Quebec couple sues Montreal Children's hospital for not dehydrating their child to death

A CTV news article is reporting that a Quebec couple has launched a lawsuit against Montreal Children's Hospital for not removing fluids and food from their baby (Phebe) who was born with significant disabilities.

This story appears to be a case whereby the hospital had originally agreed to remove all medical treatment and care from Phebe, but then the ethics committee reversed the decision to dehydrate Phebe to death. Phebe is now almost 18 months old.

The facts of this case appear fairly clear. Phebe was born with significant disabilities and the doctors thought that she was better off dead. Since the ethics committee recognized that Phebe was not dying, and because they didn't believe that she was better off dead, they decided to continue to provide her basic care.

The sad reality is that the doctors originally suggested that Phebe could be dehydrated to death, even though it appears clear that she was not dying.

Remember: Nowhere in the article does it suggest that the hospital provided anything more than basic care for Phebe. Therefore, she was not dying and she did not need medical treatment only care.

Unless other information exists - I would like to congratulate the ethics committee for making the correct decision and I think the judge should dismiss the case. If the judge decides that the child was better off dead, the precedent will enforce a situation whereby a physician and/or hospital will be forced to deny basic care, including fluids and food, to children, who are not otherwise dying.

Considering the law concerning substitute decision making, such a court decision would possibly force a physician and/or hospital to deny basic care, including fluids and food from an incompetent adult who is not otherwise dying, simply because the substitute decision maker wanted that person to die, and not be a continued burden on their time.

The Judge should consider that fact that a physician and hospital is not obligated to provide medical treatment or care that is deemed to be futile. In the same way a physician and hospital should not be obligated to dehydrate people, who are not otherwise dying to death.

Those readers of my blog who think that my concerns that people with disabilities are directly threatened by euthanasia and assisted suicide is reactionary. Well consider the fact. Phebe's doctor originally thought that Phebe was better off dead because of her disabilities. Society needs to protect people with disabilities not dehydrate them to death.

Finally, to cause a person, who is not otherwise dying, to die by dehydration is euthanasia because the omission is intentionally done to cause the death of the person, and the person dies of dehydration and not an underlying illness. In other words, death is directly and intentionally caused by the decision to dehydrate the person who is not otherwise dying.

The article stated:

In November 2007, Marie-Eve Laurendeau gave birth to Phebe Mantha at LaSalle Hospital.

Due to complications at birth, Phebe was transferred to Montreal Children's Hospital in critical condition and kept on life support.

Laurendeau and Phebe's father, Stephane Mantha, say doctors told them at that time that their daughter had little chance she'd survive.

If she did survive, doctors said she would probably be deaf, blind and may need to be institutionalized.

The couple was given the option to withdraw Phebe's life support and to withdraw artificial feeding.

They said they agreed to withdraw respiratory support and later, at the suggestion of doctors, to withdraw the artificial feeding.

"They say they thought that if there was never going to be quality of life for their baby girl then why let her suffer," CTV Montreal's Daniele Hamamdjian reported Friday after the parents held a press conference.

However, the hospital's ethics committee met and reversed the parent's decision without their consent or permission from a court.

After two-and-a-half months, Phebe was still alive and the hospital told the parents to take their child home or they'd place her in protective custody, Hamamdjian said.

Now, 15 months later, Laurendeau has been forced to quit her job to take care of Phebe full time.

"They say they have no support and are living on one income," Hamamdjian said.

The couple's lawyer says the hospital violated Quebec law and that only the court should have the power to overrule the couple's decision.

A spokesperson for Montreal Children's Hospital refused to comment saying the matter was before the courts.

Link to the original article:
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20090313/montreal_lawsuit_090313/20090313?hub=TopStories

Idaho Futile Care Bill

Wesley Smith is busy warning the culture of how the current trends are leading us to losing true freedom, ignoring our humanity and in this comment, losing our life - without consent.

A recent trend in medical ethics is to deny people basic medical care, not because the care is of benefit to the patient, but because the patient is viewed as futile. Idaho is debating a futile care bill that will give the power to the physician, without consent, to remove life-sustaining care.

Futile care proponents are also quick to compare actual futile treatments to basic care provisions, such as fluids, food, and oxygen. Nobody is advocating that the medical system provide medical treatment to a person who will not actually benefit from the treatment or offer treatment when the burden imposed by the treatment significantly outweighs its benefit.

Futile care proponents will exagerate the demand for treatments that everyone will consider non-obligatory in order to convince legislators that extreme measures are necessary to ration health care.

These same futile care proponents think that intentionally dehydrating someone who is not otherwise dying is simply withdrawing medical treatment. Someone should deny them drink for 10 days and see how they feel.

The real reason for this new push to deny medical care is to save money, and a fear of the aging population creating a demand on the system that cannot be sustained. By using the concern about money and by comparing truly futile medical treatment to normal care provisions, the futile care proponents are scaring legislators into thinking that it is necessary to remove our rights in order to impose this form of medical rationing.

Link to Wesley Smith's blog comment on Idaho's Futile Care Bill:
http://www.wesleyjsmith.com/blog/2009/03/idaho-futile-care-bill-doctors-can.html

Stephen Drake: Final Exit Network, Zealotry and Groupthink

Stephen Drake, the research analyst at Not Dead Yet, is possibly the leader who is following the Final Exit Network (FEN) arrests the closest.

Two days ago Drake commented on the recent article in the Atlanta Journal Constitution where they interviewed Dr. Lawrence Egbert, with the Final Exit Network who basically says they did nothing wrong. Drake's comments:

The latest story from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution centers on Dr. Lawrence Egbert, the "medical director" of Final Exit Network (FEN). According to the AJC, Egbert's own words describe him as some sort of Bizarro-world version of Will Rogers, who said "I never met a man I didn't like."

In the Bizarro world of Egbert and company, it runs like this: "I (almost) never saw a suicide plea from someone who didn't deserve to die."

From the article:

As medical director and co-founder of the Georgia-based Final Exit Network, Egbert in the past four years approved the applications of people who wanted to die because they were diagnosed with terminal cancer.

He approved the applications of people who wanted to die because their bodies were wasting away with ALS or multiple sclerosis.

He approved the applications of people who had not been diagnosed as terminally ill but whose quality of life, in their mind, was no longer worth living.

Egbert, an 81-year-old Baltimore anesthesiologist and teacher affiliated with the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, said in an interview Friday that there were times when he rejected people who wanted to die, “but not very frequently.”

Of course, the allegations from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation go beyond simply providing information and "being there.":

The GBI says the group has a pattern of assisting people in suicides in which a “hood” is lowered over the person’s face, and the person breathes helium until losing consciousness. Death can take 10 or 20 minutes longer.

The GBI alleges that the group breaks state law by holding the hands of the person to prevent struggle or removal of the hood.

There's no word yet as to whether or not the GBI has this on tape, which is a common practice in "sting" operations.

Friends and sympathizers reject the notion that members of FEN could ever have actively prevented someone from taking the "exit bag" off.

Yet, out of at least 200 (Egbert admits to this) suicides, there apparently hasn't been one single case in which a person changed their mind - rejecting the feeling of suffocation and claustrophobia. Not one. If there had been one, that person would have needed immediate medical attention. There would be no time to get rid of evidence - paraphernalia, fingerprints, etc. before the paramedics arrived. There sure would be a lot of unpleasant questions to deal with - and possibly a civil suit by the family if brain damage occurred.

