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End of Life Care"Basically, the bioethicists have warped the movement into a life-ending movement," said Diane Coleman of Not Dead Yet, 15 Nov. 2004. "They've had tens of millions of dollars to work with, and they've used it to build a steamroller that's decimating the civil and constitutional rights of people in guardianship.""The French Way?"The French National Assembly on 30 Nov. 2004 passed a law on euthanasia by omission. Patients who are in a "vegetative state" may have their life support stopped. If they have an infection or a life-threatening complication they will not be treated, as it will be considered "out of proportion." Philippe Douste-Blazy, the Health Minister, described the new law as "a third way, the French way." Perhaps if he had described it more correctly as the British way, it would not have passed.Oscars attacked "The Disability Rights group Not Dead Yet has criticised Hollywood's Motion Picture Academy for contempt for people with disabilities after two films promoting euthanasia were awarded Oscars." SPUC News reported on 2 March 05. Diane Coleman, the group's president, stated, "They love us if we're begging to die. Once we start talking about our rights, we see their interest and sympathy disappear."
Genetic Testing postponed"It is now a crime in the U.S. to harm an unborn child while attacking his or her mother" (SPUC News, 5 Apr. 04). President Bush signed the Act into law on 2nd April; however, homicide is primarily a State crime, as opposed to a federal crime, so "Americans United for Life", say it is now important for all 50 states to provide similar protection for the unborn.Stroke Victims denied scans"Thousands of lives are being lost because the Health Service is failing to give basic stroke care, it emerged yesterday," the Daily Mail reported on 15 March 05. "Half of all stroke patients are denied urgent scans on arrival at hospital, which can delay the start of life-saving treatment. 'One in three wait more than two days to get aspirin, which can prevent further strokes', said the Royal College of Physicians."►[Top] "Diane refused euthanasia"" the Edinburgh Evening News reported on 11 May 05. "Right-to-die campaigner Diane Pretty refused an offer to die at a Swiss euthanasia clinic so she could launch her court challenge, her family has revealed. Speaking at the third-year anniversary of her death, her husband Brian said the offer came just after Mrs. Pretty, who was paralysed with motor neurone disease, launched her legal fight."►[Top] Living Wills a one-way-street in USA"According to the National Right to Life Committee, the laws of all but ten states may allow physicians and hospitals to disregard Advance directives when they call for patients to be provided with treatment.►[Top] Hammersmith Hospital breakthrough?"British doctors have a 'significant' breakthrough using patients' own stem cells to regrow their livers, raising the possibility of it replacing organ transplants in the future." (Sunday Telegraph, 29 May 05). "Nagy Habib, the Professor of liver services at Hammersmith Hospital, who is overseeing the project, said: "The treatment is still experimental, but we hope that we have made a significant breakthrough."►[Top] Campaign for Sperm donors too dear"Every sperm donor recruited by a new awareness campaign costs the Government £6,250, according to critics who say the scheme has been wasteful (Sunday Telegraph, 3 July 05). "Since the Government changed the law in April to allow children of sperm donation a right to information on their natural parents, ministers have spent £300,000 on a drive to counteract a drop in donor numbers. Sperm donors receive, by law, a maximum of £15 for their efforts."►[Top] Irishwoman to challenge abortion law"In the first test case of Ireland's abortion laws at the court in Strasbourg, it is claimed that the lack of abortion services discriminates against the right to be protected against inhuman and degrading treatments." (Independent on Sunday, 4 Sept. 05).►[Top] Abortion 'bad for women'"A member of a radical UN women's committee has broken ranks with her colleagues and described the killing of unborn children as 'bad for women'" (ALIVE, Sept. 05). "She expected that in the future abortion will be viewed in the same way that 'torture' is viewed now in the area of human rights."►[Top] "Nurse found dead may have killed 23 patients"The Times on 31 Aug. reported "A hospital matron with a 'God Complex' who was facing trial charged with murdering three elderly patients may have killed a further 20 people, police said yesterday." The Daily Mail stated on 1 Sept. 05 that relatives were not happy with the proposal to hold an inquiry behind closed doors, even if the results were published.►[Top] Recommended ReadingNo Water - No Life: Hydration in the Dying by Gillian Craig, published by Fairway Folio of Alsager, Cheshire, is now available, price £15 in the UK or £18 overseas. ISBN 0 9545445 36.The Mental Capacity Act 2005 Explained (short pamphlet), published by SPUC, 5-6 St. Matthew Street, London SW1P 2JT. ►[Top] |
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