Category Archives: Euthanasia

Casting has been announced for Stephen Unwins All Our Children at Jermyn Street Theatre in London.

The play, based on historical events, will star David Yelland as a Catholic bishop who starts a campaign against the Nazi programme of euthanasizing people with disabilities.

Edward Franklin, Rebecca Johnson, Lucy Speed and Colin Tierney complete the cast.

Unwin founded English Touring Theatre in 1993 and was artistic director of the Rose Theatre Kingston until 2014. This is his debut as a playwright.

He said All Our Children comes from a deep place. I am the father of a profoundly disabled young man, but also the son of a German-Jewish refugee and was brought up as Catholic. The challenges that the disabled face today are, thankfully, a long way from the horrors of Nazi Germany, but some of the philosophical and social questions that it raises are fiercely relevant today.

Design is by Simon Higlett, with lighting by Tim Mascall and sound by John Leonard.

It runs from April 26 to June 3, with press night on May 2.

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Casting announced for Nazi euthanasia play - The Stage

Canadian doctors should not be forced to refer for euthanasia MercatorNet (blog) Although Canada has recognised a legal right to euthanasia, a number of loose ends need to be tidied up in the laws of the provinces and territories. Amongst these is defining the scope of conscientious objection for doctors who do not want to be ...

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Canadian doctors should not be forced to refer for euthanasia - MercatorNet (blog)

COMEDY FESTIVAL ASSISTED SUICIDE: THE MUSICAL Liz Carr Malthouse Theatre Until April 9

InDicing With Dr Death, euthanasia advocate Philip Nitschke tried his hand at stand-up at last year's Comedy Festival.

This year, actor, comedian and disability activist Liz Carr (probably best known here for her work on the BBC'sSilent Witness) puts an all-singing, all-dancing counterargument.

Carr describesAssistedSuicide: The Musicalas a "TED talk with show tunes" and, if the musical theatre can be a bit amateurish, Carr's oratory is brilliant and persuasive. I thought I knew where I stood on theassistedsuicidedebate, but her fierce intelligence, erudition and sardonic wit left me much less certain.

A vaudevillian opening number lightly mocks the liberal bandwagon Carr is up against, and the best song a duet between Carr and the Pope makes clear the bemusement this left-wing progressive feels at being surrounded by conservative allies.

It's a show that probes the rhetoric of "choice" in relation tosuicide, exposes abuses in jurisdictions that have euthanasia laws, and reveals questionable tactics in the global "right to die" movement (including whitewashing "suicide" into less confronting euphemisms).

One strong objection Carr raises is that givingassistedsuicidethe imprimatur of law, society and the medical profession will force disabled people, especially those in pain, to live with an exit sign over their heads. An internal debate Carr has with her alter-ego reveals how she might avail herself of the "right to die" in a moment of weakness.

Any "right to die" could morph into something more sinister, she argues, at least until the right of marginalised groups to live with dignity is thoroughly secured.

Carr is a better debater, and much funnier, than Nitschke. We can only hope Premier Daniel Andrews, and other parliamentarians, accept her invitation to see the show ahead of the planned conscience vote on the issue.

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Assisted Suicide, The Musical could change your mind on euthanasia - The Sydney Morning Herald

PATERSON, N.J. A Paterson police officer whose dog is facing euthanasia for biting a mail carrier is fighting to save his beloved pup's life.

Jose Galvan of Vernon and his wife Raquel got now-2-year-old Gabanna in 2012, shortly after losing their baby full-term, who they say helped themcope with the loss.

Gabanna could soon be euthanized, though, after a judged classified him as vicious for biting a mail carrier in September.

Galvan says his attorney filed an appeal earlier this week and is praying to soon have Gabanna back at home.

"This is the first incident of any aggression ever," said Galvan, who has been with the Paterson Police Department for 16 years.

The mail carrier had been instructed to stay off of the Galvan's property to leave packages at the mailbox outside the home's invisible fence, Galvan said.

But in September, the mail carrier came onto the Galvan's property to deliver two packages on garbage pick-up day, because he didn't want them to be confused for trash, Galvan explained.

Gabanna ran out from the garage, biting the packages and the mail carrier's pinky finger and ripped the tendons out, Galvan said.

Once the mail carrier dropped the packages, Gabanna backed off.

"He didn't chase him," said Galvan of his dog.

