Category Archives: assisted suicide

Massachusetts Medical Society Announces Opposition to Legalization of Assisted Suicide (No on 2)

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Last Friday, September 14, the Massachusetts Medical Society announced its opposition to ballot question 2 – in which a ‘yes’ vote would legalize physician-assisted suicide in that state.  Below is a link and the announcement in its entirety.  This is a very welcome development! Question 2: Prescribing Medication to End Life September 14, 2012 The … Continue reading Massachusetts Medical Society Announces Opposition to Legalization of Assisted Suicide (No on 2) →

Dr. Thomas Szasz Dies at Age 92, Critic of Coercion and Psychiatry

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In the animal kingdom, the rule is, eat or be eaten; in the human kingdom, define or be defined. – Thomas Szasz Strictly speaking, assisted suicide is an oxymoron. –Thomas Szasz From the NY Times: Thomas Szasz, a psychiatrist whose 1961 book “The Myth of Mental Illness” questioned the legitimacy of his field and provided … Continue reading Dr. Thomas Szasz Dies at Age 92, Critic of Coercion and Psychiatry →

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

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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 →

Assisted Suicide Laws Violate the ADA

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The 22nd Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) seems like the perfect opportunity to set the record straight about how theADA relates to assisted suicide. There’s a rarely articulated idea that assisted suicide is a sort of ADA“reasonable accommodation” to enable people who have serious physical impairments to have equal access to suicide.  … Continue reading Assisted Suicide Laws Violate the ADA →

NDY Board Member Rhonda Wiebe in Winnipeg Press: Expensive to Support Disabled but Suicide Kits are Cheap

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On July 21, the Winnipeg Free Press published an op-ed by Rhonda Wiebe (see below for brief bio). The op-ed is a response to ‘ethicist’ Arthur Schafer.  The newspaper published an op-ed by him on July 19 titled “Assisted-suicide slope not so slippery.”  Schafer is a poor choice to deny the existence of slippery slopes.  … Continue reading NDY Board Member Rhonda Wiebe in Winnipeg Press: Expensive to Support Disabled but Suicide Kits are Cheap →