Sometimes doctors in America will prescribe a fast-acting barbiturate like Nembutal and Seconal for an end-stage terminal patient. Then these patients often have difficulty finding a pharmacist who will fill the script.
Pharmacists frequently claim that they are no longer manufactured so that they don’t have to take the risk of being connected to a suicide, or they don’t want the bother of getting it from a warehouse. Or they may be exercising their moral grounds – although they are not likely to tell a customer that.
Nembutal and Seconal are still manufactured in America –or where else would the doctors in Oregon and Washington get them for legal physician-assisted suicide for their terminally ill residents who request a hastened death?
These are very ethically sensitive drugs — even in Oregon, with a lawful prescription, some pharmacists decline to fill it on personal moral grounds. But other pharmacists have no problem. A customer might have to shop around. Also, they are now called ’boutique drugs’ and are expensive — perhaps up to $500 for 100 tablets.
To convince a pharmacist of their availability, here are the details:
1. Nembutal (pentobarbital) is manufactured and distributed to wholesalers by Abbott Pharmaceuticals in Illinois.
2. Seconal (secobarbital) is manufactured and distributed to wholesalers by Marathon Pharmaceuticals, also in Illinois.
3. The wholesalers who sell to pharmacies include:
(a) McKesson – in San Francisco, CA
(b) Cardinal Health – in Dublin, Ohio
(c) Amerisource Bergin – in Chesterbook, PA
(d) Some national pharmacies, such as Bi-Mart and Walgreen, have their own distribution centers.
Recommended fatal doses of these two drugs are (and always have been) in the book ‘Final Exit’ now updated 3.1 edition 2010. www.finalexit.org
For the information only of terminally ill, competent adults.
ERGO 23 June 2010
Tags: Assisted Suicide, Derek Humphry, Euthanasia, exit bag, Final Exit, helium, hemlock society, terminal illness
Posted in Assisted dying, Assisted Suicide, Books, death, Derek Humphry, Euthanasia, Final Exit, Final Exit Network, Hemlock, right to die, RTD News, Self-Deliverance, Suicide (rational) | 4 Comments »
For a story and picture about the roadside billboards of the Final Exit Network in this week’s TIME magazine, go to
http://newsfeed.time.com/2010/06/16/roadside-controversy-looms-with-right-to-die-billboards/
Tags: Assisted Suicide, choice in dying, Derek Humphry, Dignitas, Euthanasia, Final Exit, Final Exit Network, hemlock society, physician-assisted suicide
Posted in Assisted dying, Assisted Suicide, Euthanasia, Final Exit, Final Exit Network, right to die, RTD News, RTD Organizations, Self-Deliverance, Suicide (rational) | 1 Comment »
In Connecticut, a Superior Court judge has rejected a request from two doctors who sought to prescribe lethal medication to terminally ill, mentally competent patients who asked for help to die peacefully.
In dismissing the doctors’ case, Judge Julia Aurigemma wrote that a state law against assisting suicide applied to physicians helping dying patients end their lives, and that the issues raised in the doctors’ lawsuit should be addressed by the legislature, not the courts.
“[The statute] is aimed at precisely the situation presented by the plaintiffs aiding a terminally ill patient, in unbearable pain, to end his or her own life, and precisely the situation in which physicians are most likely to participate,” Aurigemma wrote.
The doctors, Ronald Levine and Gary Blick, filed a lawsuit last year seeking a court ruling to declare that the statute against helping
someone commit suicide would not apply to physicians helping terminally ill patients end their lives. Doing so was not suicide, but “aid in dying,” the lawsuit said a distinction that their attorney Daniel Krisch explained in court: Suicide is a choice of whether to die or not. Aid in dying involves not whether a person will die, but when, and how much pain and suffering the patient must endure first.
Tags: Assisted Suicide, assisted suicide laws, choice in dying, Compassion and Choices, Derek Humphry, Dignitas, Euthanasia, Final Exit, hemlock society
Posted in Assisted dying, Assisted Suicide, death, Euthanasia, Final Exit, People in the News, Politics/Law, right to die, RTD News | No Comments »
FEAR FACTORY’s latest radio single, “Final Exit”, made impact at hard rock/metal stations nationwide. The song is expected to follow the success of earlier singles “Powershifter” and “Fear Campaign”.
Lyrically, “Final Exit” draws attention to the much criticized and sensitive issue of self-deliverance as introduced in the 1992 book** by Derek Humphry, founder of the Hemlock Society and past president of the World Federation of Right to Die Societies.
Bell explains, “Dino and I have created the edits to condense the song into a time specific for radio. We are very happy fans are loving the song for it is one that touches upon the importance of the freedom of choice and personal liberty that all human beings should be allowed. The song hopefully will create awareness for the support group Final Exit Network,” the song’s namesake.
