Video Link to July 7 Debate on Falconer Bill (Swiss Suicide Immunity)

July 14, 2009assisted suicide, jane campbell, legislation, Our News & Commentary Blog, policy, Switzerland, United KingdomStephen Drake

There’s good news and bad news. I can provide the link to the debate on Lord Falconer’s bill on extending immunity to people who accompany family members to Switzerland to commit suicide at a Dignitas facility. The bad news is this: It’s a continous videostream of the entire 7.5 hours of debate in the House of Lords that day and the connection and buffering can be erratic. As I’ve mentioned before, I have terrible trouble doing transcripts myself…

Final Exit Network Members Passing Off “Boilerplate” Op-eds As Original Work?

March 31, 2009ethics, final exit network, media coverage, media issues, Our News & Commentary BlogStephen Drake

…more of these. I learned a lesson these past few days about how little one newspaper – the Summit Daily News – seems to care if columns aren’t exactly “original work.” I called the managing editor at the paper and left voice mail asking if they had a policy in regard to columns and op-eds being original work. I sent email to the same editor asking the same question and gave a link to the Wettstein op-ed in the Arizona Daily Star. To date, there ha…

ADAPT Leaves DC After Making its Mark – More Work Yet to Do

September 22, 2011activism, ADAPT, advocacy, budget reduction, congress, legislation, Medicaid, Our News & Commentary Blog, republicans, Tea PartyStephen Drake

…Activists at White House Gates as Obama Delivers Debt Plan Dallas Morning News – Protesters tell Congress not to cut or cap Medicaid for poor, disabled The Hill – Disability-rights advocates protest Obama’s proposed Medicaid cuts The Nation – Rally on Capitol Hill: ‘Medicaid Matters’ NDY – and most disability groups are nonpartisan. And yet it’s obvious the last week – in spite of ADAPT’s message to the White House – leans pretty heavily on Repub…

Media Alert – Looks Like “Dr. Oz” Is Planning Slanted Show on Assisted Suicide

October 18, 2011assisted suicide, barbara coombs lee, Dr. Oz, ira byock, keith ablow, media coverage, media issues, Our News & Commentary Blog, right to dieStephen Drake

…al days of making arrangements for people to contact producers, we got the news on Friday last week (October 14) that the panel of experts was set and contrary to previous statements, Barbara Coombs Lee (President of Compassion & Choices) would be on the “expert panel.” The members of the panel, will, of course, get most of the air time. So who else is on the panel of experts? Dr. Keith Ablow – appearing as an expert opposed to assisted suicide, A…

Media Coverage and Links to testimony of ‘Second Thoughts’ members before MA legislative hearing on Assisted Suicide

March 12, 2012assisted suicide, disability activists, disability rights advocates, legislation, Massachusetts, Our News & Commentary Blog, Second ThoughtsStephen Drake

…upset over “Death with Dignity” bill: wwlp.com The good news is that this news story focused on disability activists; the bad news is that comments from disability activists are short and not even the most truly representative of the arguments they made before the legislature that day. Full testimony of Second Thoughts members John Kelly, Michael Muehe, Eileen Feldman and Denise Karuth can be accessed via their Testimony Page (there are links to…