But that is pretty cynical and self-serving motivation. It's easy enough for those of us who don't think much of the ethics of pro-euthanasia/assisted suicide activists to believe members of FEN would slide from "assistance" to "murder."

But most people probably don't feel that way. It's unthinkable, many would say, that intelligent and ethical people could let their behavior lapse so badly.

Guess what. It's not unthinkable at all. In fact there's a name for the phenomenon in which intelligent and ethical individuals - as members of a tightly knit group - can do stupid and unethical things.

It's called groupthink - originally studied and defined by psychologist Irving Janis. It's a fascinating and complex topic, with some real-world examples.

Janis identified eight symptoms that put a group of individuals at risk for falling into groupthink: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Groupthink

- Illusions of invulnerability creating excessive optimism and encouraging risk taking.
- Rationalising warnings that might challenge the group's assumptions.
- Unquestioned belief in the morality of the group, causing members to ignore the consequences of their actions.
- Stereotyping those who are opposed to the group as weak, evil, disfigured, impotent, or stupid.
- Direct pressure to conform placed on any member who questions the group, couched in terms of "disloyalty".
- Self censorship of ideas that deviate from the apparent group consensus.
- Illusions of unanimity among group members, silence is viewed as agreement.

Mindguards — self-appointed members who shield the group from dissenting information.
After years of operating without any consequences, it's easy to see how FEN members could have developed a feedling of invulnerability. Anyone who has lurked on Derek Humphry's (Humphry is an advisor to FEN) email list or engaged the most zealous euthanasia supporters has encountered the symptoms covered in numbers 2-4 firsthand. Number 5 has played out on Derek Humphry's email list several times - most notably when one member suggested that Jack Kevorkian's activities in assisted suicide might have been reckless and irresponsible. Seeing that kind of thing play out makes it quite possible that there is at least some degree of self-censorship going on within the movement to avoid the dogpiling that occurred in the Kevorkian episode. That, of course, leads to the illusion of unanimity. While it's impossible to know if there were "mindguards" in FEN itself, Humphry is pretty careful in handpicking information sent out to his list, highlighting news items that reinforce the "rightness" of his cause and framing the opponents as opportunists and/or religious zealots.

So, even starting from the highly questionable assumption that FEN members are moral and ethical people, they operate in a world that is geared toward the erosion of those aspects of their character in favor of group cohesion, loyalty and self-preservation. --Stephen Drake

Link to the original blog article:
http://notdeadyetnewscommentary.blogspot.com/2009/03/final-exit-network-zealotry-and.html

Link to the article in the Atlantic Journal Constitution:
http://www.ajc.com/services/content/printedition/2009/03/08/finalexit0308.html

Olympic medical center won't be complicit with assisted suicide law

Now that assisted suicide is legal in Washington State, several hospitals that are operated by religious groups have stated that they will not allow assisted suicide in their hospital.

Recently a few publicly operated hospitals have also decided to opt-out of the assisted suicide law, meaning that they will not participate in intentionally causing the death of their patients.

This is occuring because most physicians, including the Washington State Medical Association oppose assisted suicide as well as many of the public who depend on medical treatment at the hospital want to be sure that they can trust that their life will be respected.

The story stated:

By a four to two vote, Olympic Medical Center Commissioners opted out of participating in the state's new "Death with Dignity" law.

A huge crowd turned out for the meeting last night at Linkletter Auditorium at the hospital.

The initiative won voter approval last November. Clallam County voters voted 61 percent in favor. But the measure allows hospitals and physicians to choose whether or not they want to take part in assisting terminally-ill patients with drugs to end their lives.

OMC's Ethics Advisory Committee presented a short summary of the measure, and recommended approval by the hospital board.

In a public comment period, several people, including physicians, nurses, former patients and concerned citizens expressed their views, which were primarily against OMC adopting the law.

The general tone was that a hospital should focus on life, not death, and most hospital personnel would have a hard time going the other way. ...

One of the safeguards of the measure is that a person must have 6-months or less to live, to qualify for the service. The question arose: How do you know that 6-month figure is accurate? There were accounts of people living much longer than their 6-month prognosis. And a recurring theme was that most people afflicted with a terminal illness wanted good medical service, and better end-of-life care.

In the end, the board of commissioners split evenly, Chairman Jim Leskinovich cast the deciding vote against the measure.

The Euthanasia Prevention Coalition hopes that more hospitals will opt out of taking part in the assisted suicide law and we hope that the hospitals that have opted out will maintain that policy.

Link to the original article:
http://www.konp.com/local/4489

Scottish assisted suicide group urges a woman with a disability to dehydrate herself to death

A Scotish group that is similar to the American Final Exit Network has created a controversy for there promotion of euthanasia by dehydration. Dr Libby Wilson, a retired GP in Scotland and a member of the death lobby group - Friends at the End advised a woman with ALS to dehydrate herself to death. The woman dehydrated herself over a 25 day period.

I have alway said that the more death by dehydration is promoted, the more people will demand euthanasia by injection. Death by dehydration is barbaric. To even suggest that dehydrating people with cognitive disabilities, such as Terri Schiavo or Eluana Englaro is what they would have wanted is ridiculous.

The Euthanasia Prevention Coalition views sad cases like these as proof that society needs to promote Caring options and rejecting killing people at their most vulnerable time.

The article stated:

A Scottish woman starved and dehydrated herself to death to get around the law which bans euthanasia.

The 75-year old with motor neurone disease received advice from a campaign group which supports terminally ill patients who want to end their lives.

It has now reignited the debate on assisted suicide.

Dr Libby Wilson, medical adviser for campaign group Friends at the End, described the Scottish woman's case to stv news.

Dr Wilson said: "She had motor neurone disease and she was very disabled.

The retired GP gave advice to the woman who ended her life by not eating or drinking for 25 days - because euthanasia is illegal in Britain.

Link to the report from the television news in Scotland:
http://news.stv.tv/scotland/81225-campaigners-take-stance-for-assisted-suicide/

Elder abuse expected to increase

An article published today in the Mississauga News is warning our society that Elder abuse is expected to increase.

Canadians should not even consider legalizing euthanasia or assisted suicide. We are experiencing an incredible growth in elder abuse rates, and we are not adequately providing excellent end-of-life care for people who needs it. We need to Care for people and not Kill them.

The article states:

One in 10 seniors living in Peel is the victim of abuse, a shocking statistic that makes the Peel Elder Abuse Support Program, offered by Family Services of Peel and Distress Centre Peel, even more essential.

Tom Triantafilliou, director of resource development with Family Services of Peel, said statistics compiled by the agency led to the formation of the program to help seniors who have somehow become "devalued, and end up the victims of abuse."

Leeanne Chowen, volunteer service coordinator with Distress Centre Peel, said abused seniors can call 905-278-3141 to speak to a volunteer. Callers can choose to remain anonymous.

Chowen's volunteers hear all kinds of horror stories from seniors, from physical abuse, to theft of their money by the holder of their power of attorney – often a relative – to theft of sentimental items. The seniors, in most cases, are living in their own homes, with friends, family or spouse, providing care.

