Category Archives: suicide

More on Double Euthanasia in Belgium, National Federation of the Blind Reacts, and Other Suicides in the News

Aaron Swartz, Belgium, deaf-blind, devaluation, euthanasia, National Federation of the Blind, Oskar the Blind Cat, Our News & Commentary Blog, pets, reality check, suicide

The 24+ hours since I posted on the double euthanasia of two deaf men in Belgium has resulted in some developments, varied reactions, and some reflection on my own part.  My apologies if this post seems a little scattered – a little like mental  multi-colored pasta thrown against the wall –  but sometimes that’s how … Continue reading More on Double Euthanasia in Belgium, National Federation of the Blind Reacts, and Other Suicides in the News →

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

assisted suicide, libertarians, obitiatry, Our News & Commentary Blog, suicide, Thomas Szasz

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 →

The Death of Christina Symanski – John Kelly and Bill Peace on Media, Perspective, Wrong Questions and Ignored Issues

bill peace, Christina Symanski, dehydration, john kelly, media coverage, media issues, Our News & Commentary Blog, quadriplegia, starvation, suicide, VSED

John Kelly is the Director of the recently-formed Second Thoughts, a Massachusetts-based group of disability rights advocates opposing the legalization of assisted suicide. The essay below refers mainly to an article on Christina Symanski that appeared in the Huffington Post, originally in the sites “Weird News” section.  Symanski was a young woman who starved and … Continue reading The Death of Christina Symanski – John Kelly and Bill Peace on Media, Perspective, Wrong Questions and Ignored Issues →

RELEASE: Disability Activists Urge Georgia Legislators to “Get it Right” on Assisted Suicide

assisted suicide, court decisions, final exit network, Georgia, legislation, Our News & Commentary Blog, press release, suicide

Disability Activists Urge Georgia Legislators to “Get it Right” on Assisted Suicide Today, Georgia disability activists, including members of Not Dead Yet, reacted to the Supreme Court ruling that overturned a 1994 law on assisted suicide on First Amendment grounds, calling on the Georgia legislature to tackle the issue as soon as possible and “get … Continue reading RELEASE: Disability Activists Urge Georgia Legislators to “Get it Right” on Assisted Suicide →

Former “Medical Director” of Final Exit Network Profiled in Wash. Post, Live Chat Monday 2:00 pm ET

assisted suicide, fanaticism, final exit network, media, Our News & Commentary Blog, suicide, vigilantes, zealotry

Readers of this blog are familiar with the Final Exit Network (FEN), the assisted suicide vigilante cult that has gotten into legal trouble in two states over the roles members of FEN played in facilitating the suicides of a man in Georgia and a woman in Arizona. The common denominator in both cases is the … Continue reading Former “Medical Director” of Final Exit Network Profiled in Wash. Post, Live Chat Monday 2:00 pm ET →