Suicide Promotion During Suicide Prevention Week – Blog from Wesley Smith and a Little More from Me

September 9, 2011assisted suicide, final exit network, lanny berman, national suicide prevention week, Our News & Commentary Blog, suicide, suicide prevention, Wesley Smith, world suicide prevention dayStephen Drake

…e an awful lot of news dedicated to the promotion of suicide during the so-called “National Suicide Prevention Week.” It’s been obvious to a number of us who’ve been dealing with these issues that the suicide prevention community has been MIA for years. It’s gotten to the point where I doubt that reporters even think – on their own – to call someone from a suicide prevention organization when doing a story on, for example, Final Exit Network (FEN)…

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

…iveau, who has two adult children who have a progressive genetic condition called Sanfilippo syndrome. The show opened with a brief introduction of Corriveau, followed by an interview of her conducted by one of the producers. Over the course of the opening which took more than half of the segment, viewers were shown and/or told the following: Video of Corriveau’s two children from typical childhood to recent pictures as adults with disabilities; D…

Train Wrecks and Being Bushwacked in the Land of Oz – Bill Peace, Danny Robert and Nadina LaSpina report on the Oz Show

October 25, 2011als, assisted suicide, blog recommendations, Danny Robert, Dr. Oz, infotainment, ira byock, media coverage, media issues, Nadina LaSpina, Our News & Commentary Blog, ventilator, william peaceStephen Drake

…rote that he and Diane Coleman might be on a syndicated television program called Doctor Oz. The subject was assisted suicide, not exactly the usual afternoon television fodder. To say I was skeptical would be too generous—daytime television is not exactly known for quality programming and I had never heard of Dr. Oz. As it turns out Drake and Coleman could not appear. I decided to attend knowing some members of Not Dead Yet would be present as we…

RELEASE: Disabililty Rights Activists from NDY and National Council on Disability Featured on Dr. Oz Assisted Suicide Show

November 3, 2011ari ne'eman, assisted suicide, Danny Robert, Dr. Oz, media coverage, media issues, national council on disability, Our News & Commentary Blog, press releaseStephen Drake

…cry for help. But most of the Dr. Oz audience didn’t seem to hear her ambivalence and her plea. They just applauded her wish to die.” Dr. Oz stated that he supports assisted suicide at the beginning of the taping and at the end of the broadcast. The producers included extensive footage and interview time with the disabled individual and family supporting assisted suicide, which was not comparably sought or obtained from a disabled individual and f…

Canadian Assisted Suicide Case Sparks Dueling Letters on Disability

November 29, 2011Alison Davis, assisted suicide, Canada, Council of Canadians with Disabilities, court cases, diane coleman, disability rights advocates, media issues, Our News & Commentary Blog, Rhonda WiebeStephen Drake

…a woman with ALS. The public debate is well underway. On November 13, the Calgary Herald published an op ed by three opponents of legalization entitled “Why we should be afraid of assisted suicide.” The authors describe the case as follows: Carter vs. Attorney General of Canada brings a constitutional challenge to Canada’s laws prohibiting assisted suicide and euthanasia. The case also seeks to legalize these practices as a medical treatment. Las…