Category Archives: Our News & Commentary Blog

Disappointing, but not entirely unexpected news from Arizona: Lawrence Egbert, 83, an anesthesiologist from Baltimore, was found not guilty of conspiracy to commit manslaughter by aiding suicide in the April 2007 death of Jana Van Voorhis, 58. But the jury was unable to reach a unanimous decision as to whether Franklin Langsner, 86, a retired … Continue reading Arizona: Jury in Final Exit Network Trial Acquits One, Unable to Reach Verdict with Other →

Final Exit Network Members Await Jury Decision in One State (AZ) and Lose Court Challenge in Another (GA)

April 20, 2011Arizona, assisted suicide, crime and punishment, cults, final exit network, Georgia, Our News & Commentary BlogStephen Drake

The long-awaited trial of two members of the Final Exit Network (FEN) relating to their roles in the death of Jana Van Voorhis is all but over – it’s all in the hands of the jury now after a roughly week-long trial at the Maricopa County Superior Court in Arizona. The only ongoing press coverage … Continue reading Final Exit Network Members Await Jury Decision in One State (AZ) and Lose Court Challenge in Another (GA) →

Bad Cripple – Assisted Suicide: No Assistance Wanted

April 14, 2011assisted suicide, blog recommendations, bloggers, california, Neil Shapiro, Our News & Commentary Blog, reality check, william peaceStephen Drake

On March 21st, the Monterey County Herald published an op-ed by Neil Shapiro, which was, until the last paragraph, a fairly unremarkable and unoriginal promotion of legalized assisted suicide. The author praised Jack Kevorkian and the states of Oregon and Washington – the two states that have legalized physician-prescribed suicide for people believed to have less … Continue reading Bad Cripple – Assisted Suicide: No Assistance Wanted →

Ireland: “They asked me why I would want to live” in Irish Times

April 12, 2011"end of life", bioethics, breathing, Ireland, medical decisionmaking, medical issues, motor neuron disease, Our News & Commentary Blog, ventilatorStephen Drake

It’s hard to believe it’s been about a month since I’ve written here. Various health issues have kept me away from the keyboard, although I’ve been monitoring news and other information sources. I just haven’t had the energy to write. I’ll be doing my best to catch up over the next few weeks – there … Continue reading Ireland: “They asked me why I would want to live” in Irish Times →

Organ Donation by Death Row Inmates – Get Ready to Start Hearing More About How it’s “Good” for Everyone

March 11, 2011Art Caplan, Ben Goldhirsh, bioethics, crime and punishment, death penalty, Dylan Ratigan, Eric Meslin, good magazine, Graeme Wood, Kevorkian, media coverage, Our News & Commentary Blog, reality check, Wesley SmithStephen Drake

Wesley Smith has two related pieces on an op-ed by a death row prisoner that was published in the NY Times on March 6th. Christian Longo, who admits to being guilty of killing his wife and three children, wrote to the newspaper to promote voluntary organ donation by death row prisoners. In Wesley’s first blog … Continue reading Organ Donation by Death Row Inmates – Get Ready to Start Hearing More About How it’s “Good” for Everyone →