Category Archives: reality check

New Study in BMJ Indicates People with Clinical Depression Getting Lethal Prescriptions in Oregon

assisted suicide, Oregon, Our News & Commentary Blog, policy, reality check, research

Hot off the press, first from an article from today’s US News & World Report, carefully titled “Oregon’s Assisted Suicide Law May Overlook Depressed Patients“: WEDNESDAY, Oct. 8 (HealthDay News) — Oregon’s physician-assisted suicide law may not adequately protect the one in four terminally ill patients with clinical depression, a new study says. The Death … Continue reading New Study in BMJ Indicates People with Clinical Depression Getting Lethal Prescriptions in Oregon →

Washington Post: Saletan on “Redefining Life and Death”

bioethics, life-ending decisions, media coverage, medical decisionmaking, Our News & Commentary Blog, reality check

I’m a little late on this, but William Saletan, national correspondent for Slate.com, wrote a pretty thoughtful analysis of the current medical debates regarding the definition of death. First published as an essay on Slate, “The Doctors Who are Redefining Life and Death” was published in the Sunday, Oct. 5th edition of the Washington Post. … Continue reading Washington Post: Saletan on “Redefining Life and Death” →

India: Kerala Commission Recommends Euthanasia Legalization

euthanasia, India, media coverage, Our News & Commentary Blog, policy, reality check

Well, this had to happen sooner or later. A legal commission is the state of Kerala has recommended a pretty sweeping legalization of euthanasia: Kerala Law Reforms Commission has presented a proposal, which recommends that euthanasia or mercy killing should be made legal in the state. The proposal also suggests deletion of Section 309 of … Continue reading India: Kerala Commission Recommends Euthanasia Legalization →

Dorothy Livadas Case Complex – and Hospital’s Misuse of Language Doesn’t Help

"end of life", advance directives, life-ending decisions, Our News & Commentary Blog, reality check, Surrogate Decisions & Guardianship

This entry is a little late. Others have been writing about the battle over the guardianship of Dorothy Livadas, a battle that has life and death consequences. Both Wesley Smith and Thaddeus Pope have written about the messy situation surrounding Dorothy Livadas. Interestingly, both Wesley and Pope have termed this case as one revolving “futility.” … Continue reading Dorothy Livadas Case Complex – and Hospital’s Misuse of Language Doesn’t Help →

Dissecting Coverage of Nursing Home Deaths (Part 2)

homicide, media issues, neglect, nursing homes, Our News & Commentary Blog, reality check

Yesterday, I discussed coverage from late 2006 and early 2007 involving an investigation into suspicious deaths at a nursing home in Woodstock, IL. Last week, two ex-employees of the Woodstock Residence nursing home were indicted on multiple charges. More on those charges later. The first news I had of this was via an email message … Continue reading Dissecting Coverage of Nursing Home Deaths (Part 2) →