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New WF member Verein StHD (as is the case for the German Dignitas section) possibly falls under a German penal law under discussion, according to which certain forms of suicide assistance will be punishable with imprisonment of up to three years. Roger Kusch’s Verein StHD has opened a branch in Zürich, in addition to the first office in Hamburg. Up to now this Zurich agency should serve only to look after the South German members of Sterbehilfe Germany.
Lewis M. Cohen, an American psychiatrist and specialist in palliative medicine and end-of-life issues from Massachusetts USA, uses the experiences of two skilled nurses providing professional terminal pain treatment, to explore what happens when decisions about end-of-life care shift from the hospital to the courtroom.
Eurispes, an Italian Institute of Political, Economic and Social studies, a private entity, operates since 1982. One of the issues reviewed every year is the public opinion on ethical issues around the end-of-life.
In its 25th edition it reports promising figures, showing growth of adherence to euthanasia
In a press release AQDMD’s President Helène Bolduc reports:
AQDMD brings an end to its involvement in Ginette Leblanc’s court case.
Mrs. Ginette Leblanc has died. Members of the Quebec Association for the Right to Die with Dignity – AQDMD will fondly remember her and her loved ones’ constant support.
New guidelines from the General Medical Council (GMC) for the first time make clear that doctors will be able to provide medical records to patients who want them to travel abroad for an assisted suicide without being struck off: handing over records to patients who then use them to take their own life is “too distant” from encouraging a suicide to risk their fitness to practise being called into question.
Read Lifecircle's second Newsletter here.
The Vermont lawmakers heard more than seven hours of testimony about Death with Dignity last week by both supporters and opponents. Hearings began with the the Senate Health and Welfare Committee members listening to testimony by supporters including former Governor Madeleine Kunin and Attorney General William Sorrell about why a Death with Dignity law should be enacted in the state.
Read here the most recent Final Exit Network's Newsletter Winter 2012-2013.
Japan Society JSDD published its Newsletter nr 148.
The Bill criminalizing commercial (a compromise from the governing coalition) assistance with suicide, on which Merkel's cabinet already reached an agreement, will not make it to the Parliament (Bundestag) as originally foreseen for the end of January. The debate has been postponed for an unidentified time. This implies that - for the time being and in cases of voluntary or terminal conditions - assisted suicide, contrary to wide spread misconceptions, will stay legal in Germany for anybody (doctors included!).