Passionately, Bell continues, “The right to life extends beyond life itself. If the medical community cannot, and will not find a cure due to cost effectiveness, then humanity needs the choice of a dignified, self-deliverance from continual, painful treatments from debilitating disease. We have been contacted by many fans who connect with this song on many levels, and with ‘Final Exit’ being played on the radio, we hope others will also become aware, understand, and enjoy this song.”
————————–
**Note: ‘Final Exit’ 3rd edition, was updated in April 2010 and is available as paperback or eBook at www.finalexit.org
Tags: Derek Humphry, Dignitas, Euthanasia, euthanasia and assisted death, Final Exit, Final Exit Network, hemlock society, physician-assisted suicide, right to die, terminal illness
Posted in Assisted dying, Assisted Suicide, Books, Derek Humphry, Euthanasia, Final Exit, Final Exit Network, Hemlock, Publications/InternetMedia, right to die, RTD News, RTD Organizations | No Comments »
Final Exit 3rd edition 2010
Updated in paperback and eBook PDF format (‘Digital Edition’)
Announcing the new updated printing of ‘Final Exit: The Practicalities of Self-Deliverance and Assisted Suicide for the Dying’ by Derek Humphry. Now in print for its 20th year, this volume remains the gold standard for choice in dying books. Final Exit has been translated into 12 languages.
Price of the English-language paperback remains at $17 USD plus $6 US shipping.
Price of the digital download ebook is $25 USD.
This printing contains factual updates and new addresses, BUT DOES NOT CONTAIN ANY NEW WAYS OF SELF-DELIVERANCE. (I wish it did!) If you already have the 3rd edition (2002) plus the Addendum you do not need this new printing.
But if your edition has become lost, stolen or strayed (as they say), then this new printing, 3.1, is worth becoming its replacement. With the new printing there is no longer any need for the ADDENDUM because it is now embedded in the new paperback and the Digital Edition (eBook PDF).
Order 3.1 from the ERGO Bookstore
www.finalexit.org/ergo-store
Or send check or money order for $23 ($28 overseas) to:
ERGO
24829 Norris Lane
Junction City OR 97448
Regards, Derek Humphry, president, ERGO, a nonprofit, right-to-die organization since 1993.
Tags: assisted death, Assisted Suicide, choice in dying, Derek Humphry, Final Exit, Final Exit Network, helium, Helium Method, Nembutal, Self-Deliverance, terminal illness
Posted in Assisted dying, Assisted Suicide, Books, Derek Humphry, Euthanasia, Final Exit, Final Exit Network, Hemlock, right to die, RTD News, RTD Organizations, Self-Deliverance, Suicide (rational) | No Comments »
FILM REVIEW by Richard Cote
“YOU DON’T KNOW JACKâ€
In “You Don’t Know Jack,†Dr. Jack Kevorkian (played by Al Pacino), a made-for-television HBO movie, was broadcast in the U.S. on April 24.
Its story opens when the unemployed Michigan pathologist, age 60, had found his new calling: hastening the death of patients suffering from intolerable pain or loss of autonomy. The media leaped on the story, and soon he had his first patient. On June 4, 1990, with Kevorkian at her side, Janet Adkins, terminally ill with Alzheimer’s disease, pushed the red button on his “Thanatron,†a lethal injection machine he had designed, and died quickly and without pain. Over an eight-year period, Kevorkian assisted the suicide of over 130 suffering people.
Kevorkian’s career ended forever with Thomas Youk’s death on September 17, 1998. Instead of assisting Youk take his own life, as he had with the others, Kevorkian personally injected him with lethal drugs, filmed himself doing so, and handed over the videotape to the CBS news program, 60 Minutes. That led to a murder trial, and on Continue Reading »
Tags: Assisted Suicide, Dignitas, Dr. Kevorkian, Euthanasia, Final Exit, Final Exit Network, hemlock society
Posted in Assisted dying, Assisted Suicide, Euthanasia, Film/TV/Radio, Final Exit, Final Exit Network, Hemlock, People in the News, Politics/Law, right to die, RTD Organizations, Suicide (rational) | No Comments »
Canada’s House of Commons has rejected a Bloc Québécois MP’s legislation to permit assisted suicide under strict conditions.
Bill C-384 was defeated Wednesday afternoon on second reading by a 228-59 margin.
The bill would have allowed doctors to avoid murder and manslaughter charges for helping terminally ill people or those in severe chronic pain to die.
Francine Lalonde, an east Montreal member of Parliament, introduced the measure. It was supported by most of her caucus and a sprinkling of MPs from the Liberals, Conservatives and NDP, because party leaders allowed a free vote.