"Most of the cases are power of attorney violations – an adult child exploiting his or her parents," he said.

"Abuse is a very difficult thing for a 70-year-old to grasp. It's a psychological blow. They feel shame and embarrassment. Often, that's why they keep quiet about the abuse."

Leet said the last year has revealed a shocking litany of abuse. Some seniors have lost their entire life savings, sometimes hundreds of thousands of dollars. Others have been locked in bedrooms, while their caregiver leaves the house to go to work or run errands. One senior suffered a skull fracture from abuse she endured, he noted.

It is important to notice that the article states:

"Most of the cases are power of attorney violations – an adult child exploiting his or her parents,"

Often decisions about assisted suicide are made by the family member who has the power of attorney.

Link to the original article:
http://mississauga.com/article/24818

US police investigate possible assisted suicide

By Alex Schadenberg
Executive Director - Euthanasia Prevention Coalition

A

Nadia Kajouji

n article in the Belfast Telegraph on Sunday, March 8, 2009 explains that US police are investigating an American man (William Melchert-Dinkel) in connection with the suicide death of Mark Drybrough.

Melchert-Dinkel, a nurse from Minnesota, is allegedly connected to the death of Canadian Nadia Kajouji (18), a Carlton University student who committed suicide in March, 2008. Melchert-Dinkel allegedly counselled Kajouji via the internet to commit suicide.

The article in the Belfast Telegraph stated:

US police are reportedly investigating whether an American man helped a British man kill himself, after meeting in an internet chatroom. 

Mark Drybrough from Coventry took his own life in 2005. 

His family have said they found emails giving him detailed instructions on how to hang himself. 

It is being reported that police in Minnesota have confiscated computer equipment from a 46-year-old alleged to have encouraged Mr Drybrough, and others, to kill themselves.

Link to article in the belfast telegraph:
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/breaking-news/world/north-america/us-police-investigate-possible-assisted-suicide-14217806.html

Link to my previous blog article about Melchert-Dinkel:
http://alexschadenberg.blogspot.com/2009/03/do-assisted-suicide-laws-apply-to.html

Peter & Penelope Duff die by assisted suicide at Dignitas assisted suicide clinic.

By Alex Schadenberg
Executive Director - Euthanasia Prevention Coalition

Peter & Penelope Duff died at Dignitas assisted suicide clinic on February 27, 2009.

A statement from the family said:

"Peter and Penny Duff passed away peacefully together in Zurich, after a long battle against their terminal cancer, on 27 February." 

"Penny had fought a rare cancer, GIST (gastrointestinal stromal tumour), since 1992 and Peter's colon cancer had spread to his liver. 

"Their decision in no way reflected on the wonderful and humbling care they have received from their consultant, doctors and nurses, for which the family, and they, were so appreciative."

A spokesman from the Care Not Killing Alliance said:

"This is a desperately sad and unusual case of a couple in a state of distress." 

"However, hard cases make bad law and the fact remains that if euthanasia was ever legalised in Britain vulnerable and seriously ill people would come under pressure to end their lives prematurely."

I think it is very sad that the Duff's went to Zurich to die at the Dignitas assisted suicide clinic. The Dignitas clinic has become known for how poorly it treats its clients and the incredible fees that it charges. Read the previous blog comments:
http://alexschadenberg.blogspot.com/2009/02/cashing-in-on-despair.html

http://alexschadenberg.blogspot.com/2009/01/dignitas-under-investigation-for.html

The Dignitas clinic is also known for their extreme policies. They are more concerned about money than the ethics related to their actions. Read previous blog entries:
http://alexschadenberg.blogspot.com/2008/11/swiss-assisted-suicide-clinic-offers.html

Not Dead Yet challenges Time Magazine over Final Exit Network article.

The following blog entry are the comments by Stephen Drake from Not Dead Yet and his request that people inundate Time Magazine concerning their lack of honesty and truth in the recent article about the Final Exit Network (FEN).

Please read Stephen Drake's comments and respond to Time Magazine. on Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Time Magazine Article Misrepresents Final Exit Network and Who They "Help"

Stephen Drake

I don't know if what you'll find below is "nasty," but the March 2 article "Final Exit: Compassion or Assisted Suicide?" totally distorts and mangles the core facts of the story surrounding FEN. As a result, the ensuing discussion has nothing to do with the realities of a group that promoted itself on the premise that they alone were a group that would facilitate the suicides of people who didn't remotely fit a definition of "terminal."

Alarmingly, several articles dealing with the FEN arrests/investigations have glossed over FEN's "assistance" of NON-terminally ill people, so that the theme that emerges is one that suggests that laws similar to Oregon's assisted suicide law would prevent people from being "forced" to resort to this kind of lawless behavior. Since FEN specializes in "helping" nonterminally ill individuals, it's a specious argument.

Time magazine, like other major media, doesn't seem to want to hear from anyone complaining about factual inaccuracy. They sure make the process hard enough. I ended up calling the main switchboard and using the voice directory, connected with editor Richard Stengel's office (his was the only name I knew). His secretary was helpful, especially when she found out I was quoted in the story. I emailed her the message below, which she informed me was forwarded to an appropriate staffer. I've made slight edits (e.g. omitting the final exit network URL here), but this is basically what was sent:

Dear Ms. _____, I will be publishing this critique on my blog this afternoon. The traffic is pretty heavy these days, considering the subject matter. I would sincerely appreciate being able to include a response from someone at Time in what I write. My blog is at: http://notdeadyetnewscommentary.blogspot.com/

Thank you for your time and attention – the concerns are listed below. –Stephen Drake

Re: “Final Exit” story - http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1882418,00.html?imw=Y

I was one of the persons interviewed by freelance reporter Paige Bowers for the article on the Final Exit Network that was published on March 2, titled “Final Exit Network: Compassionate Presence or Suicide Aid?”. I have no complaints about the accuracy of my own quotes as they are presented in the article.

There is a very real problem – approaching real journalistic failure – with basic factual information given in the article.

Most of that is given right in the first paragraph:

“The crackdown on Final Exit Network, a group based in Marietta, Ga., that is accused of assisted suicide, has revived the right-to-die debate that was fueled in the 1990s by Jack Kevorkian, the Michigan doctor who assisted in the deaths of 130 terminally ill people. But Final Exit claims that its volunteers do not perform assisted suicides à la Kevorkian, who was convicted of second-degree murder and went to prison for giving a lethal injection to a man suffering from Lou Gehrig's disease. Rather, the group argues that it merely provides a "compassionate presence" for terminally ill people, giving them information about suicide if they request it.”

First, and this has been documented multiple times, the majority of Kevorkian’s “clients” weren’t terminally ill. Most had chronic conditions and disabilities. Some had no identifiable health condition at all. This was well documented as far back as 1997, when the staff of the Detroit Free Press undertook an extensive analysis of Kevorkian’s “clients” and his practices. It’s still available online at:

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070527/NEWS05/70525061/1007/NEWS05

There are more recent journal articles that contain analyses yielding similar results, although not as accessible. I can provide these on request.

It’s possible to give Ms. Bowers a “pass” on the mischaracterization of Kevorkian, since most in the media seem to be strangely amnesiac about all this.

Having said that, there is absolutely no excuse for the characterization of “Final Exit Network” as providing a service for “terminally ill people.”

