Not all safeguards are created equal
If you thought that the safeguards prescribed by Oregon's medical assistance in dying (MAID) law, and the similar laws in eight other jurisdictions, are too onerous, there are others to consider.
When safeguards become roadblocks, Part 2
"When safeguards become roadblocks, Part 2" continues exploring FEN's eligibility criteria, looks at other impediments to MAID, and considers one minimal change that recently has been made to Oregon's law.
When safeguards become roadblocks, Part 1
In the nine states/jurisdictions in which medical assistance in dying (MAID) is allowed through legislation or referendum, the insistence on extensive safeguards has served less to protect vulnerable individuals than to limit access to MAID.
Comparing dementia advance directives–Part 3
This post, Part 3 of a series on dementias directives, discusses the supplemental advance directive for dementia offered by Final Exit Network (FEN) for those people who do NOT want to live into the later stages of dementia. The FEN dementia directive was drafted by FEN's legal counsel, Robert Rivas.
Comparing dementia advance directives–Part 2
Part 1 of this multi-part analysis identifies eight Dementia Directives by authorship and discusses overall characteristics of each. This second part analyses the approaches to drafting such directives to help readers think about the elements of each.
Comparing dementia advance directives–Part 1
This post begins a multi-part series about dementia directives, analyzing their provisions and their purposes.
Making Choices About Death
A letter to the New York Times by FEN Board President Brian Ruder
Living in the high-risk category in the time of COVID-19
We are all in the high-risk category for death because all living things die. However, each of us hopes to live a long, productive (however defined), satisfying life in the meantime. Covid-19 is causing many of us to reassess how long we may have left.
The slippery slope, voluntary decision-making, and equal protection
Slippery slope arguments deny rationality, moral precepts, and legal principles. Few of us who believe in a right to die go beyond the formulation of this right as a voluntary decision of one person about that person's life. The view that no one has the right to take from us the liberty to make such decisions to end our lives except ourselves appears to be the norm in this society for those who are near the end of their lives because of disease or condition. Voluntariness is inextricably bound up with the decision to die to escape suffering near the end of life.
“Self-death” (suicide) as a natural right
A brief look at suicide historically, philosophically, constitutionally, legally, and practically as a right to all who value liberty.