Category Archives: “end of life”

Disability and Ethics Conference This Weekend – Low Expectations Based on Past Performance

"end of life", activism, alicia ouellette, bioethics, conferences, haleigh poutre, Our News & Commentary Blog, politics, schiavo

On July 13, 2006, about 40 disability activists protested a bioethics conference in Albany, NY.  The picture above shows 7 of the protesters (there were about 40 in total) who successfully invaded the conference, holding signs and chanting “Nothing About Us Without Us!” Here’s an excerpt from our flyer for the protest: Disability activists are … Continue reading Disability and Ethics Conference This Weekend – Low Expectations Based on Past Performance →

The “Right to Die” Expands Into New Territory

"end of life", crime and punishment, death penalty, euthanasia, legislation, life-ending decisions, media coverage, media issues, Our News & Commentary Blog, reality check, right to die

Sometimes I think I’ve lost the capacity to be surprised by new developments.  I tend to think I’ve grown so jaded that nothing that comes up can really surprise me.  I think that in spite of the fact that I do get surprised on occasion. This week’s collision with surrealism came in the form of … Continue reading The “Right to Die” Expands Into New Territory →

Hawaii – Robert Yagi Dead, and Assisted Suicide Advocates Continue to Exploit the Tragedy

"end of life", assisted suicide, final exit network, hawaii, Homicide / 'Mercy Killing', media coverage, Our News & Commentary Blog, suicide

While no one could have predicted Robert Yagi’s suicide, it shouldn’t really come as a surprise.  Yagi was the 71-year-old-man charged with attempting to kill his wife with a flare gun loaded with a shotgun shell.  According to police, he planned to kill himself after killing her.  Friday’s blog entry described how that half-baked plan … Continue reading Hawaii – Robert Yagi Dead, and Assisted Suicide Advocates Continue to Exploit the Tragedy →

NY Times Quotes Diane Coleman – but without context

"end of life", advance directives, diane coleman, hospice, media coverage, media issues, Our News & Commentary Blog, palliative care

Today, the New York Times published a long story on hospice and palliative care, and how doctors struggle with balancing the transition from active treatment to palliative care in the final stages of terminal illnesses. Some of it is worked within the context of the current “debate” around advance directives in the health care reform … Continue reading NY Times Quotes Diane Coleman – but without context →

Health Care Reform Hysteria – and My Own Version of Reality

"end of life", advance directives, Our News & Commentary Blog, policy, politics, reality check

As readers of this blog might remember, last May I was confronted by a representative of Lyndon LaRouche’s organization at an anti-euthanasia conference. I felt compelled to address his rather shrill attack on what he termed Obama’s “Hitler Health Care” from the podium and followed up the next day. Since then, it seems a lot … Continue reading Health Care Reform Hysteria – and My Own Version of Reality →