NEWS

Why everyone should write an Advance Decision – the case of Paul Briggs

The case of Paul Briggs, reported in the Daily Telegraph and other papers, highlights why everyone should write an Advance Decision (AD) to refuse medical treatment in case they are…Subject: Oral Evidence Sessions: Day 2 Session 2 Legal and Palliative Care Considerations This afternoon saw the second session of the second day of oral evidence. The Committee examining the Terminally Ill Adults Bill questioned experts on the legal aspects of the Bill, as well as the palliative care and disability considerations. Make sure to read our summary of yesterday’s morning session and afternoon session, and this morning’s session. Session 1:

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Dementia now leading cause of death

A BBC report highlights the latest statistics published by the ONS on causes of death. Dementia (including Alzheimer's disease), is now the leading cause of death, accounting for 11.6% of…Subject: Oral Evidence Sessions: Day 2 Session 2 Legal and Palliative Care Considerations This afternoon saw the second session of the second day of oral evidence. The Committee examining the Terminally Ill Adults Bill questioned experts on the legal aspects of the Bill, as well as the palliative care and disability considerations. Make sure to read our summary of yesterday’s morning session and afternoon session, and this morning’s session. Session 1:

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Protecting Vulnerable People

We were interested to see an article on the Christian Institute website about MDMD, claiming that we "lobby for legal protections to be removed from vulnerable people". Nothing could be…Subject: Oral Evidence Sessions: Day 2 Session 2 Legal and Palliative Care Considerations This afternoon saw the second session of the second day of oral evidence. The Committee examining the Terminally Ill Adults Bill questioned experts on the legal aspects of the Bill, as well as the palliative care and disability considerations. Make sure to read our summary of yesterday’s morning session and afternoon session, and this morning’s session. Session 1:

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How long do we really want to live for?

In an interesting BBC Website article, health correspondent Nick Triggle asks this important question. The article usefully differentiates between "life expectancy" and "healthy life expectancy". It points out that many…Subject: Oral Evidence Sessions: Day 2 Session 2 Legal and Palliative Care Considerations This afternoon saw the second session of the second day of oral evidence. The Committee examining the Terminally Ill Adults Bill questioned experts on the legal aspects of the Bill, as well as the palliative care and disability considerations. Make sure to read our summary of yesterday’s morning session and afternoon session, and this morning’s session. Session 1:

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MDMD Website launched

Today MDMD formally launches its website. Following a press release and interviews, an article in the Sunday Times 9th October describes MDMD's main objectives under the headline "Non terminally ill…Subject: Oral Evidence Sessions: Day 2 Session 2 Legal and Palliative Care Considerations This afternoon saw the second session of the second day of oral evidence. The Committee examining the Terminally Ill Adults Bill questioned experts on the legal aspects of the Bill, as well as the palliative care and disability considerations. Make sure to read our summary of yesterday’s morning session and afternoon session, and this morning’s session. Session 1:

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Archbishop Desmond Tutu: I want the option of an assisted death

On his 85th birthday Archbishop Desmond Tutu wrote an opinion piece in the Washington Post where he goes further than his previous position of supporting assisted dying. He now states…Subject: Oral Evidence Sessions: Day 2 Session 2 Legal and Palliative Care Considerations This afternoon saw the second session of the second day of oral evidence. The Committee examining the Terminally Ill Adults Bill questioned experts on the legal aspects of the Bill, as well as the palliative care and disability considerations. Make sure to read our summary of yesterday’s morning session and afternoon session, and this morning’s session. Session 1:

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Belgian Paralympian wants Euthanasia… but not yet.

The BBC report the case of Marieke Vervoort who has a degenerative muscle disease and won silver in the 2016 paralympics. She has made it clear that she wants Euthanasia in…Subject: Oral Evidence Sessions: Day 2 Session 2 Legal and Palliative Care Considerations This afternoon saw the second session of the second day of oral evidence. The Committee examining the Terminally Ill Adults Bill questioned experts on the legal aspects of the Bill, as well as the palliative care and disability considerations. Make sure to read our summary of yesterday’s morning session and afternoon session, and this morning’s session. Session 1:

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Euthanasia linked to Organ Donation

The Daily Mail 5/9/16 reports on a paper published in a medical journal which calls for allowing euthanasia to enable organ donation in the case 'where it has been argued…Subject: Oral Evidence Sessions: Day 2 Session 2 Legal and Palliative Care Considerations This afternoon saw the second session of the second day of oral evidence. The Committee examining the Terminally Ill Adults Bill questioned experts on the legal aspects of the Bill, as well as the palliative care and disability considerations. Make sure to read our summary of yesterday’s morning session and afternoon session, and this morning’s session. Session 1:

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What is “Unbearable”?

