NEWS AND COMMENT
My Death, My Decision’s Chair responds to Ruth Davidson’s Telegraph column on assisted dying
The Sunday Telegraph has published a letter to the editor from My Death, My Decision’s Chair, Trevor Moore, in response to a column by Ruth Davidson.
Austrian court overturns ban on assisted dying
Austria’s constitutional court has ruled a ban on helping ‘seriously ill’ people ending their own lives is unconstitutional, in a landmark ruling which has been welcomed by My Death, My…
Court of Appeal refuses Paul Lamb the opportunity to challenge the law on assisted dying
The Court of Appeal has rejected a bid from Paul Lamb to challenge the law banning assisted dying, in a judgment expected to end further legal cases for the foreseeable…
Travel to Switzerland for an Assisted Death not Criminalised by Lockdown Legislation
In an urgent parliamentary question on 5th Nov 2020, the day a second lockdown was introduced in England, Andrew Mitchell (MP) asked the Health Secretary Matt Hancock to make a…
Assisted Dying Referendum: New Zealand votes to overturn ban on assisted dying
New Zealand has overwhelmingly voted to legalise assisted dying by 65.2% to 33.8%, according to the preliminary results of a nation-wide referendum. My Death, My Decision has welcomed the result…
My Death, My Decision welcomes new patron, Adam Kay
My Death, My Decision is delighted to announce the appointment of its newest patron, Adam Kay. Adam is an award-winning British comedian, writer, and former doctor.
Doctors vote to end BMA’s opposition to assisted dying in historic survey
The British Medical Association has announced that following a landmark members’ survey on the topic more doctors would prefer for the BMA to actively support assisted dying, than those who…
Royal College of GPs threatened with legal action over hostile assisted dying stance
Two GPs have threatened the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) with legal action after it decided earlier this year to remain opposed to assisted dying, despite a majority of…
Arbitrary six month limit for assisted dying would weaken arguments for reform, says renowned neurosurgeon
The renowned neurosurgeon and best-selling author, Dr Henry Marsh, has warned that legal assisted dying could be less likely if a law was restricted to those with only 6 months…
A generation of assisted dying campaigners demand an inquiry into the law
The families and living claimants from most of the past right-to-die cases have come together for the first time, and called for an inquiry into assisted dying. In a joint…
Parliament could legalise assisted dying within 4 years, says ex Cabinet Minister
Conservative MP, Andrew Mitchell, in a recent Sky News interview, suggests that the law on Assisted Dying may change within this parliament. 'I was, as a student and as a…
New Book ‘Last Rights’ prompts discussion on assisted dying reform
A new book released by the campaign group Dignity in Dying, ‘Last Rights - The Case for Assisted Dying’, has explored arguments on assisted dying in the wake of Covid-19.…
Listen to the evidence’ on assisted dying, says renowned assisted dying expert at My Death, My Decision’s 2020 Doran Lecture.
One of Canada’s leading assisted dying doctors, Dr Stefanie Green, has urged politicians to ‘listen to the evidence’ on assisted dying, as part of the 2020 Doran Lecture, an annual…
Patients can mistakenly believe assisted dying is available in the UK, causing additional mental suffering, warns former nurse.
A former nurse has opened up about how cruel it feels to refuse patients, who do not want to endure weeks of suffering, the option of a legal assisted death.
Ban on assisted dying undermines end-of-life care in Wales, suggests My Death, My Decision
My Death, My Decision has responded to a consultation on the future of justice in Wales by calling for assisted dying to be devolved - in order to unify Wales’…
Adults have a right to shape and control their end-of-life, says Court of Protection
A 34-year-old man who is on life-support will be allowed to die following a ruling from the Court of Protection. The man, known as ‘MSP’ for legal reasons, has suffered…
Restricting assisted dying to the terminally ill would be ‘totally arbitrary’, says disabled journalist Melanie Reid
Award-winning journalist of the Times’ Spinal Column and author of The World I Fell Out Of Melanie Reid MBE, has criticised attempts to limit assisted dying for those with only…
Medical voices urge doctors to respect patients’ wishes about coronavirus
An article published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) has called upon healthcare professionals to respect their patients’ end-of-life wishes, and ensure that the rights of those receiving care are…
Dutch court backs assistance to die for people with advanced Alzheimer’s
The Netherlands’ highest court has ruled that doctors can honour euthanasia requests for adults with advanced Alzheimer's, provided they have signed a written request beforehand.
Distinguished right-to-die activist Barbara Smoker dies
My Death, My Decision was sad to learn that the celebrated right-to-die activist Barbara Smoker has died aged 97.
