Testimony of Karen Scheiderman – MA Assisted Suicide Hearing

February 24, 2010advocacy, assisted suicide, Massachusetts, Our News & Commentary BlogStephen Drake

…n with – Spina Bifida – the second most common genetic disability. The medical profession has at times been both a friend and an enemy to me, saving my life at birth and experimenting on me later in life. This profession is a profit-driven institution that makes decisions based on financial as well as medical issues and were I to be in a situation where I were so sick that it became financially burdensome to the State, I suspect many physicians wo…

HBO Is Making Sure We Don’t Know Jack About Jack Kevorkian

April 22, 2010assisted suicide, Homicide / 'Mercy Killing', Kevorkian, media coverage, media issues, Our News & Commentary Blog, reality checkStephen Drake

…of Kevorkian’s body count consisted of women with nonterminal chronic medical conditions or disabilities. Here’s a synopsis of what the reporters at the Detroit Free Press found: Counseling is often limited to phone calls and brief meetings that include family members and friends. There was no psychiatric exam in at least 19 Kevorkian suicides, including several in which friends or family had responded that the patient was despondent over matters…

The “Right to Die” Expands Into New Territory

May 13, 2010"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 dieStephen Drake

…enalty over Johnson’s wishes – and contrary to the legal judgment of the local defense. It gets a little complicated and you can read the whole story here. It’s worth noting that the “D” word – “dignity” comes into play as well, in this criticism from the local defense counsel: “What they are really doing is basically being very disrespectful to his dignity by trying to draw this out,” he said. “While I don’t agree with the decision, I think they…

Three recommended reads: Bill Peace on “Ashley and Me,” L Syd M Johnson critque of Jacob Appel on PVS and April Michelle Herndon on the “Magic Pill” Question

July 9, 2010Ashley X, bioethics, blog recommendations, cure, glbt, Hastings Center, Our News & Commentary Blog, pvs, william peaceStephen Drake

…th this bioethics entity have been both cordial – and very limited. Periodically, the Center seems to take an interest in hearing something from disability advocates and activists, but after they’ve engaged in a small token effort, move on and appear to be pretty much oblivious until the next time they do a token event/seminar/workshop. Nevertheless, I go back periodically to the online Bioethics Forum, because I occasionally find articles on that…

The Wreckage Suicide “Helpers” Leave Behind – A letter from a bereaved family member

March 17, 2009grief, Our News & Commentary Blog, predators, suicide, survivorsStephen Drake

…cy! If I thought that wasn’t exciting enough, at approximately 9pm I got a call from security! They asked me to come up to the emergency room. Working for a big hospital, I didn’t think anything of it. I guess I assumed they needed me for something. I was in for the shock of my life! There was a Lancaster Police Officer standing there. He introduced himself to me, and asked if my name was Karen (last name omitted). Right then and there I thought I…