The bill stipulated that a physician could help someone to “die with dignity” provided nine conditions were met, including that the person was 18 or older, suffered from a terminal illness or unrelenting physical or mental pain, had made two written requests to die at least 10 days apart, and had their diagnosis confirmed by a second doctor.
Tags: Assisted Suicide, assisted suicide laws, choice in dying, Dignitas, Final Exit, hemlock society, physician-assisted suicide
Posted in Assisted dying, Assisted Suicide, Derek Humphry, Euthanasia, Final Exit, Politics/Law, right to die, RTD News, Self-Deliverance, Suicide (rational) | 1 Comment »
PRESS RELEASE by Candlelight Records, 20 April 2010:
FEAR FACTORY TO START SECOND LEG OF AMERICAN TOUR MID-MAY
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Fear Factory are set to kick off the second leg of their American Fear Campaign tour on May 14 at The Rialto Theater in Tucson, Arizona. The tour, also featuring Prong, and Thy Will Be Done will visit twenty cities before it concludes at The Trocadero Theater in Philadelphia.
Continuing to tour in support of their latest release, Mechanize, the tour introduces the album’s third single, the controversial album closer “Final Exit.â€
“Final Exit†follows the success of earlier metal radio singles “Powershifter†and “Fear Campaign.†Now playing via three of AOL Radio’s online music channels, Fear Factory have done two special edits of the 8:11 minute song. Rhys Fulber with Cazares and Bell realized the edits while the band was touring the US in late March. The song has already received specialty airplay via Active Rock stations KUPD in Phoenix, Arizona and KEYJ in Abilene, Texas.
Lyrically “Final Exit†draws attention to the much criticized and sensitive issue of self-deliverance as introduced in the 1991 book by Derek Humphry, founder of the Hemlock Society and past president of the World Federation of Right to Die Societies.
Bell explains, “Dino and I have created the edits to Continue Reading »
Tags: Candlelight Records, Derek Humphry, Dignitas, Euthanasia, Fear Factory, Final Exit, Final Exit Network, hemlock society
Posted in Assisted dying, Assisted Suicide, Books, death, Derek Humphry, Euthanasia, Film/TV/Radio, Final Exit, Final Exit Network, Hemlock, People in the News, right to die, RTD News, RTD Organizations, Self-Deliverance, Suicide (rational) | No Comments »
U P D A T E
THE POSIBILITY OF PHYSICIAN-ASSISTED SUICIDE FOR THE TERMINALLY OR HOPELESSLY ILL, COMPETENT, ADULT PERSON IN SWITZERLAND
Issued by ERGO for information only
Physician-assisted suicide is legal in the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Colombia, Albania, Switzerland, and the US states of Washington, Montana and Oregon. All have their own criteria.
Except for Switzerland, the laws confine the procedure to residents only, and under strict conditions. Switzerland alone allows foreigners to come for hastened death, provided it is altruistic, not profit-making nor of evil intent. There are other right-to-die organizations in Switzerland who help only their own members to die; DIGNITAS will help foreign visitors to die in cases which they and their cooperating doctors feel justified because of the terminal suffering. The person must be a competent adult.
The Dignitas association is in Forch, near Zürich, Switzerland, and therefore operates under Swiss law, which, since l942, has permitted assisted suicide, with or without a doctor. ‘Assisted suicide’ in this instance means drinking a lethal overdose of a barbiturate provided by Dignitas and their cooperating doctors. Euthanasia (direct lethal injection) is illegal and not done. Swiss authorities are informed of all deaths as a matter of course. There are Continue Reading »
Tags: Assisted Suicide, Derek Humphry, Dignitas, dignitas switzerland, Final Exit, hemlock society, Nembutal, physician assisted death, physician-assisted suicide, terminal illness
Posted in Assisted dying, Assisted Suicide, death, Derek Humphry, Euthanasia, Final Exit, Politics/Law, right to die, RTD News, Self-Deliverance, Suicide (rational) | 4 Comments »
Go to this link to see an announcement of an interesting new book which deals with hastened death by choice and its impact on the whole family. ‘Imperfect Endings: A daughter’s tale of life and death’ by Zoe Fitzgerald Carter. Worth reading.
Copy and paste this URL to see the publisher’s blurb.
http://books.simonandschuster.com/Imperfect-Endings/Zoe-FitzGerald-Carter/9781439148242
Tags: Assisted Suicide, choice in dying, Death With Dignity, Derek Humphry, Dignitas, hemlock society, terminal illness
Posted in Assisted dying, Assisted Suicide, Books, Derek Humphry, Euthanasia, Final Exit, Hemlock, Living Will, Publications/InternetMedia, RTD News, RTD Organizations, Self-Deliverance, Suicide (rational) | No Comments »
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