BlogsforTerri

The Shadowy World of Assisted Suicide

Mon, 16 Mar 2009 08:30:26 -0500

"Mr. [Derek] Humphry said the network's protocols were deliberately written to avoid illegality. 'The person does everything themselves,' he said. ''They don the hood. They tie it around their neck. They reach forward. They turn on the gas.'''

Quoted in yesterday's New York Times. Humphry is chairman of the "Final Exit Network's" advisory board. The group promotes Humphry's suicide manual, "Final Exit."

Two weeks ago I wrote about "Alleged Assisted Suicide Ring Busted." If you're interested you can find out what my take on the Final Exit Network at http://www.nrlc.org/News_and_Views/Feb09/nv022709.html.

New Terri Schiavo Documentary

Sun, 15 Mar 2009 22:26:54 -0500

LifeNews has more info on the new Terri Schiavo documentary:

A new documentary about the life and death of Terri Schiavo presents facts that the mainstream media distorted. Schiavo was killed in a painful starvation and dehydration euthanasia death over the course of nearly two weeks when her former husband won a court order to kill her.

Though the media maintained the disabled woman was in a persistent vegetative state experts say she was in a minimally conscious state and her family indicated she repeatedly interacted with them.

Now, Franklin Springs Family Media has put out a newly-released documentary called The Terri Schiavo Story that it says provides previously unexplored facts of the case through in-depth interviews with participants in the saga.

The documentary is hosted by author and speaker Joni Eareckson Tada, who became personally involved in the case in 2005 and is herself disabled because of a diving accident.

DOCUMENTARY OF THE TERRI SCHIAVO CASE EXPLORES IMPORTANT SOCIAL ISSUES OVERLOOKED BY THE MAINSTREAM MEDIA

Wed, 04 Mar 2009 21:15:24 -0500

more here

Life Support Battle in NY

Mon, 10 Nov 2008 17:50:51 -0500

The Post reports:

The family of a 12-year-old New York boy is entangled in a legal fight with Children's National Medical Center over whether doctors can cease life support because they believe he is brain-dead.

The dispute involves Motl Brody of Brooklyn, who was diagnosed with a severe form of brain cancer. The boy has been under the care of the Northwest Washington hospital for about six months. His tumor grew progressively worse, and doctors there pronounced him dead Tuesday night after tests showed no signs of brain activity.

His parents, Eluzer and Miriam Brody, are trying to prevent the hospital from taking him off life support because they say their faith does not define death as cessation of brain function alone. The parents, Orthodox Jews, have retained a lawyer who says that the boy's circulatory and respiratory systems are functioning, although with mechanical and other assistance.

Bobby Schindler at Princeton University

Sat, 03 May 2008 22:25:19 -0500

Remembering Terri Schiavo Three Years Later

Mon, 31 Mar 2008 08:36:10 -0500

Three years ago today, Terri Schiavo died after thirteen days without sustenance, having been denied by court order the most basic of necessities. We were stunned, watching in disbelief while this brain damaged, but otherwise healthy woman, was publicly subjected to a slow, excruciating death that her caregivers called "compassionate". Could this really have happened in our beloved country? Have we sunk so low that we are willing to termiate the lives of the weak and helpless because they do not have our capabilities or an acceptable "quality of life".

BlogsforTerri remembers...

We've learned many things, or at least realized and appreciated more deeply truths that were rarely tested. Life is precious and its value is independent of a person's capabilities or health status. All individuals, no matter how severe or hopeless their illness, have the basic right to nursing care, emotional support, food, and water. Our critics have a hard time understanding that diminished capabilities or suffering does not change the dignity of the individual's life.

Many have adopted a utilitarian standard on which to evaluate the acceptability of a person's life. Severe brain damage is therefore seen as dehumanizing rather than just disabling. When we asserted that Terri's life was intrinsically valuable, antagonists responded viciously, caustically attacking in the most vile and aggressive manner. Again, we were surprised.

Kevorkian Runs for Congress

Tue, 25 Mar 2008 11:47:48 -0500

They let him out of prison to run for congress?

Jack Kevorkian, who spent eight years in prison for his role in an assisted suicide, will take on another crusade Monday: a race for Congress....

Kevorkian, 79, is expected to run as an independent. He was convicted in 1999 of second-degree murder in the Sept. 17, 1998, death of Thomas Youk, 52, of Waterford. Youk had Lou Gehrig's disease. Kevorkian has said he participated in at least 130 assisted suicides during the 1990s. He was released from prison in June.

Actually, the reason he left prison is that he was expected to die of Hepatitis C within a year (of May 2006). Since then he's promoted assisted suicide via paid speaking engagements and now wants to represent Michigan constituents in congress.

Lauren Richardson

Fri, 01 Feb 2008 17:01:58 -0500

Lauren Richardson, a 23-year old non-dying citizen of Delaware, is in grave danger of being dehydrated and starved to death by order of the state, against the wishes of her father. - details at Defend Life

The Delaware Pro-Life Coalition is leading the fight to keep Lauren from being murdered by order of the state. They organized a prayer vigil yesterday afternoon near the Arbors Rehab Center in New Castle, DE [map]. If you would like to help out, the point of contact is Bess McAneny, 302-593-7876, bmcaneny@aol.com.

Are You Attending Blogs4Life 2008?

Fri, 18 Jan 2008 06:46:16 -0500

The Third Annual Blogs4Life Conference (blogs4life.com ) is scheduled for Tuesday January 22, 2008 in Washington DC. I'm writing with some exciting news with the hope that you'll be able to attend.