The mail carrier walked to a neighbor's house to call the police and an ambulance, when animal control and police officers arrived at the Galvan's house, Galvan said.

Galvan's said his attorney, John McDermott, was able to reach an agreement withWantage Prosecutor William Haggerty to change the classification from vicious to potentially dangerous. That would save Gabanna's life.

Gabanna is currently being quarantined in Franklin, and Galvan is hoping to have him home soon.

And so does the mail carrier.

"I ran into our mailman and he stopped me to say he's sorry," Galvan said. "The poor guy lost his finger... but he said he doesn't want the dog put down."

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Paterson Police Officer Fighting To Save Dog Facing Euthanasia ... - South Passaic Daily Voice

Editor:

The Courier ended a recent anonymous editorial on euthanasia with: No one else should tell us what is right on this issue. Its strictly a family matter. Though the editorial noted several times that this is a difficult and complex issue, its conclusion was simply wrong.

Instead, it is strictly an individual matter, with necessary governmental oversight for the limited purpose of ensuring faithful adherence to the individuals wishes. Anything else leaves the potential for terrible outcomes. Two immediately come to mind.

Maintaining a person through a long period prior to death can be expensive, arguably a poor use of limited resources. What if the family or the healthcare facility (or God forbid, the government!) decides that spending that money just isnt right and come to the decision - on behalf of that vulnerable individual, of course - that the end should come now. Anyone who thinks that a familys thinking would never be swayed by the prospect of their inheritance money being wasted on end of life care - or that the individual would not be moved by family pressure - is being naive.

Setting aside the need for safeguards against a family pressing for a decision on end-of-life that may not be what the individual wants, what is a doctor to do when faced with a variety of input from the family? If the individual is beyond clearly communicating his wishes, the doctor might be faced with input from son number one who says Slip Ol Dad the juice, and son number two who believes that Dad would not want that. Picking one over the other is not a moral or legal burden to put on the doctor.

Yes, the topic is hard, but saying that it is strictly a family matter only leaves the door open for unending problems. The law needs to provide protection for the elderly/terminally ill/disabled so that the individuals wishes are followed, whether the family agrees with it or not.

Mary Frederickson

Prescott

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Letter: Euthanasia | The Daily Courier | Prescott, AZ - The Daily Courier

Dutch doctors have come out against a controversial proposed law that would allow assisted suicide for those who feel their lives are complete, and not just for people in unbearable suffering.

"Such a radical proposal is not desirable for practical reasons and for reasons of principle," the Dutch Doctors Federation, representing some 59,000 practitioners and students, said in a statement late Wednesday.

The Netherlands and neighbouring Belgium became the first countries in the world to legalise euthanasia in 2002.

But it is carried out under strict conditions, and only after at least two doctors have certified that there is no other reasonable solution for the patient, and that their suffering is "unbearable and without any hope of improvement".

In October, the now outgoing government proposed broadening the law to give elderly people, who are not sick but feel their lives are complete, the right to assisted suicide.

It would only apply to those who "no longer see any possibility of giving their life meaning, deeply feel their loss of independence, and remain isolated or lonely perhaps because they have lost a loved one," the Dutch health and justice ministers said in a letter to parliament.

But the doctors' federation argued that passing another law alongside the euthanasia law "will lead to an erosion of the conscientious practice of euthanasia" and increase "the feeling of vulnerability among elderly people and the stigmatisation of old age."

Instead, it pleaded for greater "investment in solutions which address the feeling of uselessness among the elderly."

The federation has sent its comments to the four political parties currently negotiating to see whether they can agree a common platform and form the country's next coalition government.

The Liberal VVD party which won the most seats in March 15 elections as well as the progressive D66 and the ecologist GroenLinks have voiced support for the law.

But the Christian Democratic Appeal is against it, although the party said it would not be a "deal-breaker" in the talks.

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Euthanasia Dutch doctors against 'life complete' assisted suicide - Pulse Nigeria

The Dutch doctors association KNMG is not in favour of drawing up specific euthanasia rules for elderly people who consider their lives have been completed.

Although the wish of some people who are not physically ill to die is palpable, new legislation aimed specifically at such cases would be undesirable, the KNMG said in a statement.

The KNMG says it has carried out extensive consultations with members and experts to draw up its standpoint. The position paper is in response to government moves to bring in special provisions to allow people who consider their lives are at an end to die peacefully.

