All posts by Stephen Drake

Tom Shakespeare Makes a Less Than Honest Case For Assisted Suicide

assisted suicide, bioethics, media coverage, Our News & Commentary Blog, reality check, Tom Shakespeare, United Kingdom

Tom Shakespeare is well-known in the disability community in the UK. In the US, it’s mostly the disability studies community that is familiar with him. Shakespeare has his feet planted in the realms of disability rights, bioethics and disability studies. Over the past couple of years, Shakespeare has taken a strong position favoring legalization of … Continue reading Tom Shakespeare Makes a Less Than Honest Case For Assisted Suicide →

Breaking News (UK): Falconer Swiss Suicide Tourist Immunity Voted Down!

advocacy, assisted suicide, legislation, Our News & Commentary Blog, Switzerland, United Kingdom

This just in: The House of Lords has voted down the Falconer amendment to extend legal immunity from prosecution to families who take disabled and ill people to Switzerland to commit suicide with the “help” of Dignitas. From the BBC: The House of Lords has defeated a motion to change the law that makes it … Continue reading Breaking News (UK): Falconer Swiss Suicide Tourist Immunity Voted Down! →

UK: Jane Campbell – “Assisted dying: not in our name”

assisted suicide, legislation, Our News & Commentary Blog, reality check, Switzerland, United Kingdom

The latest move by euthanasia activists in the U.K. is a proposal to extend immunity from prosecution to family members taking terminally ill or disabled people to Switzerland for assistance in committing suicide. Jane Campbell (Baroness Campbell of Surbiton) has written a concise attack on the rationale for granting such immunity in today’s edition of … Continue reading UK: Jane Campbell – “Assisted dying: not in our name” →

Another child dead – authorities taking it seriously, if belatedly

abuse, autism, crime and punishment, neglect, Our News & Commentary Blog, wrongful death

Kristen LaBrie, mother of nine-year-old Jeremy Fraser, has been charged with attempted murder in connection with the child’s death in March. Kristina Chew at Change.org has the story: Yesterday LaBrie pleaded “not guilty” to a charge of attempted murder; she had earlier been charged with child endangerment. The July 6th Associated Press vis WBUR reports … Continue reading Another child dead – authorities taking it seriously, if belatedly →

Final Exit Network: Investigation Expanding and Members Expounding (or Obscuring)

assisted suicide, crime and punishment, final exit network, media coverage, Our News & Commentary Blog, reality check

The apparent suicide by Phyllis Hixson, in Athens County OH, is being investigated for possible involvement by members of the Final Exit Network (FEN). The group claims that no one from FEN was present. But that doesn’t matter to Hixson’s younger sister, Jerri Rosson: She blames the Final Exit Network for providing the plans and … Continue reading Final Exit Network: Investigation Expanding and Members Expounding (or Obscuring) →