Euthanasia

The national elections, just completed, added five states that will be completely controlled by Democrats next year, i.e., legislature and governor. They are, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. Every one of these is ripe for legalizing assisted suicide, as that policy is now part of the liberal/progressive issue agenda. Most have already seen serious efforts to legalize doctor-prescribed death — even when Republicans held some power. Indeed, the electorally late (defeated for reelection) Governor Joe Lombardo of Nevada vetoed a legalization bill a few years ago. Other states that are already governed by a so-called Democratic trifecta, but which have not yet legalized assisted suicide, are Virginia, Maryland, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island. Efforts have been made to legalize assisted suicide in all Read More ›

If a loved one invited you to be there at their assisted suicide, what would you do? Would you refuse, and risk hurting them or facing familial estrangement? Or would you accept, knowing that your presence may be interpreted as approval of their decision? Wesley J. Smith encourages listeners to wrestle with these deep ethical questions with Dr. Marcus Peter on Ave Maria Radio. “It really is an important issue for us to contemplate before the question comes because right now, one-third of the population of the United States lives in a jurisdiction where assisted suicide is legal.” Further reading:

The highbrow Dear Abby of the New York Times — a.k.a. The Ethicist (who is a philosophy professor at NYU) — published an inquiry from a reader whose “difficult aunt” is pondering assisted suicide. The Ethicist’s response was rather namby-pamby. From his answer:

It would be kind to give her a call, explaining that her messages left you concerned and uncertain about her situation. (A decision to seek MAID is a far cry from obtaining it; eligibility is subject to a formal medical assessment.) You can ask whether she has spoken to her doctors about MAID and what they’ve told her. Just be careful about offering more than you can give. You don’t have to make yourself available for an extended or continuing conversation.

The “difficult aunt” aspect of the question deflected from the truly pressing moral issue that the inquiry presented. What if you are asked to support someone with whom you are close — a parent, spouse, child, sibling, cousin, friend — in his or her decision to commit assisted suicide. More anguishing, what if your loved one wants you to be there for it? What would you do?

Wesley J. Smith spoke with Todd Wilken on the Issues, Etc. radio program to discuss recent development in bioethics in the U.S. and other Western countries. The discussion spans euthanasia in Canada, the U.S., and Belgium, organ procurement, threats to medical conscience, financial incentives, and more. Further reading:

Wesley J. Smith appeared on the Vicki McKenna Show to discuss how quickly assisted suicide and euthanasia are being embraced in the West as the answer to any and all suffering. Smith addresses how once assisted suicide is embraced in a country, its availability quickly expands beyond those who are terminally ill. He also talks about how medical conscience is being denied in countries like Canada and the tragic decline of hospice. “The culture of death abides no dissent,” says Smith. For further reading:

I still marvel at people who think — even after decades of experience with these laws — that legalizing assisted suicide or euthanasia will remain limited to the few for whom nothing else can be done medically to prevent suffering. Not only is it not true, but it is never intended by euthanasia enthusiasts to be so constrained. Indeed, wherever killing as an answer to suffering is legalized, the numbers so dispatched continually rise, the guidelines expand, and euthanasia or suicide as a means of death becomes societally normalized. In Belgium, that pattern continues. The Belgian Federal Commission for the Control and Evaluation of Euthanasia just issued a press release about its published euthanasia statistics for 2024-2025. A few observations: The Read More ›

Wesley J. Smith appeared on Ave Maria in the Afternoon with Dr. Marcus Peter to discuss Canada’s recent push to encourage dementia patients to embrace euthanasia. The same thing is happening here in the U.S., he warns. Read, “Canada Backs Off Euthanasia for Mental Illness, Targets Dementia Patients“

Some are celebrating Canada’s government “indefinitely suspending” legalizing euthanasia for mental illness as a great victory for life. Not me. Let me explain. Of course, I am gratified that mental illness will not become grounds for being killed in 2027 as was scheduled. But note: In announcing the suspension, the government mooted legislation likely to pass that would have permanently outlawed killing for mental illness. Moreover, “indefinite” can mean years — or a month. So, it’s not a matter of principle. But here’s the kicker. The government is now promoting euthanasia for people with dementia. From the Global News story: [Justice Minister Sean] Fraser also said the government will “grant access to medical assistance in dying to people who have Read More ›

Wesley J. Smith appeared on the Three Whisky Happy Hour Podcast to discuss the threat to human exceptionalism and dignity posed by assisted suicide and the nature rights movement. Smith speaks about how he became involved in advocating against assisted suicide in the 1990s and how his work has expanded to include bioethics. The conversation also includes topics such as voluntary stopping eating and drinking, medical conscience, how organ procurement is becoming an incentive for pushing assisted suicide, the acceptance of infanticide, and more. Read Smith’s piece, “The Whispers of Strangers,” published at Newsweek in 1993.

Wesley J. Smith appeared on The Vicki McKenna Show to discuss the recent case of a Canadian woman who was coerced into an assisted suicide. Together, they discuss the cultural decay that results when states and countries embrace assisted suicide. Read Wesley J. Smith’s piece, “Another Canadian Euthanasia Horror.”