California’s Assisted Suicide Debate Deepens: Senator Pushes for Dementia Inclusion
California State Senator Catherine Blakespear is reigniting the debate over assisted suicide by seeking to expand the state’s End of Life Option Act (EOLOA). The 2016 law, which allows terminally ill adults with less than six months to live to…
Delaware Governor Carney vetoes Medical-Aid-in-Dying legislation
Governor John Carney Friday vetoed legislation that would have allowed people with a terminal illness who are able to make sound decisions for themselves to get access to medication that would end their lives. House Bill 140 received final legislative approval…
Citizens’ jury in England backs assisted dying for terminally ill
A citizens’ jury has overwhelmingly backed the legalisation of assisted dying for terminally ill people after hearing from experts over a period of eight weeks. Twenty out of 28 jurors based in England agreed the law should be changed, with seven disagreeing…
Euthanasia in India: An Overview
Euthanasia in the simplest sense involves intentionally ending a person's life to relieve ongoing suffering such as suffering from an irrecoverable or an incurable state of being and is a complex and evolving issue in the Indian landscape. While death…
Report recommends Australia’s Northern Territories government legalize voluntary assisted dying, after months of consultation
A report into the development of voluntary assisted dying laws in the Northern Territory has recommended the government legalise the practice in line with other Australian jurisdictions. Released on Wednesday, the NT government-commissioned report summarised the findings of an independent…
France to open debate on legalizing assisted suicide
French President Emmanuel Macron on July 23, 2024 announced a national debate on end-of-life options that will include exploring the possibility of legalizing assisted suicide. A 2016 French law provides that doctors can keep terminally ill patients sedated before death…
Vatican publishes ‘lexicon’ on end-of-life issues
The Pontifical Academy for Life released a new booklet to aid in the public debate on end-of-life issues. The booklet, published only in Italian July 2, offers clear definitions and the Catholic Church's teaching on bioethics. The goal of the…
UK mother admits ending life of terminally ill son 41 years ago
A mother has admitted giving her terminally ill seven-year-old son a large dose of morphine to stop his suffering and "quietly end his life". Antonya Cooper, from Abingdon, Oxfordshire, said her son Hamish had stage 4 cancer and was in…
Staten Islander with ALS among those condemning N.Y. lawmakers for not passing Medical Aid in Dying Act: ‘I really needed it’
It’s been just over three weeks since the New York state Legislature again failed to pass the Medical Aid in Dying Act, but the sting is still fresh for advocates of the proposed legislation. The act — which was first introduced…
French parliament debates assisted dying bill
In May, France's parliament began debating a controversial right-to-die bill backed by President Emmanuel Macron, who has made it a flagship reform of his second term. If the bill becomes law -- at the end of discussions likely to last…
UK daughter ‘considers breaking law’ to fulfill mother’s assisted dying wish
Dame Esther Rantzen’s daughter has said she is considering breaking the law to aid her mother’s wish of assisted dying.The 83-year-old, who fronted the BBC show That’s Life!, is one of the leading advocates for assisted suicide in the UK after being diagnosed…
Dying together: Why a happily married couple decided to stop living
In the Netherlands, this is known as duo-euthanasia. It’s legal, and it’s rare - but every year, more Dutch couples choose to end their lives this way. Jan and Els were married for almost five decades. In early June, they…
‘I want a choice’: terminally ill women urge UK House of Commons vote on assisted dying
Two women with incurable cancer are urging the next UK prime minister to allow a vote on assisted dying in the first 100 days of the new parliament and free them from fear of a painful death. Sophie Blake, 51,…
Delaware medical aid in dying bill heads to governor’s office for action
Legislation legalizing medical aid in dying in Delaware is headed to the governor’s desk after narrowly passing in the Delaware State Senate. The bill passed the Delaware Senate on an 11-10 vote June 25th after failing 9-9 last week. Senate…
Scottish Parliamentarian Liam McArthur MSP introduces Medical Aid in Dying (MAiD) Bill
March 27, 2024 - Scottish Parliamentarian Liam McArthur MSP introduced Medical Aid in Dying (MAiD) bill on March 27, 2024. It will allow terminally ill adults in Scotland, who are eligible, to lawfully request, and be provided with, assistance by…
Delaware advances medical aid-in-dying bill
In Delaware, a Medical Aid in Dying bill just passed the state House of Representatives and is now up for consideration by the state Senate. If you live in Delaware, it's time to call, write, and email your state senator…
California Department of Public Health Report on MAiD for 2022
California End of Life Option Act Report 2022 Data Report
New Video: A Visit to Pegasos
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=giTet2PLneU In this video, Christie shares the personal story of her mother, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease at age 88. With no prospect of improvement, Christie's mother decided to end her life at Pegasos in Switzerland. Christie has carefully…
Assisted dying now legal in New Zealand, End of Life Choice Act a ‘huge relief’ for some
“We have to remember people who are eligible are already dying, this is just the way that they die – not the fact they will die.” https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/euthanasia-debate/300443715/assisted-dying-now-legal-in-new-zealand-end-of-life-choice-act-a-huge-relief-for-some
These people want to die. Will their countries allow euthanasia?
