Physician-Assisted Suicide: Is Vermont Next?

The State Legislature of Vermont may reconsider the issue of physician-assisted suicide in the upcoming session, the Brattleboro Reformer reports. A "Death with Dignity" bill, which would have allowed doctors to help terminally ill patients die, was introduced in the last session. Sponsored by a variety of representatives from all political parties, the bill never made it out of committee. Supporters of the bill have pledged to reintroduce the bill this month and continue seeking support for it. Dr. Robert Orr, president of the Vermont Alliance for Ethical Health Care and bioethicist at Fletcher Allen Health Care in Burlington, Vermont, testified against the bill in front of the legislative committee last fall: "It's not needed...We can do an adequate job of taking care of people at the end of life." The debate promises to continue and cross party lines. Currently, Oregon is the only state that has legalized physician-assisted suicide for terminally ill patients. -- Linda Glenn

What's Up Roundup

Ten myths about assisted suicide from Spiked Liberties.

Ethics of compulsory drug screening.

Amusing "please call our expert" release on Pfizer Celebrex heart risks, from Saint Louis University

Knight Ridder piece by April Lynch on hiding genetic testing results from insurance companies

Another PR piece fed to the media on an ethicist, this time Penn's Martha Farah and neuroethics.

Compassion in Hemlock

Right-to-die groups plan to merge next year, writes Don Colburn of the Oregonian. Denver-based End-of-Life Choices (formerly the Hemlock Society) and Compassion in Dying of Oregon will merge to form Compassion and Choices. Plans for a drive-through death service have not been announced.

UPDATED: Bush Administration Appeals Decision on Oregon Assisted Suicide Law

The lifenews.com site reports something that most papers missed today: Ashcroft has made one of his last acts (no pun intended) the appeal (today) of a federal appellate court's decision restricting the fed from stopping the use of drugs in assisted suicide in Oregon. The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, which, along with the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, has held that assisted suicide is constitutionally protected, will hear the case. That means it is likely headed for the Supreme Court, to no one's surprise. (UPDATE 11/10: BBC reports on the efforts of other states and on international reaction.)

1 in 3 UK Physicians Asked for Assisted Suicide

Medix UK polling on behalf of the Voluntary Euthanasia Society found this this week. The Guardian also reports more in depth.

Toronto Star Assisted Suicide Op-Ed

Our friends in Toronto let us know of a pretty provocative personal story: Rosie Dimanno writes of her personal struggle with assisted suicide.