Sixth Circuit Hears Arguments in Down Syndrome Abortion Case
On March 11, 2020, the full Sixth Circuit heard oral arguments in a case challenging the constitutionality of Ohio’s Down Syndrome Non-Discrimination Act. That law prohibits abortions when the women is seeking abortion due to a diagnosis of Down syndrome. By a 2-1 vote, a 3-judge panel of the Sixth Circuit held the law unconstitutional […]
Hadley Arkes on the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act
Here is a link to a good column by Hadley Arkes on the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act.
Supreme Court to hear Oral Arguments in Louisiana Abortion Case
Here is preview of the upcoming oral arguments in June Medical Services v. Russo, which involves the constitutionality of a Louisiana law requiring that doctors who perform abortions have admitting privileges at local hospitals. The Supreme Court will hear arguments on Wednesday March 4, 2020. A decision isn’t expected until late June.
Germany and Assisted Suicide
Here is a link to a good article by Michael Cook on a decision by the Federal Constitutional Court in Germany. The decision endorses the legality of assisted suicide. As Cook states, the court “ruled that a law banning suicide with professional assistance was unconstitutional, as it deprived terminally ill patients of ‘the right to […]
En banc Ninth Circuit Allows HHS Title X Regulations to Take Effect
Here is a link to a recent (February 24, 2020) 7-4 decision by the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit rejecting a challenge to HHS Regulations implementing Title X of the Public Health Service Act. Title X prohibits grant funds from being used in programs where abortion is a method of family […]
Federal Appeals Court blocks Mississippi Heartbeat Law
Here is a link to an opinion from the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit affirming a lower court opinion enjoining Mississippi’s law banning abortions after the detection of a fetal heartbeat. The court’s brief per curiam relied on existing precedent.
“Truth, Euphemism, and Physician-Assisted Suicide”
Here is a link to a good essay by Professor Thomas Cavanaugh. The essay was published in Public Discourse. Cavanaugh’s essay explores the great danger of the use of euphemisms in the assisted suicide debate. He concludes with these thoughts: “we should “not be afraid of words that speak the truth.” Rather, we should find […]
Infanticide Impunity in the Name of Abortion Rights
Here is a link to a good article by Ligia De Jesus Castaldi about the 17+ Women in El Salvador. The women have been imprisoned for criminal homicide of their own biological children shortly after birth. As Castaldi demonstrates and the abstract of her article summarizes, “American pro-abortion supporters, Western embassies and international human-rights bodies […]
Belgian Jury Clears Doctors in Euthanasia Case
Here is a link to a blog post by Alex Schadenberg on the resolution of the prosecution of three doctors who assisted in the death of Tine Nys, whose family claimed she was euthanized in violation of the Belgian law.
“Four pro-life philosophers make the case against abortion”
Here is a link to a good article by John Conley in America magazine about a panel presentation at the annual conference of the American Philosophical Association. The panel was hosted by Jorge Garcia and featured talks by Celia Wolf-Devine, Anthony McCarthy, and Francis Beckwith. Here is Conley’s concluding paragraph: “The most compelling argument against […]