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Hemlock Society — corporate suicide — R.I.P

Feb 17th, 2006 by

While broadcasting on ‘Air America’ today, writer and satirist Al Franken frequently referred to the Hemlock Society as if it still existed.

In fact, it committed ‘corporate suicide’ in 2003, first by changing its name and then merging with another, smaller organization. I have referred to this as ‘the mouse who swallowed the cat.’

In my opinion, the work of the Hemlock Society (1980-2003) is carried on by:

(a) The Final Exit Network, founded 2004.

(b) Euthanasia Research and Guidance Organization (ERGO), founded 1993.

See Biography of Derek Humphry

Posted in RTD Organizations | No Comments »

Al Franken talks with Derek Humphry on AIR AMERICA

Feb 16th, 2006 by

AIR AMERICA on choice in dying

The noted commentator and satirist Al Franken and author Derek Humphry will be discussing right to die issues together on Air America radio tomorrow (Friday, 17 Feb 06).

The national broadcast is live from Eugene, Oregon, from noon to 3PM (EST) & 9AM to noon (PST). Derek Humphry’s interview will be for 15 minutes sometime in the middle of the show.

Air America is “the” progressive national radio broadcasting network in the USA. A list of affilate radio stations is available at the Air America radio website.

Posted in Film/TV/Radio, People in the News | No Comments »

November of the Soul: The Enigma of Suicide

Feb 14th, 2006 by

NOVEMBER OF THE SOUL

There is a new book just out about the history and complexity of suicide which contains, from pages 359 to 452, extensive reportage and commentary on the right-to-die issue

Part 5 of this large book (paperback) deals with, for instance:

The book is: “November of the Soul: The Enigma of Suicide” by George Howe Colt, Scribner, New York. 628 pages, paperback. $20.00
ISBN 978-0-7432-6647 1

In bookstores now. Or you can purchase it from Amazon.com for $13.60.

Altogether a fascinating and erudite book, and I hope you’ll get it. Good for reference, too.

—
Derek Humphry, Oregon
www.assistedsuicide.org

Posted in Books, Publications/InternetMedia | No Comments »

Assisted suicide results in Oregon

Feb 13th, 2006 by

The 2005 annual report of ‘Compassion and Choices of Oregon’ reports the following interesting details. This Oregon organization is the nonprofit group that acts as the steward of the unique Death With Dignity Act (1994) which permits physician-assisted suicide under certain conditions. (Oregon is the only USA state which allows this.) When the report refers to ‘medication’ it usually means nine grams of Seconal which is consumed orally.

Annual Report:

We served more than 135 clients during the year, 116 of whom died peacefully and humanely in great part because of our volunteers’ compassionate support.

Of the 116 who died in 2005, 25 chose to hasten their deaths by taking medication prescribed under Oregon’s aid-in-dying law and 10 died after voluntarily stopping eating and drinking. Continue Reading »

Posted in Publications/InternetMedia, RTD News, RTD Organizations | No Comments »

Euthanasia acceptance in Belgium

Feb 8th, 2006 by

About 400 cases of euthanasia were reported in Belgium last year, up from 200 cases four years ago, according to new figures.

Some one third of assisted suicides are the result of a surgical procedure. In some cases, medical treatment is stopped or not started at all, said Wim Distelmans, chairman of Belgium’s euthanasia evaluation committee.

80% of the mercy killings were performed in the northern region of Flanders, where there is a network of specialised doctors, Distelmans was quoted as saying.

Belgium legalised euthanasia in 2002, becoming the second European country after the Netherlands to do so.

The bill defines euthanasia as an act practised by a third party
intentionally ending the life of a person at his or her request.

Posted in Politics/Law, RTD News | No Comments »

The right to die: ‘Final Exit’ the DVD version

Feb 6th, 2006 by

‘Final Exit’ on DVD, adapted from the bestselling book by Derek Humphry

Shipping Now! • $20 + shipping
Available only thru the ERGO-Store.
Not available in bookstores.

2006 DVD (update of 2000 Final Exit VHS Video). Includes brand new footage demonstrating helium bag method.

Graphics and and titles illustrating helium tank setup and step-by-step procedures for self-deliverance. An adjunct resource to Final Exit, 3rd edition book and Final Exit Addendum. This guidance is for the possible use by a terminally or hopelessly ill competent adult who wishes to avoid further unrelieved pain and distress. Self-deliverance (a.k.a. rational suicide) is not a crime.

