Minnesota: Final Exit Network Argues Assisted Suicide Law Violates Free Speech Rights in Court

…al rights to freedom of speech and freedom of association. The group Final Exit Network is challenging the law after four of its members were indicted in May in the suicide of a Minnesota woman. Prosecutors say the defendants not only supported Doreen Dunn’s decision to kill herself in 2007, but provided her with information and support to follow through. Final Exit members claim they do not encourage suicide, but that the act of giving informatio…

The Song That Is Sung at Final Exit Network Meetings (Or Should Be)

…Derek Humphry, the writer of the book Final Exit and a member of the Final Exit Network. It’s some dialogue from his Web site. The statement for “Final Exit,” it’s not a negative comment on the organization, it’s a statement about society and how it’s gotten to the point in the world of medicine where instead of trying to find cures they’re just not helping people at all. And this is a resort people have to take, assisted suicide to end their suff…

President/CEO of Center for Practical Bioethics Careless with Facts Comparing Final Exit Network to Kevorkian

…ails, though. Here it is: Finally, Dr. Lawrence Egbert and others in Final Exit Network are not Jack Kevorkian types. The group does not advertise their efforts to take the lives of patients, but only assist the patient in taking her own. Though that may seem like splitting hairs to some, when there is no state law on the books that bans assisted suicide, advertising or publicly advocating for a troublesome and morally objectionable activity does…

NY Times Columnist Promoted Final Exit Network and Gave Contact Info

In case you’re wondering, the Final Exit Network and its “work” was never a secret. In fact, they got a big boost of publicity nearly a year ago, from NY Times Health columnist Jane E. Brody. The column – and her promotion of Final Exit Network – was addressed in this blog: After laying out the Oregon law and people’s options in terms of limiting life-sustaining treatment, Brody advances down her self-made slope to the advocacy of organizations l…

Reporter Succeeds in Getting Two Suicide Prevention Organizations to Comment on Final Exit Network Billboard!

…izations for their silence on all the positive press coverage of the Final Exit Network (FEN). The coverage included approval of suicides for people who are old, ill or disabled. For good measure, virtually every story on FEN included the organizations website – where people could get information and contact people who would affirm their desire to off themselves as “rational.” What we concluded was that Suicide Prevention Week didn’t apply to peop…