New Blog from Steve Gold: First Entry is a “Modest Proposal” on Health Care Reform

September 23, 2009blog recommendations, bloggers, health care reform, Our News & Commentary Blog, policy, satire, Steve GoldStephen Drake

…crisis because of the health care insurance companies, the pharmaceutical drug companies, the doctors and hospitals, and the lawyers. But these folks represent only part of the trunk and the elephant’s left front foot. No, the cause of the health crisis is much bigger. It’s them – those people who do not deserve unlimited health care – for themselves, for their children, for their parents. Please read the rest here. And remember – it’s satire. Ste…

Text of Response to Dr. Phil Segment ‘Deadly Consequences’ with List of National, State and Local Signons.

May 30, 2012disability rights advocates, Dr. Phil, involuntary euthanasia, media bias, Our News & Commentary Blog, promoting murderStephen Drake

…ree step children, three of whom were described as having “special needs.” Ruthi spoke from the audience, rather than on stage like Ms. Corriveau. There were no videos of Ruthi’s children. She was appalled at the idea of killing people with intellectual disabilities, but was given no more than a minute to speak. Finally, Dr. Phil, you asked for a show of hands from the audience – how many agree that Corriveau should be able to “mercifully” kill he…

Canada: Not Dead Yet Responds to Quebec Commission Report on ‘Dying With Dignity’

March 26, 2012Amy Hasbrouck, assisted suicide, Canada, diane coleman, Our News & Commentary Blog, press release, QuebecStephen Drake

…sion has failed elders and people with disabilities.” The Commission was struck in December of 2009 to research and make recommendations on the issue of “death with dignity” in Québec. After more than two years of taking expert and citizen testimony, and visiting several jurisdictions where assisted suicide and euthanasia are legal, the Commission issued its report on March 22. The highlight of the report is 24 recommendations that emphasize the i…

Not Getting on the POLST Bandwagon

August 23, 2011"end of life", advance directives, life-sustaining treatment, Our News & Commentary Blog, policy, POLSTDiane Coleman

…e a lot of potential reasons to doubt whether such unquestioning societal trust can ever be justified in the real world, reasons derived from factors like insurance coverage denials, medical error, medical malpractice, time constraints on physician visits, contractual constraints on “utilization” (i.e. provision of medical treatments), to name a few. But perhaps the most glaring factor that comes to my mind is the existence of laws in many states…

Follow-up: Writer with ALS Who Penned “The Good Short Life” Considers Hanging Around Longer

July 26, 2011als, choices, Dudley Clendinen, living well, Our News & Commentary Blog, suicideStephen Drake

…mous response–our own website received thousands of hits from all over the world, David Brooks referenced it in a column about the cost of health care, and Dudley received hundreds of letters–including one from a publishing house offering him a book deal. “It’s a really big offer,” says Dudley. “It may be the best deal a dying write has had since Ulysses S. Grant.” Dudley says that makes several things possible that he hadn’t thought were options….