New Bill Peace-Related Response – ‘Who would want a child like that?’

August 6, 2012bill peace, bioethics, bloggers, devaluation, Hastings Center, medical decisionmaking, medical discrimination, Our News & Commentary BlogStephen Drake

…lity. But neonatal professionals don’t hear from those folks again and really have no idea how things turn out. The ones they do hear from are the ones who have to keep coming back – due to repeated health crises, chronic treatment issues, etc. Those are the families – especially at a moment when exhausted and discouraged – might express regrets about having pursued aggressive medical treatment. So the fact that medical professionals form a biased…

Stephen Hawking Endorses Assisted Suicide, Saying “We Don’t Let Animals Suffer,” Proving that Being a Genius in One Area Doesn’t Stop You From Saying Stupid Stuff Outside of That Area

September 17, 2013assisted suicide, euthanasia, Our News & Commentary Blogassisted suicide, euthanasia, Stephen HawkingStephen Drake

…what’s your definition of “terminal?” And about those animals…. Do you really think that chickens, cattle, etc. live comfortably in factory farming conditions? Maybe you were just talking about pets. Try reading this before you wax poetic about “suffering” and pets: Let’s put this pet theory to sleep Excerpt: …the statistics on the euthanasia rates of animal rates in shelters paint a grim picture. The reasons owners abandon them there aren’t ver…

Updates on Amanda Baggs – Surgery is on for Today!

April 2, 2013Amanda Baggs, autistic activists, disability, disability activists, disability rights advocates, discrimination, medical bigotry, medical discrimination, Our News & Commentary Blog, vermontStephen Drake

…ll of these good things happened is because of Laura T. – Webmuskie – who emailed people all day Sunday to get everyone informed and ready to intervene in whatever way they were able. I’m cautiously optimistic that “we” – all of us – won this one. It’s truly amazing what so many people can do when we’re focused, outraged, and more than a little bit scared. …

PBS Airs Frontline “The Suicide Plan” – Video Tape Exposes Final Exit Network’s Big Lie

November 14, 2012assisted suicide, final exit network, Frontline, Georgia, murder, Our News & Commentary Blog, zealotryStephen Drake

…ain. And I’ve seen a person like that, where the heart started up beautifully, normally, but the brain was totally dead. And that, we do— that is the ultimate of disasters. Frustratingly, the interviewer doesn’t ask for a clarification of what Egbert means when he “makes it clear” that pulling the bag down is the “point of no return.” Does he mean that he won’t let him take the bag off at that point? It’s open for interpretation, with that at the…

NY Lawsuit Claims Organ Donor Network Engaged in ‘Shameful Practices,’ Pressuring Staff and Families

October 19, 2012brain death, brain injury, litigation, New York Organ Donor Network, organ donation, organ transplants, Our News & Commentary Blog, rush to judgmentStephen Drake

…a salutary effect on another human being. I use the word “hover” deliberately, if a bit provocatively, because that is how families of many brain injury patients viewed it. I know this from interviews with more than 40 families, each with a member who had a disorder of consciousness, who came to Weill Cornell Medical College for enrollment in neuroimaging and EEG studies designed to elucidate mechanisms of recovery. While they were here, we conduc…