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/people-want-die-will-countries-allow-euthanasia-rcna3307?fbclid=IwAR1JowKHVmEkCH_FAKZy-7UVmpboWLHmdnyjP8LjtfT3H-Q0-wPTfPM2QpE
New Lawsuit Challenges Self-Administration in EOLOA
A group of doctors has just filed a lawsuit California challenging the self-administration requirement of the EOLOA. The complaint filed on 8/27/2021 states: "However, there is one group of Californians who cannot avail themselves of the benefits of this compassionate…
American Clinicians Academy on Medical Aid in Dying
A resource for patient-to-doctor referrals for medical aid in dying and educational information for clinical practitioners. https://www.acamaid.org/
I’m the Doctor Who Is Here to Help You Die
In an article adapted from the newly-released book "The Inevitable," Dr. Lonny Shavelson, Chairman of the American Clinicians Academy on Medical Aid in Dying talks about his experiences prescribing life-ending drugs to terminally ill people in California and how he…
Death with Dignity: How I helped my dad die
A daughter's story of her father's decision to end his life when he lost his independence and freedom due to Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. He was facing quadriplegia. Her dad sent her a text message…
Patient Rights Eroded as Pendulum Swings to More Rights for Institutions
This important discussion highlights the ways in which faith-based institutions impose religious value based treatment decisions on doctors and patients. Most often, patients enter faith-based institutions without any idea that the institution is bound by Ethical Rights Directives which can…
First Conference on Clinician Training for Medical Aid in Dying
The conference was held in Berkeley, CA on 2/13-15/2020. Some things discussed: Drug protocols Dr. Shavelson, in conjunction with anesthesiologist Carol Parrot, have researched why some people - ‘outliers’ take so long to die. They have developed a list of…
Canadian Medical Assistance in Dying: Dr Ellen Wiebe
A Friends at the End talk by Dr Ellen Wiebe, a Medical Aid in Dying (MAiD) provider from Canada. Dr. Wiebe talks about the criteria for physician aid in dying in Canada and tells us about some of her patients,…
How to Die in California
2018 Statistics – California’s End of Life Option Act
The 2019 Annual Report is now out For 2018 337 California individuals died from ingestion of aid-in-dying drugs, a rate of 12.6 per 10,000 deaths based on 268,4743 deaths to California residents in 2018. 23 of those received their prescriptions…
Philip Nitschke Makes the Point that Rational Suicide should be a right
Philip Nitschke makes the point that it is an illusion that patients have choice in Medical Aid in Dying. It is the doctor who decides and no one else. The right the patient has is simply to ask the doctor…
What It’s Like To Prescribe Aid-In-Dying Drugs
By Ryan Warner, Colorado Matters Podcast. May 1, 2019 A Colorado physician talks about medical aid in dying in Colorado. As he notes, you must ask about aid in dying. It is almost universal in the states that allow it…
John L’Heureux on Death and Dignity
You are in the Process of Dying
by Dan Ayre - This.org - March 25, 2019 A husband relates the story of his wife's experience with Medical Aid in Dying (MAID) in Manitoba, Canada. In Canada, different provinces handle MAID differently. Two things stand out: 1. In…
California’s Right-To-Die Law Still Has Some Kinks, Hearing Finds
By Sammy Caiola - capitol pubic radio - January 29, 2018 "Barbara Koenig, head of bioethics at the UC San Francisco, said bureaucracy can sometimes keep patients from exercising choice at life’s end. It’s a timing problem. If their disease…
Belgian Catholic psychiatric hospitals ‘adjust’ their view of euthanasia
The Doctors Who Invented a New Way to Help People Die
Excellent overview of how the drug formulas under Death with Dignity Laws came about. by Jennie Dear, The Atlantic, Jan 22, 2019
Lecretia Seales’ widower makes his case for death with dignity
by Matt Vickers - North & South, March 20, 2019 In Switzerland, providing the means for a person to take their own life is legal if done from non-selfish motives. '“Giving access to assisted dying is, in fact, suicide prevention…
Canadian with bone cancer chooses assisted dying
This video features Dr. Stefanie Green, co-founder and current President of the Canadian Association of MAID Assessors and Providers (CAMAP). Stefanie is medical advisor to the BC Ministry of Health medical aid in dying oversight committee and moderator of CAMAP's…
Why California Must Still Fight For Death With Dignity
As Catholic Hospitals Expand, So Do Limits on Some Procedures
By Katie Hafner - New York Times. Aug. 10, 2018 "One in six hospital patients in the United States is now treated in a Catholic facility, according to the Catholic Health Association, a membership organization that includes 90 percent of…
What We Know About The People Who Have Used California’s Assisted Suicide Law
By Michelle Faust - laist June 25, 2018 "Dr. David Wallenstein, a palliative care doctor at UCLA Medical Center, said, "my impression is that people who tend to think in terms of aid-in-dying medications probably are people who really need…
Maia Calloway. From the Dying in the Americas Conference – March 22-24, 2018
Sponsor: Final Exit Network A Colorado woman with progressive multiple sclerosis turns to Life Circle in Switzerland to end her life with peace and dignity.
I’m a doctor. Here’s what it’s like helping terminally ill patients end their lives
By Catherine Sonquist Forest - Vox, Sep 21, 2017 "Aid in dying has been legal in California for a year now. Many of my patients have been waiting for this." Read More
Why few California doctors are assisting deaths for terminally ill
By Tracy Seipel - Bay Area News Group September 2016 "It’s a scene being played out throughout California, as scores of terminally ill patients are learning to their dismay — and outrage — that the state’s new aid-in-dying law comes…
What I Learned Helping My Sister Use California’s New Law to End Her Life
First woman to take advantage of California's End of Life Option Act ? Opinion Piece by Kelly Davis - Voice of San Diego, August 9, 2016 Woman describes the experience of her sister, who had ALS, taking advantage of the…
How to Die in Oregon
Award Winning Documentary - including 2011 Sundance Film Festival U.S. Documentary Grand Jury Award This exceptional film documents how physician aid in dying works in Oregon by following a woman with liver cancer over the months following her diagnosis. There…