The Economist 6/8/16 reports research done in USA which interviewed patients aged over 60 who were admitted to hospital suffering from serious illness. They were asked to compare various symptoms…Subject: Oral Evidence Sessions: Day 2 Session 2 Legal and Palliative Care Considerations This afternoon saw the second session of the second day of oral evidence. The Committee examining the Terminally Ill Adults Bill questioned experts on the legal aspects of the Bill, as well as the palliative care and disability considerations. Make sure to read our summary of yesterday’s morning session and afternoon session, and this morning’s session. Session 1:

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Two BMJ Blog posts on assisted dying in Dementia and Psychiatric cases.

Richard Smith, former editor of the British Medical Journal (BMJ) writes a moving personal story of his mother who suffers from dementia, arguing the case for assisted suicide for early…Subject: Oral Evidence Sessions: Day 2 Session 2 Legal and Palliative Care Considerations This afternoon saw the second session of the second day of oral evidence. The Committee examining the Terminally Ill Adults Bill questioned experts on the legal aspects of the Bill, as well as the palliative care and disability considerations. Make sure to read our summary of yesterday’s morning session and afternoon session, and this morning’s session. Session 1:

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Lord Rix changes his mind in support of legalised euthanasia

In 2006 Lord Rix, who was president of Mencap, voted against an assisted dying bill in the House of Lords. Now, aged 92, and terminally ill himself, he has changed…Subject: Oral Evidence Sessions: Day 2 Session 2 Legal and Palliative Care Considerations This afternoon saw the second session of the second day of oral evidence. The Committee examining the Terminally Ill Adults Bill questioned experts on the legal aspects of the Bill, as well as the palliative care and disability considerations. Make sure to read our summary of yesterday’s morning session and afternoon session, and this morning’s session. Session 1:

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New Scientist reports on assisted suicide for psychiatric cases

New Scientist 23 July 2016 published an article discussing assisted suicide for psychiatric patients - which is legal in some countries such as the Netherlands and Belgium. The article gives…Subject: Oral Evidence Sessions: Day 2 Session 2 Legal and Palliative Care Considerations This afternoon saw the second session of the second day of oral evidence. The Committee examining the Terminally Ill Adults Bill questioned experts on the legal aspects of the Bill, as well as the palliative care and disability considerations. Make sure to read our summary of yesterday’s morning session and afternoon session, and this morning’s session. Session 1:

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Man shot wife with dementia in care home ‘to end suffering’ – BBC News

Source: Man shot wife with dementia in care home 'to end suffering' - BBC News This story is a challenge to the DPP guidelines. From the details available it appears…Subject: Oral Evidence Sessions: Day 2 Session 2 Legal and Palliative Care Considerations This afternoon saw the second session of the second day of oral evidence. The Committee examining the Terminally Ill Adults Bill questioned experts on the legal aspects of the Bill, as well as the palliative care and disability considerations. Make sure to read our summary of yesterday’s morning session and afternoon session, and this morning’s session. Session 1:

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Couple in joint suicide pact to avoid going into care

he Daily Telegraph reports the case of a Devon couple in their '80s who successfully carried out a joint suicide. From the article it appears that this was a rational,…Subject: Oral Evidence Sessions: Day 2 Session 2 Legal and Palliative Care Considerations This afternoon saw the second session of the second day of oral evidence. The Committee examining the Terminally Ill Adults Bill questioned experts on the legal aspects of the Bill, as well as the palliative care and disability considerations. Make sure to read our summary of yesterday’s morning session and afternoon session, and this morning’s session. Session 1:

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Euthanasia 2016

Euthanasia 2016 took place in Amsterdam in May 2016. Slides from the presentations can be found in the following link, including the presentation on 'When is a Life Complete?' by…Subject: Oral Evidence Sessions: Day 2 Session 2 Legal and Palliative Care Considerations This afternoon saw the second session of the second day of oral evidence. The Committee examining the Terminally Ill Adults Bill questioned experts on the legal aspects of the Bill, as well as the palliative care and disability considerations. Make sure to read our summary of yesterday’s morning session and afternoon session, and this morning’s session. Session 1:

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Helping my Father Go To DIGNITAS

MDMD supporter Penny Hall's father suffered from dementia. He chose to end his life in Switzerland while he was still sufficiently mentally competent to do so. The story is reported…Subject: Oral Evidence Sessions: Day 2 Session 2 Legal and Palliative Care Considerations This afternoon saw the second session of the second day of oral evidence. The Committee examining the Terminally Ill Adults Bill questioned experts on the legal aspects of the Bill, as well as the palliative care and disability considerations. Make sure to read our summary of yesterday’s morning session and afternoon session, and this morning’s session. Session 1:

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House of Commons Rejects Assisted Dying Bill

On 11th Sept 2015 MPs rejected an Assisted Dying Bill proposed by Rob Marris MP. The Bill would have permitted assisted suicide for people who requested it if they were…Subject: Oral Evidence Sessions: Day 2 Session 2 Legal and Palliative Care Considerations This afternoon saw the second session of the second day of oral evidence. The Committee examining the Terminally Ill Adults Bill questioned experts on the legal aspects of the Bill, as well as the palliative care and disability considerations. Make sure to read our summary of yesterday’s morning session and afternoon session, and this morning’s session. Session 1:

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