For starters, the two deaths under investigation involve a man in Georgia who was successfully treated for cancer and found cancer-free at autopsy. The second death involves a woman in Arizona who had no physical illnesses at all, but a long history of struggling with psychiatric issues.

This link is to an article from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that highlights the broad agenda of FEN:

http://www.ajc.com/feeds/content/metro/stories/2009/02/28/final_exit_assisted_suicide.html?cxtype=rss&cxsvc=7&cxcat=13

Or go to the FEN site, which says, under "we serve":

Individuals with neurological illnesses such as Parkinson's disease, Multiple Sclerosis, Muscular Dystrophy, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (Lou Gehrig's disease) and Alzheimer's disease often lose the reason and will to live long before their disease qualifies as "terminal." Others who are facing protracted, losing battles with cancer, stroke, congestive heart failure, emphysema and other incurable conditions yearn for dignified withdrawal rather than clinging desperately to every breath.

Many of these individuals are not being served. Final Exit Network will serve these and many others like them.

All of this information was available to Ms. Bowers.

This article could have been something to present a real debate rooted in the current news – whether or not one’s perception of one’s “quality of life” is a reason for suicide. Instead, the issue has been totally misrepresented as a case in which a group has “helped” terminally ill people in their “right to die” in states that haven’t legalized the practice.

In fact, the kind of people this group helps wouldn’t be eligible for assisted suicide in Oregon or Washington State. Probably not Montana, either, but things are still up in the air there, in terms of actual rules, guidelines and reporting.

Time magazine failed miserably in its duty to present basic facts accurately. The debate that followed within the article was worthless since it had nothing to do with the story it was supposed to be covering.

I think the public deserves better. Everything I’ve read about journalist ethics would support that view.

I hope that you agree.

Sincerely,

Stephen Drake
Research Analyst
Not Dead Yet
497 State St
Rochester, NY 14608-1642
585-697-1640
http://www.notdeadyet.org

I have not heard from anyone at Time magazine since I received the reply from Mr. Stengel's secretary.

This is too important to leave alone.

You can help.

If this seems outrageous and wrong to you, do something about it.

You can send a letter to the editor by using letters@timemagazine.com.

And if you want to send an extra copy of what you send, I'd love to see them.

More later. --Stephen Drake

Link to the original blog comment by Stephen Drake:
http://notdeadyetnewscommentary.blogspot.com/2009/03/time-magazine-article-misreprents-final.html

Assisted suicide is "liberty" run riot - the triumph of despair in the face of hope.

This may be one of the most well written articles on assisted suicide. Francis Davis writes this article in the Guardian (UK) on March 6, 2009 in response to the assisted suicide deaths of Peter & Penelope Duff.

Davis captures one of the key problems with legalizing assisted suicide and that is:

If it were enshrined in legislation, assisted suicide would be the legal guarantee that in moments and months of tribulation we would all be at risk from those who might misguidedly tell us there is more dignity in avoiding the human condition than in facing it.

The text of the article:
There's no dignity in this way of death

The assisted suicide service provided by a Swiss clinic represents a triumph of despair over hope

The passing of dear friends is always sad. When Peter and Penelope Duff chose to end their lives they no doubt had to say some sad farewells. Their friends are reportedly now shocked at the news of their passing. And yet something deep in my heart and in my mind tells me that something fundamentally human is at stake here. Assisted suicide is "liberty" run riot – the triumph of despair in the face of hope.

The Duffs died at the Swiss clinic, Dignitas. Its secretary-general couches it mission in terms of "human rights". He has advanced human rights, he says, by assisting the suicide of 800 people. The logic of his argument is that wherever a human ceases to have "control" or "management" of any of his or her capacities, a "right" to kill themselves should kick in. But there are great dangers on this supposed route to dignity for all those of us who might run aground for a time: depression can feel like it has no light within it.

Physical disability can profoundly disempower if you are surrounded by well-meaning but uninformed voices. "So you're depressed … what dignity do you have?" might come the apparently supportive but subtly undermining message. For other conditions, "You are going to die so it might as well come sooner" comes the cry. Palliative care is so good these days that it will not be the pain that confuses the unwell, but the pitying looks of those who are not ill, who through their pity imply the loss of hope. It is hard to stay strong when a loved one is looking at you as though you have lost your personality or soul.

Suffering, of course, is never welcomed. And yet it is in the face of real pain that some of the greatest triumphs of the human spirit can be discovered: the South African Constitutional court judge Albie Sachs was blown up by security agents, losing his sight and limbs. His glorious book about his recovery records how he arrived at a new view of human nature through the strain of renewal, one which inspired him to a "soft vengeance" against the perpetrators of his suffering. From the crucifixion of the Soviet death camps came resurrection in the form of Alexander Solzenhitsyn. From the coma of little Helen Worswick has come the Helen and Douglas House and respite, community and solidarity for hundreds of frail children. To rob "dignity" of its fullest meaning – which encompasses the dignity with which adversity is faced – is also to rob humans of their most awesome potentialities.

If it were enshrined in legislation, assisted suicide would be the legal guarantee that in moments and months of tribulation we would all be at risk from those who might misguidedly tell us there is more dignity in avoiding the human condition than in facing it. We are, after all, made to die. But we are also made for a powerful, sure and certain hope. To leave a legacy of living with courage is in no way enhanced by a final act of despair. And a legacy of hope is a greater human duty than the flight from humanity provided by Swiss doctors.

Link to the original article:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/belief/2009/mar/06/assisted-suicide-dignitas-duff

Sexting leads teen to commit suicide

The use of modern technology has created incredible social concerns related to abuse, bullying, social pressure, suicide, etc.

This case is another incredibly sad case of a young woman who committed suicide because she could not overcome the social stigma of having her privacy breached by her friends

In March 2008, Jessica Logan (18) a committed suicide by hanging, after she was bullied and socially stigmatized from nude pictures of her that were circulated by a previous boyfriend.

Cynthia Logan, Jessica's mother, stated to the Today Show:

"Sexting" is about more than possibly criminal activity (child pornography): It's about life and death."

Logan stated:

Her daughter was being attacked and tortured.

When she would come to school, she would always hear, 'Oh, that's the girl who sent the picture. She's just a wh_ _ _

My concern about these tragedies is that Western nations need to re-define laws that were written before the technology existed that has led to the problem of sexting.

We need to update laws that are designed to protect vulnerable people. Whether those laws are designed to protect teens, people with disabilities, or people who suffer from depression, we must recognize that times have changed and there is a need to update legislation.

The Euthanasia Prevention Coalition is primarily concerned about extending the laws related to assisted suicide to outlaw abeting and counselling suicide via the internet and other communications devices.

2008 Summary of Oregon's Death with Dignity Act

The 2008 Summary of Oregon's Death with Dignity Act was released on March 3, 2009.

The report stated that:
During 2008, 88 prescriptions for lethal medications were written under the provisions of the DWDA compared to 85 during 2007 (and 65 during 2006). Of these, 54 patients took the (lethal) medications, 22 died of their underlying disease, and 12 were alive at the end of 2008. In addition, 6 people with earlier prescriptions died from taking the (lethal) medications, resulting in a total of 60 DWDA deaths during 2008, which was up from 49 DWDA deaths during 2007 and 46 DWDA deaths during 2006. This corresponds to an estimated 19.4 DWDA deaths per 10,000 total deaths, up from an estimated 14.7 DWDA deaths per 10,000 total death in 2006.

