All posts by Stephen Drake

Montana – Compassion & Choices Pushes for Broad Constitutional Right to “Assisted Death”

assisted suicide, Montana, Our News & Commentary Blog

From the Associated Press: HELENA – Two terminally ill men and four physicians, all from Montana, have filed a lawsuit against the state and Attorney General Mike McGrath aimed at decriminalizing assisted suicide. The suit was brought by Robert Baxter, 75, a retired truck driver from Billings who suffers from lymphocytic leukemia; and Steven Stoelb, … Continue reading Montana – Compassion & Choices Pushes for Broad Constitutional Right to “Assisted Death” →

Wisconsin trying to force elderly man into hospice over family objections

hospice, Our News & Commentary Blog, Surrogate Decisions & Guardianship

Apologies for the recent interruption in posts. We’ve had some computer issues which are now getting resolved, but we’ll have some scheduling pressures over the next couple of weeks which will reduce the volume here in the short-term. More about that tomorrow. Right now, I wanted to share this article which came to NDY’s attention … Continue reading Wisconsin trying to force elderly man into hospice over family objections →

Letter Asks Amer. Psych. Assoc. to Condemn Torture – Against People with Disabilities

advocacy, Our News & Commentary Blog, professional accountability, torture

In August, the American Psychological Association (APA) made some news when it passed a resolution affirming that its members shouldn’t be involved with “Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment” toward those termed “enemy combatants.” Many of us who are familiar with practices that are implicitly sanctioned by the APA took note … Continue reading Letter Asks Amer. Psych. Assoc. to Condemn Torture – Against People with Disabilities →

Transhumanist Suggests Doctor’s Suicide Was “Wrought” by Disability Activists

activism, bioethics, Our News & Commentary Blog, unethical ethicists

This latest confirms my impression that transhumanists have an overrepresentation of bottom-feeders and generally sleazy characters. The latest blog posting of George Dvorsky brings even his performance to a new low. Before I get into the latest post of his, a little history is in order. Dvorsky was the source of the quote about “Ashley … Continue reading Transhumanist Suggests Doctor’s Suicide Was “Wrought” by Disability Activists →

Bob Kafka Replies to Robert Fine’s Defense of Texas “Futility”

activism, bioethics, futile care, Our News & Commentary Blog

The current issue of the New England Journal of Medicine features a letter from Robert L. Fine, M.D. in response to a harsh critique of the Texas Advance Directives Act by Robert T. Truog, M.D. Truog’s Tackling Medical Futility in Texas is freely available (although it might require free registration). Here is an excerpt from … Continue reading Bob Kafka Replies to Robert Fine’s Defense of Texas “Futility” →