Last October, health minister Edith Schippers and justice minister Ard van de Steur said in a briefing to MPs that elderly people with a consistent and well-considered wish to die whether ill or not should be able to take a drug to end their lives.

The practice would not be considered euthanasia, in which the patient is said to be suffering unbearably, and in which doctors have an active role, and family members would not be allowed to administer the drug.

All requests for help would be assessed by a specially trained care worker and an independent expert to make sure the patient is not acting on impulse or has come under undue pressure from his or her family, the ministers said.

Autonomous right

The change in the law would do justice to a legitimate and growing wish in society in general, the ministers said. However, the cabinet position conflicts with the advice of an independent committee of experts earlier in 2016 which said that euthanasia for people who consider their lives to be completed should not be allowed in law.

The current legislation works well but support for it will be undermined if it is extended to include people who are not suffering physically, the KNMG said. Age-related vulnerability, whereby people suffer from multiple medical and non-medical problems, can be deemed to be unbearable suffering and therefore fall under the euthanasia legislation, the organisation points out.

However, separate legislation for people with no medical grounds for the wish to die could have an undesirable social effect, by stigmatising the elderly, the KNMG said. Instead, the government should invest in measures to make sure the elderly do not feel their lives are pointless.

The expansion of euthanasia rules are likely to become part of the current coalition government talks. D66 is the driving force behind the changes and the VVD have said they will support them. However, the Christian Democrats, who do not back change, are set to have a key role in the new government.

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Dutch doctors reject separate euthanasia rules for 'completed lives' - DutchNews.nl

A new bid for euthanasia laws will be presented when the Western Australian parliament resumes.

WA Greens MP Robin Chapple says he will work with new Labor minister Alannah MacTiernan to introduce mirror legislation to the upper house, as the state's laws do not allow joint bills.

Mr Chapple told AAP on Monday they were waiting on the outcome of a Victorian inquiry into the best model for euthanasia before moving forward and were looking for Liberal Party support after fellow advocate Tony Simpson lost his seat at the recent election.

Premier Mark McGowan supports voluntary euthanasia but he doesn't wish to politicise the issue by introducing law reform, so he would be giving Labor MPs a conscience vote on the bill.

Health Minister Roger Cook told The Sunday Times he supported euthanasia and that he would welcome a parliamentary committee inquiry prior to a bill being introduced.

Mr Chapple said that while the Greens had a euthanasia policy, he was working with Ms MacTiernan to ensure politics didn't prevent progress.

"We don't want people to see it as a Greens bill, we don't want the politics to be involved with this," he said.

"Politics gets in the way of good legislation."

He said the South Australian government handled a euthanasia bill poorly in November last year, which resulted in a rushed vote against legalising the right for terminally ill patients to end their lives.

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Euthanasia push in new WA parliament - NEWS.com.au

What was supposed to be a peaceful goodbye to Kaisa, Repin's sole companion for the past 11 years, quickly turned into a torturous ordeal. Nearly five yearslater, it's not over.

Repin sued Washington State University and Washington state in a case that raises issues never before considered in courts throughout the country, according to a Washington State Court of Appeals commissioner's ruling. Repin, a reclusive gold prospector who lives in a 420-square-foot cabin that he built himself, is asking for compensation for the emotional distress caused by his dog's botched euthanasia.

If successful, his lawsuit could break new legal ground for pet owners in Washington. His claim focuses on the debate between the role of a pet. Was Kaisa "just a dog?" A piece of Repin's property? Or was she, as Repin describes, his family? In 2012, Repin traveled from his home near Cle Elum to WSU'sVeterinary Teaching Hospital. It was in Pullman that Repin decided euthanize his dog.

Repin sat with Kaisa on the "quiet room" floor as a veterinarian and a vet student prepared to inject the drugs.

"I felt a duty to hear her last heartbeat," Repin says. "She was sound asleep."

Before the injection, however, Repin says he heard the vet student, Jasmine Feist, point out damage to Kaisa's catheter, where the drugs would be injected. Feist asked her supervisor, Margaret Cohn-Urbach, if she should replace it with a new one.

"No. I will show you how to still make this one work," Cohn-Urbach said, according to Repin. Feist and Cohn-Urbach dispute whether this conversation happened.

The cocktail of drugs that were injected were supposed to sedate the 90-pound malamute and then stop her heart. However, soon after the second drugwas injected, she awoke and began screaming and thrashing, Repin says.