There has therefore been an increase by 30% in the total estimated DWDA deaths in two years between 2006 - 2008.

The report stated that:
- 59 physicians wrote 88 prescriptions
- Since the law was passed in 1997, 401 people died under the terms of the law.
- 78% were between 55 and 84 years of age, 98% were white, 60% were well educated, 80% were believed to have cancer, and the median age was 72 years old.
- 97% had some form of health insurance,
- The stated reason for wanting suicide assistance were - 95% loss of autonomy, 92% decreasing ability to participate in activities, 92% loss of dignity, 5% (3 people) inadequate pain control
- No complications were reported in 2008.
- 2 referrals were made to the Oregon Medical Board for incorrectly completed reporting forms. The Oregon Medical Board found no violations of "good faith compliance" with the act and did not sanction any physicians for "unprofessional conduct" regarding the Act.
- 2 people were referred for a psychiatric evaluation, up from none last year.

The annual report continues to lack the essential information for determining the social context of these decisions and the reporting system continues to lack any safeguards for the people who die by assisted suicide based on the fact that reporting is completed by the physician who prescribes the lethal drugs while the physician was only present at the time of ingesting the lethal drugs 11 times or (18.3%). Further, there are no third party reports or investigations to ensure that the cases fulfilled the requirements of the law and/or that the reports are accurately reported and there are no investigations to confirm that reports were submitted for all assisted suicide deaths.

In otherwords, we do not know whether other assisted suicide deaths occured and we do not know if any of the people who died by assisted suicide were socially pressured or died outside of the guidelines of the law. The Oregon Death with Dignity Act relies on physicians to submit reports based on their own decisions or actions. It is unlikely that a physician would submit a report that admits to decisions or actions that are outside of the legal parameters.

Even though concerns about inadequate pain control are the reason that most people support legalizing assisted suicide, only 3 of the 60 people who died by assisted suicide in Oregon listed concerns about inadequate pain control as a reason for them to request assisted suicide.

The 2008 report, like the previous reports lacks the necessary information to assure the public that all is well in Oregon. As the Oregonian Editorial Board stated on September 20, 2008 in their article: Washington state's assisted suicide measure: Don't go there: Oregon's physician-assisted suicide program has not been sufficiently transparent. Essentially, a coterie of insiders run the program, with a handful of doctors and others deciding what the public may know. We're aware of no substantiated abuses, but we'd feel more confident with more sunlight on the program.

Link to the Oregonian Editorial comment: Washington state's assisted suicide measure: Don't go there:
http://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2008/09/washington_states_assistedsuic.html

Euthanasia Prevention Coalition, Phone toll free: 1-877-439-3348, Email: info@epcc.ca, Website: www.epcc.ca

Green Party in Canada tables resolution on euthanasia

An article in the Toronto Star on Sunday, March 1, 2009 reports that the legalization of euthanasia was one of the issues that the Green Party of Canada debated at their policy convention in Pictou Nova Scotia.

The article quoted Diane McInnis, a lawyer from Kitchener who attended the policy conference. The article quotes her as saying:

"We should be focusing on policies that will get us elected," she says, and she does not think the proposed resolution to support the decriminalization of euthanasia makes the cut.

After a polite but wildly divergent debate on the issue, the couple dozen grassroots Greens voted the resolution back to the drawing table.

Since the NDP and the Bloc officially support the legalization of euthanasia and assisted suicide in Canada, the Greens would do well to not follow their paths and forge different policies than the other left-wing parties.

Link to the Toronto Star article:
http://www.thestar.com/article/594805

Not Dead Yet comments on Final Exit Network

Stephen Drake, the research analyst from Not Dead Yet has pointed out a very important fact about the Final Exit Network in his latest blog comment. He rightfully points out that the media has whitewashed the focus that the Final Exit Network has on facilitating the suicides of the chronically ill, people with disabilities and elderly people who are not terminally ill.

The following is the text of the Blog commentary by Stephen Drake yesterday, Monday, March 2, 2009

Newest AJC Article on Final Exit Network - NDY Quoted

I was beginning to worry that the definition of FEN and its work of encouraging and facilitating suicides of chronically ill, disabled and elderly people was being magically rewritten. The alternate story that has been appearing is that they're a helpful bunch of people who aid "terminally ill" individuals. They're "forced" to do this because there are no "helpful" laws like the ones in Oregon and Washington State. I'll write more about that tomorrow.

The latest from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution steers some of the discourse on track.

OK, I'm biased. I'm quoted. OTOH, tomorrow I'll write some pretty nasty things about another article that I'm quoted in, so simple inclusion of me or anyone else from NDY doesn't earn a free pass in the criticism department.

Here's the latest article, about the Baltimore arrestees turning themselves in:

All four are accused of assisting a non-terminal cancer patient, John Celmer, 58, of Cumming, to kill himself by inhaling helium.

The closing words are mine:

Stephen Drake, with Not Dead Yet, an advocacy group that is against assisted suicide, said Final Exit Network members are “really scary people.”

“These are people who by their own admission sit and help plan the deaths of stranger after stranger,” Drake said.

Link to the Not Dead Yet Commentary:
http://notdeadyetnewscommentary.blogspot.com/2009/03/newest-ajc-article-on-final-exit.html

Eugenics wrapped up in a new package

Last week I attended a congress in Rome on the issues related to the new eugenics. Eugenics is a philosophy concerning racial hygiene or the purification of the human race. Eugenics rears its ugly head in issues of moral ethics today. For instance the Groningen Protocol in the Netherlands that allows for the killing of newborns with disabilities is eugenic. Also decisions to deny a person with a disability beneficial medical treatment because of the disability.

Hitler believed in eugenics and therefore instituted the euthanasia policy that led to the deaths of thousands of people with disabilities, and also the attempted elimination of people of the Jewish race. Millions of people died in Nazi Germany due to the instigation of the eugenic philosophy.

Most people agree that we should never return to that dark time in human history. Yet, today we have the new promotion of eugenics, except that it is now wrapped in a new package.

An article from the BBC News explains how a fertility clinic is now charging a special fee to select the traits that parents prefer for their children.

The clinic does not guarantee perfect success all the time, but their techniques improve the chances of parents designing their baby.

Link to the article:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7918296.stm

Wesley Smith has produced an excellent commentary on this story that can be found at:
http://www.wesleyjsmith.com/blog/2009/03/new-eugenics-selecting-embryos-for-eye.html

The concept of Eugenics is like a pandora's box. Everyone dreams of the perfect child and scientists seem to be striving to eliminate the imperfect human genes. But what will this mean for people born with disabilities or other imperfections? Will these people be viewed as less than human? Will we decide to euthanize people with disabilities to save them from their "suffering?"

I am not suggesting that this represents a slippery slope, I am telling you that we have slipped down the slope and we are now looking up at our inhumane decisions.

Do assisted suicide laws apply to the virtual world?

