Category Archives: Our News & Commentary Blog

DREDF Senior Policy Analyst Weighs In On New Mexico Assisted Suicide Case

January 19, 2014aid in dying, assisted suicide, court decisions, dredf, Marilyn Golden, New Mexico, Our News & Commentary Blogassisted suicide, Dredf, Marilyn Golden, New MexicoDiane Coleman

There’s been no shortage of reactions to the New Mexico lower court ruling enjoining prosecutions of physician assisted suicide in that state, but we rarely see the disability perspective hit the mainstream press so quickly as Marilyn Golden’s op ed in the Albuquerque Journal. In Assisted suicide full of dangers, which appeared in the Journal’s … Continue reading DREDF Senior Policy Analyst Weighs In On New Mexico Assisted Suicide Case →

New Mexico Lower Court Parrots the Language and Platitudes of Assisted Suicide Advocacy Groups

January 14, 2014assisted suicide, court cases, court decisions, diane coleman, New Mexico, Our News & Commentary Blogassisted suicide, court decision, Diane Coleman, New MexicoDiane Coleman

As many of our readers have heard by now, a New Mexico Second Judicial District Judge has ruled that the state constitution establishes a fundamental right of people who are diagnosed as terminally ill to receive a lethal prescription from a doctor, with a corresponding right of the doctor not to be prosecuted under the … Continue reading New Mexico Lower Court Parrots the Language and Platitudes of Assisted Suicide Advocacy Groups →

Press Release: Anita Cameron and Samantha Crane Join Not Dead Yet Board

January 13, 2014Our News & Commentary BlogDiane Coleman

[Editor’s note: For a pdf formatted version of this press release, including photos of Anita and “Sam”, go here.] As the 2014 new year begins, Anita Cameron and Samantha Crane join the Not Dead Yet Board of Directors. The Board consists of ten members from across the United States and two from Canada. Cameron is … Continue reading Press Release: Anita Cameron and Samantha Crane Join Not Dead Yet Board →

Let’s Have a REAL Discussion: Bioethicists Preach, Fail to Teach on Brain Death

January 7, 2014bioethics, brain death, brain injury, media coverage, media issues, medical issues, Our News & Commentary BlogArt Caplan, bioethics, brain death, brain injury, Jahi McMath, Zack DunlapStephen Drake

By now, most readers of this blog are probably familiar with the story of Jahi McMath, a 13-year-old girl who underwent surgery on December 9, 2013 at Oakland Children’s Hospital. During post-op recovery, she started bleeding. Eventually, she went into cardiac arrest. She was then put on a ventilator. Two days later doctors made a … Continue reading Let’s Have a REAL Discussion: Bioethicists Preach, Fail to Teach on Brain Death →

Second Thoughts” Abound at Assisted Suicide Hearing – Part 2

December 31, 2013Our News & Commentary BlogDiane Coleman

Part 1 of this blog introduced the Massachusetts Statehouse hearing held on December 17 about legalizing assisted suicide. The Joint Committee on Public Health heard testimony on Bill H 1998, introduced as always by Democrat Representative Louis Kafka of Stoughton. Geriatric social worker and peer advocate Cassie Cramer drove home the point that it is social … Continue reading Second Thoughts” Abound at Assisted Suicide Hearing – Part 2 →