Blog
November 17, 2016
Global Law Reform: 2 Steps Forward, 1 Step Back
There is little doubt that voluntary euthanasia/ ‘medical aid in dying’ law reform is on the move!
The recent success of Colorado’s Proposition 106 is the good news story in this regard.
You can read more about this new End of Life Choices law here.
Following on Colorado’s heels is Washington DC’s Council passing their …
November 6, 2016
Why America’s Medical Aid in Dying Acts are Failing Seniors
In recent weeks, the Dutch Ambassador to New Zealand, Robert Zaagman, has described NZ political debate about whether to introduce a voluntary euthanasia/ assisted suicide law as being akin to Dutch debate 20 years ago.
While an increasing number of US States are moving beyond the ‘should we’ – ‘shouldn’t we’ legislate on end of …
November 3, 2016
Should the Dutch extend euthanasia to the ‘well’ elderly?
Extending assistance to die to the so-called ‘well elderly’ is a topic that has long been of interest to Exit.
Indeed, it is one of the reasons that the Peaceful Pill Handbook is published.
In recognising ‘euthanasia’ – a good death – as a civil right, it is only logical that those with a terminal …
September 25, 2016
Why the Belgians have it right
It will be twenty years ago this week since the Northern Territory passed the world’s first law on voluntary euthanasia.
The Rights of the Terminally Ill Act (ROTI) was a carefully-drafted piece of legislation that allowed a terminally ill person of sound mind to ask a doctor for help to die. The law expressly excluded …
July 31, 2016
Why Legalized Testing of Nembutal is Common Sense
In mid July at the Secret Garden Party Festival in Cambridgeshire in the UK, The Loop alcohol and drug testing service achieved the impossible.
They conducted police-approved, lawful drug testing for party-goers.
Politics.co.uk writes that a 10m sq patch of lawn became Ground Zero for those wanting their party drugs tested.
This is how it …
July 14, 2016
Why Theresa May is no Feminist
I must admit, while not a conservative voter, last week I started to get a bit sucked in!
Last week, there was Theresa May, Britain’s would-be next (and now new) Prime Minister wearing purple.
While I’m yet to notice Hillary in the color of feminism (and dignity), I convinced myself that May’s choice of frock …
May 21, 2016
From Voluntary Euthanasia to Rational Suicide? Exit’s 20th Anniversary Conference
The forthcoming Exit 20th Anniversary conference is titled ‘From Voluntary Euthanasia to Rational Suicide’.
But what are we talking about?
Generally speaking, VE – voluntary euthanasia is the catch-all term that means an assisted death. Euthanasia comes from the Greek, meaning good death.
Voluntary speaks for itself (although as some Christian groups would argue, there …
February 28, 2016
America’s Moral Panic over Euthanasia in the Netherlands
Whoever said it was Donald Trump who was causing moral panic and outrage in the US at the moment was only partly right. The other mischief maker is the Dutch, at least where euthanasia is concerned.
The study published last week in the Journal of the American Medical Association shows a few things. And not …
October 7, 2015
California’s End of Life Options Act (SB-128) – What’s it all about?
“I do not know what I would do if I were dying in prolonged and excruciating pain,” he wrote in a letter addressed to state lawmakers. “I am certain, however, that it would be a comfort to be able to consider the options afforded by this bill.
“And I wouldn’t deny that right to others.” …
September 27, 2015
Submission to Inquiry into End of Life Choices
I made a late submission to the Parliamentary Committee Inquiry into End of Life Choices in the Australian state of Victoria, not expecting it to be accepted, but it was. Here it is :
……the tintinnabulation that so musically wells
From the bells, bells, bells, bells,
Bells, bells, bells –
From the jingling and the
Exit