The Toronto Star article published an about the case of Nadia Kajouji (18), the Carlton University student in Ottawa who was allegedly counselled to commit suicide in March 2008 by William Melchert-Dinkel, a nurse from Minnesota, over the internet. This case really clarifies the need for our laws to explicitly outlaw internet suicide websites and aiding, abeting and counselling suicide via the internet and other communications devices.

If the alleged crime that Melchert-Dinkel is accused of doing actually happened, then Melchert-Dinkel is a suicide predator.

The Toronto Star article suggests that if Melchert-Dinkel is convicted of assisted suicide or a similar charge that it would be precedent setting in Minnesota. I suggest that the Minnesota justice system attempt to set that precedent.

We need to protect vulnerable people from suicide predators who prey on the vulnerable for their own kicks.

Australia changed their assisted suicide law in 2005 to specifically outlaw internet suicide counselling. Every Western nation, especially Canada needs to also update our laws to specifically protect vulnerable people from suicide predators.

This is the text from the Toronto Star article that was written by Robyn Doolittle and published on March 2, 2009.

Minnesota officials say they'll make arrest soon

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – When investigators lay charges against a suspect they allege has counselled several individuals via the Internet to commit suicide, including an 18-year-old Carleton University student, it will be precedent-setting.

It is illegal in Minnesota to advise, encourage or assist someone in taking their own life. But the statute has never been applied to an offence which occurred online.

"That's what we're working on now. Do they physically have to assist?" said Peter Panos, a spokesperson for the St. Paul's police department. Investigators with Minnesota's Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force think not.

Within two weeks, police expect to make an arrest in the case of an Internet predator known as cami, falcongirl and Li Dao, who encouraged Brampton teen Nadia Kajouji to kill herself about a year ago.

Investigators announced Thursday they are investigating Minnesota nurse William Melchert-Dinkel, 46, in connection with the case.

They seized his computer about eight months ago and in mid-January contacted Ottawa police after uncovering "suicide Internet conversations" between the man and Kajouji, just prior to her death.

But what constitutes assistance online? And would Kajouji have taken her life anyway?

Dan Reidenberg, executive director of Minnesota's Suicide Awareness Voices of Education, said there are freedom-of-speech issues involved. "There are First Amendment rights that come into play here, about what people can and can't do over the Internet or what they can or can't say," he said. "The reality is, there's been anti-suicide laws on the books for many years. They rarely ever get prosecuted."

If officials are able to show that Minnesota's assisted suicide laws not only apply to the physical world, but also the virtual one, it would set a precedent. It will have a ripple effect across the U.S.

Dr. Eric Caine, of the University of Rochester Medical Center, said assisted suicide is typically associated with the end-of-life debate involving patients with terminal illness. "This is an entirely different set of issues."

Link to the article in the Toronto Star:
http://www.thestar.com/News/World/article/595057

Final Exit Network raided - 4 leaders arrested

On Wednesday, February 25, 2009; four leaders of the Final Exit Network, a group of Death Lobby activists, were arrested in a sting operation that was carried-out by investigators in eight states and allegedly 14 sites.

The Final Exit Network is founded by Derek Humphrey, the former leader of the Hemlock Society, a group that joined with Compassion and Choices a few years ago.

The case that led to the charges was that of John Celmer, a 58 year old man who had cancer but was not terminally ill. More cases are being investigated.

According to its website, the Final Exit Network claims to be: “dedicated to serving people who are suffering from an intolerable condition.”

At the World Federation of Right to Die Societies Bi-Annual Conference in Toronto (September 2006) I learned that the Final Exit Network trained its volunteers to visit people who are considering suicide. They counsel them on effective methods and stay with them as they commit suicide to ensure that the suicide is carried out effectively and that all of the suicide device materials are removed.

An Associated Press article explained that: The Final Exit Network charges a $50 per year fee and they have more than 3000 members. Those seeking to end their lives are assigned an “exit guide” who instructs them to purchase two new helium tanks and an “exit bag.” When ready to commit suicide, the member is visited by the “exit guide” and a “senior exit guide” to lead them through the process.

According to an Associated Press article: “Investigators raided the homes of the group’s volunteers in seven of the states, a group office in Georgia and a company in Montana that authorities said supplied items used in suicides.

Those who were arrested included: Ted Goodwin, Final Exit’s recently resigned (resigned February 23, 2009) president, Claire Blehr, a member, who were both arrested at a home in northern Georgia. Maryland authorities arrested Dr. Lawrence Egbert and Nicholas Alec Sheridan who were both from Baltimore.

It is alleged that Goodwin walked an undercover agent through the steps and showed him how he holds the persons hand to prevent him/her from removing the “exit bag.”

It was reported that the authorities investigated the Final Exit Network for 8 months. The Final Exit Network were allegedly very difficult to find evidence against because of their methods that allegedly included wearing gloves at all suicides and meticulously cleaning up all evidence of involvement by Final Exit Network "Exit Guides."

The Final Exit Network is claiming to be innocent of all charges and has set up a legal defense fund.

Fortunately Goodwin allegedly let down his guard when he explained to the investigator how he holds the hands of the person who he is assisting the suicide for. You can claim that you are only holding the hands of the victims but when you have allegedly explicitely explained the how and the why of your actions.

Goodwin is the Vice-President of the World Federation of Right to Die Societies and is anticipated to become its President in 2010.

Christopher Nolan: poet and novelist

Alex Schadenberg
Executive Director, Euthanasia Prevention Coalition

I was saddened to read about the death of Christopher Nolan, a great poet. Nolan's life truly challenges the perception society has of people who live with significant disabilities, such as cerebral palsy. People with cerebral palsy are often live with social devaluation in our culture and are often treated like they have no quality of life. Christopher Nolan truly lived his life to the fullest.

The following is the text from the obituary that was in the Times online on February 23, 2009. It is worth reading.
Despite being born with cerebral palsy, which robbed him of speech and prevented him from moving his arms or legs, Christy Nolan became one of Ireland’s most original literary talents, winning the Whitbread Book of the Year Award for his autobiographical work Under the Eye of the Clock.

During his birth his spine was wedged into a V-shape, cutting off the oxygen supply to his brain for two hours. Both he and his mother, Bernadette, nearly died. Because of his disability, he could barely communicate with the outside world, though his mother would look into his face and try to read his thoughts.

When he was 6 she was told that he still had the brain of a baby, but he was subsequently examined by a psychologist who established that he had an IQ five years above his age. When he was 11 he was given a new drug, Lioresal, and this helped to relax the spasms in his muscles. He gained some control over his head and neck and, with the aid of a head stick, was able to type.

With infinite patience his mother held his head while he used the “unicorn” pointer attached to his forehead to pick out letters on the keyboard. It could take him 12 hours to compose enough words to cover a page. In his first letter to his aunt and uncle he wrote: “I bet you never thought you would be hearing from me! To think that I would be able to write at all was beyond my wildest dreams.”

In 1979, after an article about Nolan in The Sunday Times, a fund was set up to buy him a computer costing £2,200. Readers contributed ten times that amount, enough to establish a unit for other disabled people.

Christopher Nolan was born and grew up in Mullingar, Co Westmeath, but the family later moved to Dublin, where he attended the Central Remedial School and Mount Temple Comprehensive before moving on to Trinity College. At Mount Temple his fellow pupils included the members of the future rock band U2. Some five years older, they were leaving as he arrived but they did not forget him and their song Miracle Drug was inspired by him.

