Assisted suicide – not the same thing as euthanasia – is a controversial topic for some and quite straight forward for others (UK Debating Assisted Dying Again)
But, while people – politicians, ethicists, and just about everyone – debate it, others are finding themselves in the position of having to make that decision, with or without legal blessing. This is what Sir Edward Downes, a renowned conductor, and his wife Joan did after traveling from their home in the United Kingdom to an assisted suicide clinic in Switzerland.
Sir Edward was almost blind and deaf and Mrs. Downes had terminal cancer. The …read more

Assisted dying isn’t the same thing as euthanasia, although the two are often linked hand in hand. The practice of euthanasia is someone actively choosing to end someone else’s life for a particular reason. This could be because the person is terminally ill so another person puts the death into motion or it could be someone killing another person who has a disability or illness. In other words, the death is brought on by someone else’s hands and someone else’s decisions.
Assisted dying, on the other hand, is helping someone who has chosen to die – to die. In other words, …read more

In November 2008, Washington State became the second state in the United States to allow for doctor-assisted suicide. The first was Oregon, which has had this law since 1997. Currently, a third state, Montana, has such a law as well, but it’s before the Montana Supreme Court for final judgment.
According to this article, Washington state to enact assisted suicide law , written earlier this year, this law allows for “aided dying,” not “euthanasia” or “assisted suicide”:
“Aided dying is neither euthanasia nor suicide,” said Terry Barnett, president of the Washington branch of Compassion & Choices advocacy group.
“It’s not euthanasia because …read more

Did you know that in the state of Washington, assisted suicide is legal? Now, a 66-year old woman who was diagnosed last month with pancreatic cancer has used that law. Linda Fleming “took her prescribed medication and died Thursday evening at home with her family, her dog and her physician.”

Fleming said the increased pain medications she took affected her mind and alertness. She said, “I am a very spiritual person, and it was very important to me to be conscious, clear-minded and alert at the time of my death.”
I’m not sure how I feel about assisted suicide. …read more