Actor/Activist Martin Sheen Voices Opposition to Assisted Suicide in Washington State

October 1, 2008advocacy, assisted suicide, Kevorkian, Our News & Commentary Blog, Washington stateStephen Drake

…radio spot. Known for his support and involvement in progressive causes off-camera, Sheen explained his desire to make this statement in a press release from the Coalition: “I try to work when I’m not on the screen to help improve conditions for the most vulnerable people in our country — low wage workers, immigrants, the disabled and the poor,” Sheen said. “We have a health care system where the more money you have, the better medical care you re…

Real life keeps getting in the way of good intentions

November 26, 2008excuses, Our News & Commentary BlogStephen Drake

If it’s still available online, I really do hope to get to transcribing the Radio Netherlands interview. I’m a slow typist whose working memory is limited when I’m doing something like typing, so transcription is a long and slow process of listening, remembering and typing five words, rewinding, hit “play” and repeat the process ad infinitum. As anyone reading the description above might gather, it doesn’t take much to distract me from doing tran…

Mike Ervin: Ruben Navarro and Rethinking Donation of My Organs

January 27, 2009crime and punishment, mike ervin, NSCIA, organ donation, Our News & Commentary Blog, Ruben NavarroStephen Drake

…n any jury to do it. Apparently it’s not hard to find 12 people who can be convinced that trying to kill someone with a disability doesn’t even rise to the level of abuse. Published: 2008-12-22 Republished from the NSCIA website with permission of the National Spinal Cord Injury Association (NSCIA). 1-800-962-9629 www.spinalcord.org…

New Mobility: NDY quoted in story on U.K. Airing of Ewert Suicide

February 3, 2009assisted suicide, media coverage, New Mobility, Our News & Commentary Blog, Switzerland, United KingdomStephen Drake

…sive services of the organization Dignitas. The short article, unavailable online, summarizes the situation concisely and also includes my own quotes on the issue. This is from the February 2009 issue of New Mobility, page 14: Assisted Suicide Aired on Television Britain’s Sky Real Lives broadcast station took reality TV to new lows by airing “Right to Die: The Suicide Tourist,” the assisted suicide of Craig Ewert, from England. The wife of the re…

Germany: Oops! Man Allegedly Kills Friend Who Was Misdiagnosed as Terminally Ill

February 9, 2009crime and punishment, Germany, Homicide / 'Mercy Killing', Our News & Commentary BlogStephen Drake

…ding to daily Bild. Police discovered the body of the man, identified as 40-year-old Achim K., in his apartment at his parents’ house on Thursday morning after his alleged killer called the fire brigade regarding the incident. Following his arrest, the 32-year-old suspect indicated his friend had asked him to commit the murder, Bild reported on Friday. The Public Attorney’s Office in Bochum has collected six witness accounts confirming the suspect…