In 1981, when he was 15, Nolan’s collection of poetry, Dam-Burst of Dreams, was published by Weidenfeld. In a precocious letter to Lord Weidenfeld he wrote: “These writings are my nomadic-memory’s minted musings. If you find any of my poetry obscure I will asterisk it and give an explanation of my theme.”

Dam-Burst of Dreams was critically acclaimed for its extraordinary use of language and brought comparisons with Nolan’s compatriots, William Butler Yeats and James Joyce. A later poem celebrated one of his heroes, the disabled artist Christy Brown, who was portrayed by Daniel Day-Lewis in the film My Left Foot and who died on Nolan’s 16th birthday.

Nolan was still only 21 when Under the Eye of the Clock was published in 1987. In it he recounted his struggle with disability, but using a third person narrative in which he called himself Joseph.

“Life was a constant series of challenges to the disabled boy,” he wrote, “but he faced each day as though greatly blessed by fate.”

In January 1988 he received the £20,000 Whitbread Award, having come out top in the biography category. He had attended that ceremony in a wheelchair with his mother reading out his words of thanks: “Ladies and gentlemen. Think of how you would feel just now and understand that I feel like you, my friends.” The book became a bestseller in Europe and America.

The award was not without controversy. Some felt that Nolan had won because of his disability, and Robert McCrum, editorial director of Faber and Faber, said the book was not worthy of the prize. Ben Pimlott, the historian who chaired the biography judges, was not uncritical of the work, saying while it was not mawkish there were lapses into sentimentality, but denied that it was a sympathy vote.

With the theatre director Michael Scott, Nolan adapted Under the Eye of the Clock for the stage as Torchlight and Lazer Beams, also including some of his unpublished poetry. It was produced during the Dublin Theatre Festival in 1988.

It was 12 years before Nolan’s next book, and his first novel, The Banyan Tree (1999). He started it before winning the Whitbread, but it proceeded slowly and arduously, going through two abortive drafts before he was satisfied. “The plot kept developing, going down roads I hadn’t intended,” he said. “Sometimes that meant scrapping heaps of pages.”

The Banyan Tree was set in Co Westmeath, where Nolan grew up, and inspired by two childhood images, a fox hiding in long grass and an old woman hoisting up her skirts to jump a rut in a field. The woman became his central character, Minnie O’Brien, and the novel traced her long life and the fortunes of her three children, the youngest of whom she had not seen in 30 years.

Despite his literary success, and the celebrity that came with it, Nolan continued to vent his anger at “the folk that mistake brain-damaged for brain-dead . . . I find their suspicion and their ignorance almost more horrendous than my handicap”.

Christopher Nolan, poet and novelist, was born on July 30, 1965. He died on February 20, 2009, aged 43

Link to the obituary in the London Times:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/obituaries/article5785528.ece

Compassion & Choices and Final Exit Network - Two peas in a pod

Compassion & Choices has sent out a press release suggesting that they are not like the Final Exit Network. The fact is that these two organizations are more alike than different.

First: Ted Goodwin, the former president (resigned Feb 23, 2009) of the Final Exit Network became the Vice-President of the World Federation of Right to Die Societies at their bi-annual conference in Paris in 2008. Goodwin is scheduled to become the President of the World Federation of Right to Die Societies at their conference in 2010. Compassion & Choices is a member of the World Federation of Right to Die Societies.

Second: Derek Humphrey founded the Final Exit Network and the Hemlock Society. Hemlock Society was one of the large groups that amalgamated to form Compassion & Choices.

Third: Compassion & Choices has its own suicide support service called the: Client Support Program. The Client Support Program has the same aims as the Final Exit Network.

I attended the World Federation of Right to Die Societies bi-annual Conference in Toronto (Sept 2006).

During a presentation about the Client Support Program - A Client Support Program volunteer stated that he had been involved in his first hastened death a few weeks earlier (before the conference) and he felt that it was the "right thing to do." Another Client Support Program volunteer stated that she became a volunteer because she wants to hasten her own death and thought that her involvement was a safety net for her own death. A Client Support Program - regional co-ordinator stated that volunteers are trained to know the law in order to avoid prosecution. The training program is designed to protect the volunteer from prosecution, but in the case of a charge, the training should enable them to be acquitted. She said: 'If you understand the law you can avoid conviction.'

The Final Exit Network also claims to be providing "Aid in Dying" which is a euphemism for assisted suicide, and like the Client Support Program, they claim to only act in support of a suicide and not actually assist the suicide.

It is interesting that Goodwin allegedly showed an investigator how he holds the hands of the client, making it impossible for the client to remove the "Exit Bag". This is the same Goodwin who is a mainstream leader of the World Federation of Right to Die Societies.

The Final Exit Network and the Compassion & Choices Client Support Program have the same purpose and are designed to do the same thing.

What do we need to do post Washington State?

On Wednesday, March 4, 2009; Washington state will become the second state in the United States to legalize assisted suicide.

The I-1000 assisted suicide Initiative was organized by compassion & Choices and won by a 58 - 42 percent margin, legalizing assisted suicide in Washington state.

It is clear that the Compassionate & Choices - Death Lobby believes that they can make serious political gains in the next year.

Since the Washington State defeat we soon experienced the activist judicial decision in Montana by Justice Dorothy McCarter. McCarter legalized assisted suicide in Montana by judicial fiat without any concern for the democratic rights of the citizens or the legislative jurisdiction of the elected representatives. To rub salt into the wound, McCarter is determining the legal costs that will be rewarded to the plaintiffs in the case. Montana’s attorney general, Steve Bullock is appealing the decision.

Massachusetts, New Hampshire and New Mexico are debating the legalization of “Oregon style” assisted suicide and it appears likely that a bill will be introduced in Vermont during the current session.

All is not lost.
A bill that was introduced in Hawaii to legalize assisted suicide was postponed for one year. A coalition of groups were able to re-organize and present a united opposition to assisted suicide. A Previous attempt in Hawaii was defeated by a similar effort a few years ago.

Canada is facing a new legislative attempt to legalize euthanasia and assisted suicide, but the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition which is organized by a culturally diverse group is effectively working to convince members of parliament to oppose the bill.

In the UK, recent attempts to legalize assisted suicide have failed because the Care Not Killing Alliance is comprised of groups and people who are culturally diverse but working in a unified manner to oppose assisted suicide.

It is clear what needs to be done. We need to organize and build an effective opposition to the Death Lobby on a state by state and nation by nation basis.

The organizations need to be composed of: people with disabilities, physicians groups, religious groups, liberals, conservatives and moderates.

If you are truly wanting to become part of this organized and effective opposition to the Death Lobby, then you need to attend the Second International Symposium on Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide near the Dulles Airport - May 29 - 30, 2009. For more information go to www.epcc.ca

The time is now.

Minnesota nurse may have encouraged Canadian student's suicide

By Alex Schadenberg
Executive Director - Euthanasia Prevention Coalition

An article published in the StarTribune.com in Minneapolis - St. Paul Minnesota and written by Pam Louwagie tells the horrific story of a Minnesota nurse may allegedly counselled Nadia Kajouji (18) from Ottawa Ontario Canada to commit suicide by drowning.