Directed, written & narrated by Derek Humphry.
46 min length. NTSC format.

Posted in Books, Film/TV/Radio, Publications/InternetMedia | No Comments »

How to contact Dignitas in Switzerland

Feb 6th, 2006 by

The Dignitas clinic is in Forch, near Zurich, Switzerland, and therefore operates under Swiss law, which, since 1941, has permitted assisted suicide provided it is done for altruistic reasons. It can be doctor-assisted hastened death, or non-doctor. Assisted suicide for the mentally ill is legal but rare due to the difficulty in accurate diagnosis.

It is always reported to the police, and there are fees involved. Travel and hotels are of course the responsibility of the person asking for help.

Only the states of Oregon, Washington and Montana the Netherlands, and Belgium permit physician-assisted suicide for terminally ill, competent adults, but it is for residents only, and there are strict guidelines.

To find out more about Dignitas in your language, visit Dignitas listing on Google and click “Translate this page”.

Or to translate Dignitas website into other languages visit either Google translation tool or Babel Fish Translator. Then choose your language (example: German to English) and enter “www.dignitas.ch” for the website address you want translated. Continue Reading »

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Posted in Assisted dying, Assisted Suicide, Final Exit, Final Exit Network, Hemlock, right to die, RTD News, RTD Organizations, Suicide (rational) | 38 Comments »

“Final Exit” is 15 years old

Jan 29th, 2006 by

The book “Final Exit: The Practicalities of Self-Deliverance and Assisted Suicide for the Dying” by Derek Humphry, has now been in continual print for 15 years. It is presently in its revised 3rd edition. With copies bought directly from ERGO comes a free ‘Addendum’ which updates the book to 2005.

It remains the only volume discussing frankly the approaches, the methods, and the means of voluntary euthanasia, physician-assisted suicide, and self-deliverance (rational suicide).

There are also accompanying DVD (2006) and VHS video versions of the book.

In 1991 the first edition, then published by the original Hemlock Society (1980-2003) was for 18 weeks the number one bestselling nonfiction book in America — to everyones surprise! It has sold over a million copies.

The paperback ‘Final Exit’ is published by Random House, New York.

Today it remains a consistent seller throughout the English-speaking world, and there are currently translations in Spanish and Italian.

Buy the book, DVD or VHS over the internet at
www.finalexit.org/ergo-store

Posted in Books, Publications/InternetMedia | No Comments »

World Right to Die Conference (2006)

Jan 27th, 2006 by

The 13th conference of the World Federation of Right to Die Societies will be held at the Sheraton Centre, Toronto, on September 7-10, this year (2006).

Hosts to this meeting will be Canada’s 25-year-old Dying With Dignity organization which can be contacted at:

Dying With Dignity
802-55 Eglinton Avenue East
Toronto, ON
ON M4P 1G8 Canada
Tel: 416.486.3998 x 22
Toll-free: 1.800.495.6156
Fax: 416.486.5562
E-mail: info@dyingwithdignity.ca
Website: www.dyingwithdignity.ca

Posted in Events/Conferences | No Comments »

Dying doctor uses Swiss assisted suicide

Jan 25th, 2006 by

It has been a significant happening in the controversial world of euthanasia and assisted suicide that a British doctor, Ann Turner, aged 67, flew to Switzerland to have another doctor end her life with an overdose at the Dignitas clinic. (Assisted suicide has been legal in Switzerland for 65 years).

She had an incurable degenerative disease, PSP, and was suffering greatly. One of Dr. Turner’s three adult children who were at her side when she died said: “We are very thankful her suffering is over.”

Before she died at Dignitas, Dr. Turner mailed letters to some 100 friends and acquaintances saying that by the time they were reading the letter she would be dead, and explaining why.

That a physician (from Bath) should have to use the services of a Swiss clinic for hastened death is bound to have some effect on the forthcoming debate in the British Parliament on the Joffe Bill, which if passed would introduce an Oregon-type physician-assisted suicide law.

Derek Humphry
www.finalexit.org

Posted in RTD News | No Comments »

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