Medically-assisted death - CathNews New Zealand

Ontario man applying for medically-assisted death as alternative to being homeless

Ronan — Mon, 17 Oct 2022 06:51:28 +0000

A 54-year-old St Catharines man is in the process of applying for medical assistance in dying (MAiD), not because he wants to die, but because social supports are failing him, and he fears he may have no other choice.

Amir Farsoud lives with never-ending agony from a back injury years ago. He tells CityNews at its worst he is "crying like a 5-year-old and not sleeping for days in a row." Farsoud also takes medication for depression and anxiety.

He describes his quality of life as "awful, non-existent and terrible … I do nothing other than manage pain."

But Farsoud said his quality of life is not the reason he is applying for MAiD. He applied because he is currently in danger of losing his housing and fears being homeless over dying. "It's not my first choice."

Ontario man applying for medically-assisted death as alternative to being homeless

Netherlands supports medically assisted dying for terminally ill children

Ronan — Thu, 22 Oct 2020 06:53:22 +0000

It's an extremely sad reality and nobody wants to think about it, but it can't be avoided.

Sometimes children get life-threateningly sick. Sometimes they get too sick to recover. And sometimes those illnesses can cause relentless and terrible suffering, sometimes even more than can be alleviated with palliative care.

Adults who are terminally ill but otherwise mentally competent have the option of choosing medically-assisted dying. But a child with the identical condition and prognosis is usually out of luck.

The Netherlands is poised to change that.

The Dutch government has approved a change to their legal framework that will allow medically assisted dying for children ages 12 and under, with regulations currently being drafted by Health Minister Hugo de Jong. These regulations are expected to come into effect by early 2021.

Netherlands supports medically assisted dying for terminally ill children

Medical professionals' conscientious objection rights clarified

Juliet Palmer — Thu, 22 Mar 2018 06:51:53 +0000

The rights of medical professionals' conscientious objection to participating in medical procedures to which their beliefs are opposed are being clarified in the British Parliament. The Conscientious Objection (Medical Activities) Act 2017 would defend healthcare workers in England and Wales from partaking in the withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment, IVF or similar fertility treatments, or abortion Read more

Medical professionals' conscientious objection rights clarified... Read more