The article states:

Nadia Kajouji, 18, disappeared in Ottawa last March after telling her roommate that she was going skating. For weeks, police and community members searched for her, finding her body more than a month later in a river.

The girl's mother, Deborah Chevalier, told the Ottawa Citizen newspaper in an article published today that the Minnesota police investigation is focusing on online chats between her daughter and a male nurse, whose name has not been released, and that charges may come soon.

St. Paul Police spokesman Peter Panos confirmed this afternoon that the Minnesota Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force is working on the case along with the state Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.

"They are in the middle of the investigation," Panos said. He said he believes authorities have some specific charges in mind, but may be looking at other state and federal statutes in addition.

"It's an unusual case, so there's some different laws they're looking at to see exactly how they would charge him," Panos said.

Ottawa Police confirmed to the Canadian newspaper that they have been cooperating with Minnesota law enforcement on the case for about three weeks

This is an incredibly sad case for all involved. The article explains the story from the point of view of the family:

The girl's father, Mohamad Kajouji, said in a tearful telephone interview this morning that transcripts provided to the family of internet chats didn't include the name of the nurse, but showed he posed online as a female who had been depressed for nine years, lived with her mother and a younger brother, and was planning her own suicide.

"She told my daughter ... she was going to hang herself. She was going to make sure her mother got insurance money... she told Nadia that she was going to meet her in heaven," Mohamad Kajouji said. "She told my daughter that she had tried every medication there is" and that nothing worked, he said.

He said the internet chatter, whom authorities later learned was a man and a nurse, talked about having a lot of experience with seeing gunshot wounds and other injuries.

The online chatter asked Nadia for a picture, Mohamad Kajouji said, and his daughter sent one.

He said Nadia Kajouji talked online about dying of hypothermia. Her body was found in the Rideau River near St. Paul University in Ottawa.

Chevalier told the Citizen newspaper she had also read the transcript and "he was trying to convince her to hang herself and he told her what type of rope to buy and how to tie it, and the size of the rope you need to be successful."

Nadia Kajouji had been battling depression and struggling in school at Carleton University in Ottawa in the months leading up to suicide, the Citizen reported, adding that she was undergoing counseling and had been prescribed anti-depressants. Her case ignited a debate on student privacy versus what duty school officials should have to relay information about students' struggles to their parents.

The article explains that this was probably not the first time this nurse has counselled someone to commit suicide. It stated:

Mohamad Kajouji said after talking with Canadian authorities, "I'm pretty sure he did these things before ... he prey on vulnerable kids like my daughter."

Chevalier said that her daughter's laptop computer may be seized as evidence by U.S. investigators. She said she was relieved to hear about the possibility of charges in her daughter's death.

"If you read the messages, he was a monster," she told the Citizen. "I just can't believe people would do that ... I can't believe a human being can be like that."

The time has come for all Western nations, especially Canada to outlaw aiding, abeting and counseling suicide via the internet. We cannot sit back and allow suicide predators to take advantage of people who are experiencing depression. We must protect the vulnerable from sick people such as the alleged nurse in Minnesota.

Link to the Nadia Kajouji Tribute:
http://www.respectance.com/NadiaKajouji/memorial?gclid=CLyZg-Xt-JgCFSPxDAodhnmsmg?gclid=CLyZg-Xt-JgCFSPxDAodhnmsmg

Link to the original article in the Star Tribune:
http://www.startribune.com/40294552.html?elr=KArks:DCiUHc3E7_V_nDaycUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aU7DYaGEP7vDEh7P:DiUs

Link to the article in the Ottawa Citizen:
http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/Kajouji+case+breakthrough/1325579/story.html

Link to the article in the Globe and Mail:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20090225.KAJOUJI25/TPStory/National

When Financial Despair Turns Deadly

When clearing out my emails I came across an interesting article that was published on January 30, 2009 in Canada's Globe and Mail entitled: When a family's financial despair turns deadly.

The article pertains to the number of recent cases of murder-suicide in cases where the family was facing financial despair. These are very sad cases and do not directly connect to the issues of euthanasia and assisted suicide, other than the fact that when this recently happened in Thunder Bay (Fonteese case) the media inappropriately treated it as a possible precedent case in favour of assisted suicide.

I am also concerned that in jurisdictions where euthanasia and assisted suicide become common that reasons for the act, might in some circumstances, might be related to the emotional and psychological stress that is caused by the economic downturn. Especially in jurisdictions where concern for the mental health of the person has become secondary.

The article states:

As the economic downturn deepens, some individuals are resorting to murder-suicide to escape job loss, foreclosure and bankruptcy

It is a grim indicator of the depth of despair the economic downturn has wrought: a rare spate of murder-suicides in which entire families have been killed by desperate parents suffocating beneath hopelessness and debt.

This week alone, the United States witnessed the gruesome demise of two more households in which an executive decision was made to give up on fighting against the depressing cycle of foreclosures, bankruptcies, evictions and layoffs.

The article then referred to several Canadian cases:

On New Year's Day, a couple in Chicoutimi, Que., struggling with bankruptcy, joblessness and bleak financial prospects, allegedly plotted a family suicide that left the 46-year-old father, and three children, ages 12, 7 and 4, dead. The mother, 34-year-old Cathy Gauthier-Lachance survived; she is charged with three counts of first-degree murder and assisting the suicide of her husband.

In Toronto, a father under pressure to meet increasing health-care bills for two ailing kin snapped in November, a day after a steep stock market drop. He killed himself, his wife and two grown children.

The article then looks into the growing problem of murder-suicide related to financial distress:

While researchers have long pointed to a connection between financial hardship and the onset of mental disorders, mental health experts are concerned that a new trend in extreme familicide - in which entire families sometimes lose their lives - may be emerging, with strong ties to the economic meltdown.

"When we look back at the end of 2009, I would be surprised if we did not see an increase. All the fundamentals are there," said John Bradford, associate chief of forensic psychiatry with the Royal Ottawa Health Care Group and a professor of psychiatry and criminology at the University of Ottawa and Queen's University.

By fundamentals, Dr. Bradford means "the bleak economic news, people losing their jobs, losing their homes, having nothing to look forward to."

The feelings of failure, insecurity, guilt and shame that accompany the items on that list often lead to stress, which in turn leads to depression, even in people with no history of mental disorder. For some people, Dr. Bradford said, financial pressures can transform depression into a form of desperation that can lead to suicide.

However, only among a rare few do suicidal thoughts morph into the nihilistic delusion, that an entire family should be killed.

"You basically have this delusional idea that somehow the world is coming to an end, there is great suffering, there is nothing we can do about it," said David Bloom, director of psychotic disorders at Montreal's Douglas Mental Health University Institute. "The best thing to do is leave the world and take those you love the most with you to avoid further suffering on their part."

Dr. Bloom said that males more often exhibit the nihilistic delusions that push them over the psychotic edge, although rarely are the murders committed out of anger. "It's a hopelessness," he said. "I have no more means with which to fight this problem. The only solution is suicide. They wouldn't even see it as murder. They would take it as 'I'm saving them from a terrible thing.' "

As for what triggers "the switch" that enables psychotic behaviour, that is more difficult to pinpoint. The key problem is that in most cases, the only people who know the answer are dead.

Link to the original article:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20090130.weconocide30/BNStory/International/