer. Physicians' assessments of who is terminal are almost entirely subjective, carrying life-or-death consequences.</span></div></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br />A diagnostic term is powerful, and especially for those with psychiatric disorders, a terminal one can become a self-fulfilling prophecy. Calling treatment "futile" and death "inevitable" can itself diminish a person's capacity to make sound judgments about whether to continue living.<br /><br />The creation of "terminal anorexia" will inevitably sow feelings of cynicism and hopelessness in people with a real shot at recovery.</span></blockquote><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Roff explains that a diagnosis of terminal anorexia leads to a life-threatening disadvantage. When a patient fails to get better and relapses for years they will often be steered towards palliative care or pushed towards assisted suicide leaving the system to continuing churning out subpar care.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Roff concludes:<br /></span><blockquote><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Instead of a new diagnosis of terminal anorexia, we need enforceable standards of treatment and more funding for eating disorder research. Most importantly, we must not abandon or lose hope in those who have been struggling to get better in a flawed system the longest.</span><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">We can respect a person's autonomy without colluding with their most despairing thoughts—the feeling their life is not valuable. I am alive today thanks to those who never gave up on me, and for that, I will always be grateful.</span></blockquote><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/chelsea-roff-257b2b41/">Chelsea Roff</a> is the executive director of <a href="https://www.eatbreathethrive.org/">Eat Breathe Thrive</a>, a nonprofit that helps people recover from eating disorders. A yoga therapist, educator, and researcher, she has spent over a decade working to develop, deliver, and conduct scientific studies on yoga programs for people with eating disorders.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">More articles on this topic:</span></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Anorexia does not justify Aid in Dying (<a href="https://alexschadenberg.blogspot.com/2023/10/psychiatrist-anorexia-does-not-justify.html">Link</a>).</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;">Anorexia is not a death sentence. I am living proof of this (<span style="background-color: white; color: #2b00fe; font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://alexschadenberg.blogspot.com/2022/06/assisted-suicide-for-anorexia-anorexia.html" style="color: blue; text-decoration-line: none;">Link</a></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia;">).</span></span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;">Assisted suicide for anorexia expands assisted suicide to chronic conditions (<a href="https://alexschadenberg.blogspot.com/2022/03/assisted-suicide-for-anorexia-nervosa.html" style="font-family: georgia;">Link</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia;">).</span></span></li></ul></div>Alex Schadenberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07649977828342637842noreply@blogger.com0