“The current landmark court case in Canada again reinforces the fact that laws legalising euthanasia cannot provide safeguards that work,” says Dr Peter Thirkell, Care Alliance Secretary. Roger Foley has cerebellar ataxia, a terminal and incurable severe brain disorder that limits movement and leaves him unable to perform basic tasks independently. He wants to be Read more
A police checkpoint targeting euthanasia supporters in Lower Hutt in 2016 was unlawful, the Independent Police Conduct Authority says. The Privacy Commissioner has also condemned police actions, saying officers unlawfully and unfairly collected personal information and harmed some of the people involved. Police have accepted they broke the law – but maintain they “acted in Read more
The head of the World Federation of Catholic Medical Associations says physicians should never be forced to choose between violating their conscience and facing professional sanctions when defending human life. Dr John Lee wrote to the World Medical Association (WMA) protesting proposed changes in i ethicalts policy statements on abortion and on euthanasia. The proposed Read more
Pro-euthanasia campaigners say the Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Hamilton East is trying to scare parishioners into signing a ready-made submission form. Submission forms printed for parishioners to fill in to oppose the bill say euthanasia could apply to people with gluten intolerance, arthritis and asthma. The End of Life Choice Bill, currently Read more
The Bishop of Palmerston North is encouraging senior students in Catholic schools to get involved in the debate on euthanasia and to make submissions on the End of Life Choice Bill. Bishop Charles Drennan has sent out a letter to year 13 students in Catholic Colleges, suggesting they get involved in the discussion that is currently occurring Read more
Italy’s “euthanasia in disguise” bill has been passed into law 30 years after it was first mooted. The law allows citizens to create advance directives about their treatment. These directives express their final wishes for medical treatment in case they lose the ability to communicate their choice. The Italian senate passed the bill into law Read more
A palliative medicine physician with 28 years experience in caring for patients and their families at the end of life has challenged ACT party MP David Seymour’s claim that doctors intentionally end peoples’ lives by giving them too much morphine. Dr Sinead Donnelly said she was affronted by the fact that “a politician would imply Read more
During the past 12 months, Australia’s Catholic Church has had to face several moral issues. These include a sex abuse crisis as the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sex Abuse published reports about abuse at Catholic schools and institutions, losing the same-sex marriage referendum and Victoria government’s upper house voting to allow euthanasia. Read more
An English judge has freed a chemist charged with murdering his 85-year-old father who wished to die. The judge said, “Your acts of assistance were acts of pure compassion and mercy.” Read more
The 2018 Catholic Youth Festival will be hosted by Australia, Anthony Fisher, Archbishop of Sydney says. At present Australia is waiting for the results on a referendum on same sex marriage and Parliament is considering legalising euthanasia. The bishops will discuss these themes at the festival. Read more