British medical students support conscience rights
Here is a link to an encouraging story from LifeNews.com about a recent poll of British medical students that finds them in favor of conscience rights. http://www.lifenews.com/2011/07/19/poll-british-med-students-back-abortion-conscience-rights/ Richard M.
“Death and Budgets”
That is the title of a column by David Brooks in yesterday’s New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/15/opinion/15brooks.html?_r=3&nl=todaysheadlines&emc=tha212 Brooks comments on an op-ed piece in last Sunday’s New York Times by Dudley Clendinen, who has ALS. Clendinen’s piece expressed the author’s inclination to commit suicide when his condition worsened. (Teresa already posted about Clendinen’s essay. http://uffl.org/blog/?p=1139 ) The column by […]
German bishops denounce Germany’s approval of PDG
Here is a Zenit story on the German Catholic bishops’ response to a new German law that gives the go-ahead to the use of Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PDG). http://www.zenit.org/rssenglish-33074 The bishops point out the eugenic implications of such usage. “The selection of a ‘healthy’ embryo always entails the rejection of ‘unhealthy’ human embryos–and thus a violation […]
“Abandoning the disabled to assisted suicide in the UK”
That is the title of a recent blog post by Wesley Smith. Here is the lead paragraph of the post– “The UK is falling off a vertical moral cliff on the assisted suicide issue. It remains a crime. But the Public Prosecutor of England and Wales has stated that if, after a complete investigation, it […]
Frank Zapatka post on another mystery by Ralph McInerny
Courtesy of Frank Zapatka, here is a commentary on Ralph McInerny’s The Prudence of the Flesh. The Prudence of the Flesh (2006), the 25th of Ralph McInerny’s 26 “Father Dowling Myster[ies]” is another of several of his mysteries in which the life issues are involved. In this one, the relevant passages are paraphrased and quoted in the […]
Alzheimer’s and assisted suicide
Here is a link to an important story by Dave Andrusko who discusses a recent Time magazine op-ed by two researchers from the Hastings Center who argue that new tests that may make it possible to detect Alzheimer’s before symptoms of dementia have developed should open up conversations about assisted suicide. Andrusko’s title (“Finding a Justification […]
North Carolina’s Woman’s Right to Know Act
The North Carolina legislature recently passed the Woman’s Right to Know Act, which requires a 24 hour waiting period before an abortion during which the pregant mother would have an opportunity to consider information and view an ultrasound. Governor Perdue vetoed the Act. North Carolina’s Catholic bishops have issued a statement urging an override. http://www.dioceseofraleigh.org/news/view.aspx?id=1167 […]
Report on challenge to Texas law requiring sonogram before abortion
Here is a report on the pending lawsuit challenging the Texas law requiring that women be able to view a sonogram before obtaining an abortion. A ruling is expected by September. http://www.nationalrighttolifenews.org/news/2011/07/judge-hears-arguments-over-texas%e2%80%99-new-sonogram-law/#more-2963 Richard M.
article on rediscovering consciousness in people diagnosed as “vegetative”
Here is a link to a story by Dave Andrusko from National Right to Life noting a recent article in Discover magazine by Kat McGowan entitled “Rediscovering Consciousness in People Diagnosed as ‘Vegetative.’” http://www.nationalrighttolifenews.org/news/2011/07/unlocking-the-mysteries-of-%e2%80%9cdisorders-of-consciousness%e2%80%9d/#more-2990 As Andrusko states: “But what McGowan’s overview of massive amounts of research demonstrates is both that PVS is much more of […]
Rasouli decision from the Ontario Court of Appeals supports the role of the family in medical decisions
Here is report on the recent Rasouli decision from the Ontario Court of Appeals. http://www.lifesitenews.com/news/ontario-appeals-court-rules-doctors-dont-have-right-to-remove-life-support The court found that doctors didn’t have the right to withdraw medical treatment despite the family’s objection. Here is commentary from the National Right to Life website. http://www.nationalrighttolifenews.org/news/2011/07/toronto-star-agrees-with-rasouli-decision/#more-2916 Richard M.