The Family Research Council is providing a first class meeting facility just a few blocks from the annual March for Life, the massive pro-life event which draws tens of thousands of pro-lifers (some estimate the crowd at well over 100,000) . A morning session is scheduled before the March with over a dozen well-known pro-life speakers including Kevin McCullough (MC), Jill Stanek, Judie Brown, Eric Scheidler, Barbara Curtis, Dawn Eden, Phill Kline, Michael New, Michael Illions, Maggie Datiles, Michelena Fredenburg, Peter Shinn and Rep. Chris Smith.

Yes, it will be action-packed and lively!

An afternoon session from Noon to 4 PM will be held in a luxurious room close to the Capitol building overlooking the March for Life. Internet access will be provided for live-blogging and a 50-inch flat screen monitor will broadcast the Rally and March for Life as it occurs. In addition, several pro-life leaders will be available for interviews and commentary.

If you plan to attend, please let us know by registering at Blogs4Life.com. Space in the afternoon session is limited and will be provided on a first-come, first-serve basis.

More Information: Blogs4Life.com

The Modern Anathema of Living with Brain Damage

Thu, 17 Jan 2008 03:55:33 -0500

Many families are faced with decisions about what to do when their loved ones suffer serious brain injury. When individuals are unlikely to come out of so-called "vegetative states," should we discontinue nourishing them by tube feeding? Is there anything wrong with causing patients in compromised states to die from starvation and dehydration under these circumstances? We all lived through such a decision when Terri Schiavo died in 2005 in Florida. Her death raised disturbing ethical questions that continue to reverberate in society today.

read the rest

Jack Kevorkian visits Florida

Wed, 16 Jan 2008 03:32:49 -0500

The infamous proponent of assisted suicide was greeted by over 4,000 protesters:

As dozens of pro-life advocates rallied outside, assisted suicide crusader Jack Kevorkian delivered an angry and rambling speech. Although he can only talk about euthanasia in a limited fashion, he advocates the legalization of assisted suicide and blasted President Bush, calling him a tyrant.

The AP reports the unrepentant words of the man convicted of assisting in 130 suicides:

"I am a physician. I knew how to do it. ... I did it humanely," Kevorkian told 4,867 students and faculty.

(...) "We have a criminal group in Washington. We have a bunch of cruel dictators," he said. "Everyone should refuse to vote. That would send the tyrant a message."

(...) Kevorkian, who was paid $50,000 for his speech, said assisted suicide was a medical procedure -- something the law shouldn't be concerned with it.

(...) "It's got to be decriminalized and the law has to step out of the picture," said Kevorkian, wearing his signature blue sweater.

LifeNews reports:

He told the audience that he would be violating the terms of his parole to discuss euthanasia in an expanded sense. His attorney, Mayer Morganroth looked on during the speech.

However, he said that Greece and Rome used assisted suicide and said the ancient cultures are ahead of ours, even though America exists in a modern time.

What a mockery of the criminal justice system that let him out on parole and the taxpayers who are (indirectly) footing the $50,000 bill.

The Terri Schindler-Schiavo Foundation was critical:

The Terry Schindler Schiavo Foundation also submitted a petition with more than 5,000 signatures asking UF to cancel the speech. The foundation was established after the death of Terry Schiavo, a Florida woman who died in 2005 after being removed from a feeding tube in a high-profile battle between the woman's husband and her parents and siblings.

"My concern is this, you are paying a convicted murderer $50,000," said Bobby Schindler, Terry's Schiavo's brother. "It is poor judgment that would allow this man to speak."

Fighting for Javona

Tue, 15 Jan 2008 13:58:07 -0500

The parents of Javona Peters have disagreed on whether to remove a feeding tube and end what's left of her life. - more The teenager has been in a state described as "vegetative" since an "unforeseeable reaction to a routine anesthesia agent" during brain surgery in October 2007. Recent legal maneuverings appear to set an unfortunate stage for the young girls future.

Active Euthanasia

Fri, 11 Jan 2008 14:18:49 -0500

Canadian doctors fight to end their patient's life opposed by family members.

An Apology Due Terri Schiavo

Fri, 23 Nov 2007 21:24:32 -0500

George Stephanopoulos and ABC News owe the family of Terri Schindler Schiavo an apology.

He owes one to the American public too as does Fred Thompson, Republican presidential candidate.

How can the public have any trust in such grossly uninformed media figures as Stephanopoulos who obviously doesn't take the time to learn the facts of an issue or Thompson who aspires to be President. Is that how he would run the country, by basing his opinions on major issues by guess, gosh and speculation rather than facts?

Last Sunday, Thompson appeared on ABC's "This Week" with Stephanopoulos when Stephanopoulos openly demonstrated his total ignorance of the facts of the Schiavo case by flippantly, and wrongly, stating that an autopsy had shown that Terri was "brain dead".

Read the rest at the North Country Gazette

To the supporters of the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition

Thu, 22 Nov 2007 18:13:42 -0500

Mark Pickup, Dr Will Johnson, and Dr. Margaret Somerville have agreed to be interviewed by CTV Newsnet - The Verdict with Paula Todd in response to the airing of the video "The Suicide Tourist"

Mark lives near Edmonton and has lived with MS for more than 20 years and is an excellent speaker and advocate on issues related to assisted suicide and disability.
Dr. Johnston is from Vancouver and is the President of the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition - BC
Dr. Somerville is from Montreal's McGill Centre for Medicine, Ethics and Law and the keynote speaker at the upcoming International Symposium on Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide.

This show will air tonight between 9 and 10 pm EST and will include a 10 minute interview with Mark Pickup and possibly another guest.

This interview is being done to fulfill broadcasting requirements of providing "both sides".

After viewing the program, you, our supporters need to ask the CTV-The Verdict by email to air Turning the Tide which is produced by the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition and Salt and Light Media in response to the airing of: "The Suicide Tourist" to provide a balance to the issue.

The contact information for: The Verict is: www.ctv.ca/theverdict.