All posts by Stephen Drake

UK: Director of Public Prosecutions Publishes Guidelines on How to Get Away with Murder

assisted suicide, clair lewis, crime and punishment, Our News & Commentary Blog, United Kingdom

The long-awaited – and dreaded – “guidelines” from the Director of Public Prosecutions in the UK have been published.  There are many reactions and lots of commentary out there, but by far the best I’ve read so far is from Clair Lewis, who writes “Getting Away With Murder: Discriminatory how-to guide is a national disgrace“: … Continue reading UK: Director of Public Prosecutions Publishes Guidelines on How to Get Away with Murder →

Testimony of Karen Scheiderman – MA Assisted Suicide Hearing

advocacy, assisted suicide, Massachusetts, Our News & Commentary Blog

Karen Schneiderman reconstructed her testimony from notes and memory – the following is a fairly accurate recounting of her testimony: For the Boston Center for Independent Living60 Temple Place 5th floorBoston MA 02111 Regarding House No. 1468Assisted Suicide My name is Karen Schneiderman, and I work for but am not presenting an official position of … Continue reading Testimony of Karen Scheiderman – MA Assisted Suicide Hearing →

Disability Advocates Testify at Massachusetts Hearing on Assisted Suicide Bill

advocacy, assisted suicide, legislation, Massachusetts, Our News & Commentary Blog

Yesterday, in spite of short notice and a long delay in the start of the hearing, disability advocates testified in opposition to a bill that would legalize assisted suicide in Massachusetts. Testifying in the video link from NECN are Denise Karuth and Karen Schneidermann, both long time disability advocates. John Norton, diagnosed with ALS (erroneously, … Continue reading Disability Advocates Testify at Massachusetts Hearing on Assisted Suicide Bill →

Massachusetts: Assisted Suicide Bill Hearing Tomorrow – Interesting Quotes from Paul Spiers

assisted suicide, legislation, Massachusetts, Our News & Commentary Blog, Paul Spiers, reality check

Last Friday, we got word that the Massachusetts legislature would be holding a hearing on an assisted suicide bill tomorrow – February 23.  Here’s the full info (received on Friday) with a link to the bill: The Joint Committee on the Judiciary of the Massachusetts General Court (state legislature) has just announced that House Bill … Continue reading Massachusetts: Assisted Suicide Bill Hearing Tomorrow – Interesting Quotes from Paul Spiers →

Alternet: Ann Neumann’s Disingenuous Complaints About the State of the Euthanasia Debate

Ann Neumann, assisted suicide, culture wars, Disability Bitch, euthanasia, Homicide / 'Mercy Killing', Our News & Commentary Blog, reality check, satire, United Kingdom, william peace

There’s a fresh piece from Ann Neumann on Alternet, bemoaning the way the euthanasia debate in the UK – and here in the US – has become another aspect of the “Culture Wars.”  As mentioned in an earlier post, there has been a flood of pro-euthanasia coverage in the UK.  It’s even got Ann Neumann, … Continue reading Alternet: Ann Neumann’s Disingenuous Complaints About the State of the Euthanasia Debate →