"She was screaming and struggling to get out of that room and lash out at anything she could get at," Repin tells the Inlander. "I went from her best friend to 'what the fk are you doing to me?'"

Repin says he restrained Kaisa while the two vets stood frozen against the wall wondering what to do. Eventually, one ran to get more drugs. She returned after several minutes and injected them. Within 15 seconds, Repin says, Kaisa was dead.

The Washington State Court of appeals recently upheld a trial court's decision to dismiss much of Repin's lawsuit barring him from receiving compensation for the emotional distress of holding his dog as she writhed and screamed in pain. The rulings affirm that currently Washingtonians are not entitled to compensation for emotional distress stemming from veterinary negligence or malpractice, as they would be with human medical malpractice.

But Chief Justice George B. Fearing, who wrote the 41-page opinion, also wrote a separate opinion asking the state Supreme Court to review the case and, in a rare move, advocating a "change in the law."

Fearing began his concurring opinion by quoting from a famous speech by former U.S. Sen. George Vest in a case from 1870:

Two other appeals court justices wrote a third opinion countering Fearing. Allowing people to get paid for emotional distress "would likely put many veterinarians out of business, it would sharply increase veterinarian bills for pet owners, and it would result in veterinarians refusing to perform emergency operations."

A group of veterinary associations agreed in a separately filed brief, stating: "If pets do not receive care, including owner-present euthanasia, because lawsuits, they will suffer. Creating emotion-based liability in pet litigation is not the pro-pet position. Pets do not benefit from these awards, only owners do."

Adam Karp, the Bellingham-based attorney who is representing Repin, says the economic impact of a lawsuit on the veterinary industry is not something that should concern the court. He also cites a 2004 article in the Animal Law Review that refutes the notion that vet care would become too expensive if pet owners could receive compensation for emotional distress.

The article by Christopher Green, the executive director of Harvard's Animal Law and Policy Program,cites calculations from ABD Insurance, one of the largest veterinary insurers. The calculations show that each vet's annual premiums would rise by about $212. That increase translates to an average of less than 13 cents in vet care annually for each American pet owner.

Repin, who is unmarried and lives alone, says he and Kaisa were virtually inseparable for the past 12 years.

"I'm going to take this all the way to the Supreme Court, and hopefully they will allow me," Repin says. "I have to take this as far as I possibly can until we get a final ruling. I don't think the general public is aware that their pets are considered property. Just because emotions are based around an animal, they don't count? That's not right. That's not justice."

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Lawsuit over 'torturous' euthanasia of Cle Elum man's dog could set new precedent - Pacific Northwest Inlander (blog)

WA Greens MLC Robin Chapple has vowed to push ahead with another bid to legalise voluntary euthanasia after Health Minister Roger Cook called for terminally ill patients to have the right to end their lives.

Mr Chapple, a passionate campaigner for voluntary euthanasia, said yesterday he was planning to meet Labor MP Alannah MacTiernan in coming weeks to discuss the drafting of a fresh Bill which he said the pair planned to jointly introduce to Parliament.

Mr Chapple, who unsuccessfully brought legislation on voluntary euthanasia to Parliament in 2001 and again in 2010, said there had since been a complete change on all sides of the political spectrum.

Mr Cook said at the weekend there was a growing demand for the legalisation of medically assisted suicide for terminally ill patients and he wanted the WA public to have a considered and informed debate reforming the law.

He said the Labor Government would not introduce law reform as part of a policy but would support individual members tabling a private members Bill.

Mr Chapple said Mr Cooks comments set the train in a good political position.

Weve got four years and we would like to see a plan to make sure its debated well into that period so that we can actually finalise the legislation well before the next election, he said.

This is very much about peoples conscience, and I think the new minister has indicated that this will be a conscience vote.

I think as we move forward, as we become a more mature and developed society, people will see the justification in providing some compassion at the end of peoples lives.

Mr Chapple said he hoped a Liberal MP would join him and Ms MacTiernan to introduce the Bill.

Australian Medical Association WA president Andrew Miller said it was important medical professionals were engaged before new legislation was introduced.

If there was to be legislation, the important thing is to make sure there are very good options for people and that euthanasia is not used as a substitute for proper palliative care and proper nursing care for all members of the community, not just the well-off, he said.

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Chapple in new euthanasia bid - The West Australian