Category Archives: reality check

“End of Life Washington” Promotes Directive to Prevent Feeding Assistance to Those with Dementia

dementia, Our News & Commentary Blog, reality check, spoon-feeding, starvation, ,

(The following continues coverage and discussion of an initiative regarding efforts to let dementia patients “refuse” assistance to eat. We discussed this in November 2017. You can check out that blog post here.) Journalist Mike Bassett has a new online article out in Today’s Geriatric Medicine. It involves the latest initiative from “End of Life … Continue reading “End of Life Washington” Promotes Directive to Prevent Feeding Assistance to Those with Dementia →

At Year’s End, Another Man Shoots Wife in Hospital and Kills Self – Internet Gets All Teary-Eyed Over “Loving” Act

media coverage, mercy killing, Our News & Commentary Blog, reality check, , ,

Lets hope the New Year is kinder and gentler than the old one. The year ended with a highly publicized murder/suicide in NH. Mark Lavoie, at a little past  6 am, shot his wife to death and then successfully killed himself immediately after. He did this just 4 minutes after posting his intent on Facebook. … Continue reading At Year’s End, Another Man Shoots Wife in Hospital and Kills Self – Internet Gets All Teary-Eyed Over “Loving” Act →

More on Double Euthanasia in Belgium, National Federation of the Blind Reacts, and Other Suicides in the News

Aaron Swartz, Belgium, deaf-blind, devaluation, euthanasia, National Federation of the Blind, Oskar the Blind Cat, Our News & Commentary Blog, pets, reality check, suicide

The 24+ hours since I posted on the double euthanasia of two deaf men in Belgium has resulted in some developments, varied reactions, and some reflection on my own part.  My apologies if this post seems a little scattered – a little like mental  multi-colored pasta thrown against the wall –  but sometimes that’s how … Continue reading More on Double Euthanasia in Belgium, National Federation of the Blind Reacts, and Other Suicides in the News →

Bioethicist Endorses Mass. Assisted Suicide Bill in a Sloppy and Intellectually Lazy Essay

Art Caplan, assisted suicide, ben mattlin, bioethics, Compassion & Choices, disability rights advocates, final exit network, Massachusetts, Oregon, Our News & Commentary Blog, reality check

Art Caplan has an opinion piece that came out yesterday – and it’s linked from just about every conceivable place on NBC and MSNBC.  It’s an endorsement of the proposed legalization of assisted suicide on the ballot in Massachusetts.  While disappointing, it’s not that big a surprise; Caplan has been sliding toward this unqualified endorsement … Continue reading Bioethicist Endorses Mass. Assisted Suicide Bill in a Sloppy and Intellectually Lazy Essay →

Archdiocese of Boston Newspaper Features Interview with ‘Second Thoughts’ Director John Kelly

assisted suicide, disability activists, disability rights, disability rights advocates, john kelly, Massachusetts, media coverage, Our News & Commentary Blog, reality check, Second Thoughts

The online version of The Pilot – “the official newspaper of the Archdiocese of Boston” – published an article focusing on ‘Second Thoughts‘ and featuring a long interview with the organization’s director, John Kelly. Disabilities group has ‘Second Thoughts’ on assisted suicide By Christopher S. Pineo   BOSTON — A group of Massachusetts residents with … Continue reading Archdiocese of Boston Newspaper Features Interview with ‘Second Thoughts’ Director John Kelly →