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The latest developments on assisted dying in Europe, edition april 2006.

From: The World Today, Shane McLeod

The 50-year-old doctor headed up the surgical department at the local hospital at Imizu, north-west of Tokyo. Between 2000 and 2005 he helped at least seven terminally ill cancer patients to end their lives by switching off or removing their respirators.

The provisions of a 1995 court ruling outlined the circumstances in which Japanese doctors can help their patients to die. But in this case, those provisions may not have been met.

Church of England bishops have united with the Roman Catholic Church in launching a campaign to prevent the legalisation of ‘assisted suicide’ this week. The Roman Catholic attempt to distribute half a million anti-euthanasia leaflets and DVDs to each of their parishes in England and Wales is the biggest political campaign by the Church.

Anglican leaders this week also voiced their opposition to the parliamentary move and urged Christians to lobby MPs and Peers to prevent Lord Joffe’s Assisted Dying for the Terminally Ill Bill becoming law.

Challenge in Choice
World Federation of Right to Die Societies
16th Biennial Conference

Toronto, Ontario

Patrick Nowell-Smith, who was president of the World Federation of Right to Die Societies from l984-1986 has died in England at the age of 91.

Already under investigation by Melbourne homicide detectives for his role in the suicide of a local man, euthanasia campaigner Dr Philip Nitschke is now facing possible criminal charges in New Zealand.

A British woman suffering from a rare brain disease has committed assisted suicide in Switzerland.

Demoralisation Syndrome is a new classification under DSM 1V. This may have implications for informed consent and patient autonomy at the end of life

Instead of having a speaker, the next meeting of Friends at the End will be a video showing of a Spanish film: “The Sea Inside” on Saturday, 18 February 2006, in Glasgow.

Relevant is the quarterly magazine of the NVVE. This is the English summary of the issue of January 2006.

The results of the first UK-wide study into euthanasia are revealed today, January 18th 2006, in ‘Palliative Medicine’. The survey, carried out by a Brunel University academic, shows the proportion of UK deaths in which doctors report having assisted patients’ suicide, carried out euthanasia, or taken other medical decisions relating to the ending of life. This is the first time such a comprehensive survey of UK medical practice has been reported. Because the same survey has been done in other countries, rates in the UK can be compared with rates elsewhere.

The complete text of the Criminal Code Suicide Act can be downloaded here .