NEWS AND COMMENT

Belgian Paralympian chooses to end her life with medical assistance

MDMD has been following the story of Marieke Vervoort, the medal-winning paralympic athlete, since she announced her intention to end her life when she felt the time was right for…

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Phil Newby asks High Court for the right to challenge the UK’s ban on assisted dying

Phil Newby, a man who is facing incurable suffering and wants the right to challenge the UK’s ban on assisted dying, yesterday appealed for permission before the High Court.

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Medical Aid in Dying for those with early stage Dementia in Canada

Canadians have had legal access to medical aid in dying (MAID), the preferred term there, since June 2016. The Canadian law does not limit MAID to those who are expected…

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Book Review: O, Let me not get Alzheimer’s Sweet Heaven!

Latest figures from the Office of National Statistics show that the number of deaths attributed to Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia continues to rise. 1 in 8 of…

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Marking one year since assisted dying campaigner Omid T’s death

oday marks one year since the right-to-die campaigner Omid T ended his life in Switzerland. To honour the anniversary, My Death, My Decision has released the exclusive extract from the…

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Canadian court rules in favour of assisted dying for the incurably suffering

The Quebec Superior Court has struck down a restriction under Canada’s law on assisted dying against those with progressive and incurable illnesses as unconstitutional. 

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17 People a Day Will Suffer As They Die

Dignity in Dying have published a hard-hitting report on how unpleasant the realities of dying in the UK today can be for some people. The report 'The Inescapable Truth. How…

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Two more bad deaths show how the current law is failing

Two recent news stories concerning suicide inquests demonstrate again how the current assisted suicide law prevents people who are incurably suffering having the peaceful death they would choose.

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Open Letter to the Secretary of State for Justice

To mark the tenth anniversary of Debbie Purdy's landmark assisted dying case, which resulted in the current Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) guidelines on the Assisted Suicide law, My Death,…

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Government to review “Terminal Illness” definition

The common understanding of the term "terminal illness" is 'a disease or condition which can’t be cured and is likely to lead to someone’s death.' This can apply to advanced…

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Parliamentary debate on the UK Assisted Suicide Law

On 4th July 2019 the House of Commons had the first opportunity to debate assisted dying since the Marris Bill failed in September 2015. The debate can be seen in…

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Another incurably suffering man launches new assisted dying challenge

Phil Newby, 48, who suffers from advanced Motor Neurone Disease, has announced his intention to bring a new legal case challenging the UK’s law on assisted dying. 

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My Time to Die

LBC's Nick Ferrari interviewed Alzheimer's sufferer Alex Pandolfo about his plans to end his life in Switzerland. The moving video is available on line. Nick gently probes Alex's motivation for…

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BMA to poll members on assisted dying

MDMD is greatly encouraged in its campaign by the news that both the BMA and RCGP are to consult their members on their view of assisted dying. Precise details are…

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Rational Suicide in the Elderly: the US perspective

A recent article in the Washington Post describes a group of residents of a retirement community in Philadelphia who hold clandestine meetings to discuss their desires for a rational end…

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Autonomy and Safety of Assisted Suicide Law – reflecting on Jonathan Sumption’s Reith Lecture comments

This year's BBC Reith lecturer is former supreme court judge Jonathan Sumption QC, who was one of the judges in the Tony Nicklinson case. In his first lecture "Law’s Expanding…

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MDMD welcomes the news that patron, Paul Lamb, intends to bring a new right-to-die case

Paul Lamb, who previously took his case for the right to die to the Supreme Court, is now seeking to bring forth a new attempt to change the UK’s law…

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‘Endgame’ Documentary on Assisted Dying Available Online

Endgame is a documentary made over 18 months in 2017/8 by independent film maker Andi Reiss. It has been shown, with much praise, at many film festivals and at independent…

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Death of MD.MG’s Distinguished Member Dr Michael O’Donnell

My Death, My Decision was saddened to hear recently of the death of Dr Michael O'Donnell, a distinguished member of our Medical group and an active supporter of assisted dying.…

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New Jersey Legalises Assisted Dying

On 12th April 2019 the Governor of the US state of New Jersey, Phil Murphy, signed a bill into law which allows assisted suicide for those who have mental capacity,…

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