Euthanasia

Let’s give intellectually disabled the right to euthanasia, say Belgian humanists

Michael Cook | 27 April 2012

People with intellectual disabilities, all children and people with dementia should be able to request euthanasia, the Belgian Liberal Humanist Association (HVV) has declared.

Questions asked about euthanasia for brain-damaged Dutch prince

Michael Cook | 03 March 2012

Dutch Prince Johan Friso, brain-damaged after being buried by an avalanche in Austria last month, has been transferred to Wellington Hospital, in London. Doctors believe that the 43-year-old is unlikely to recover consciousness, although will be weeks before they have a clear idea of his prospects.

Santorum sparks controversy over Dutch euthanasia

Michael Cook | 02 March 2012

So when US presidential hopeful Rick Santorum described the state of euthanasia in the Netherlands on February 3 in a forum in Missouri, he failed to kick a goal. In fact, the Washington Post fact checker, who is the son of Dutch migrants and whose uncle was euthanased, disparaged his “bogus statistics” and awarded him four Pinicchios. He was ridiculed in the New York Times and on Radio Netherlands.

Yes Minister’s guide to reports on euthanasia

Paul Russell | 22 February 2012

“Never suggest an inquiry unless you know the outcome beforehand.” A commonly used phrase in politics and, most likely, the kind of advice Sir Humphrey Appleby might have given Jim Hacker MP in the British political comedy, Yes Minister!

Is the slippery slope at work in Belgium?

Michael Cook | 11 December 2011

The “slippery slope” is often derided as a logical fallacy. But when one of the leading advocacy groups for euthanasia in Belgium posts an article entitled “Euthanasie: tijd voor de volgende stap, Euthanasia, time for the next step”, it’s hard not to think that it may not be so illogical after all.

Bulgarian parliament spurns euthanasia

Michael Cook | 05 September 2011

The Bulgarian Parliament has rejected a euthanasia bill by a vote of 59 to 13, with 29 abstentions.

Half of Austrian medical students favour euthanasia

Michael Cook | 29 March 2011

The proportion of medical students in Austria who are sympathetic to voluntary euthanasia has more than tripled in the past ten years. According to researchers at the Medical University of Graz acceptance of active euthanasia increased from 16.3% to 29.1% to 49.5% in the periods from 2001 to 2003/04 to 2008/09. In the general population it rose from about 49% to 62% between 2000 and 2009.

UK Doctors consistently oppose euthanasia and assisted suicide

Michael Cook | 16 March 2011

A review of research carried out over 20 years suggests that UK doctors appear to consistently oppose euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide (PAS). The findings -- which appear in the latest issue of the journal Palliative Medicine, -- highlight a gap between doctors' attitudes and those of the UK public.

Aruna Shanbaug can live (part 2)

Michael Cook | 10 March 2011

In the case of the brain-damaged woman Aruna Shanbaug India’s Supreme Court has created an important legal precedent, but it may have failed to clarify some important issues.

Most locked-in patients are happy, study finds

Michael Cook | 27 February 2011

What medical condition would definitely make life not worth living? At the top of most people’s lists would be locked-in syndrome: complete paralysis and inability to communicate other than by blinking. It was made famous in The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, a book and a film about French journalist Jean-Dominique Bauby.

Hawaii legislature rejects assisted suicide

Jared Yee | 10 February 2011

A Hawaii legislative panel Monday unanimously voted down a bill that would have legalised physician-assisted suicide for the terminally ill, quashing the possibility that it would become legal this year.

French Senate rejects euthanasia

Michael Cook | 02 February 2011

After a passionate debate the French Senate has scuppered a bill allowing physician-assisted suicide. The margin was convincing – 170 to 142.

“Why do they keep children with these disabilities alive?”

Michael Cook | 21 January 2011

Is the tragic drowning of a disabled toddler in Sydney an indirect consequence of publicity given to the merits of legalised euthanasia?

Netherlands marks ten years of legal euthanasia

Michael Cook | 02 December 2010

The tenth anniversary of the legalization of euthanasia in the Netherlands on November 28 passed almost unnoticed.

Euthanasia: the musical

Michael Cook | 13 November 2010

It had to happen: a musical about euthanasia. Of course, nearly every film coming out of Bollywood is a musical, but director Sanjay Leela Bhansali has tried to make Guzaarish (The Request) a lush melodrama with Hrithik Roshan and Aishwarya Rai in the lead roles.

Locked-in syndrome woman receives Legion of Honour

Michael Cook | 28 October 2010

France has just awarded the Légion d'honneur to a woman who has been a locked-in quadriplegic for 30 years. Maryannick Pavageau received the distinction for her battle against euthanasia. A resident of Sainte Nazaire, on the Atlantic coast, she gave an interview about her life to the local newspaper after this week’s award: