 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."
"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."
Living
Wills a one-way-street in USA, too
"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.
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."
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."
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).
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."
"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.
Recommended Reading:
No 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.
|
