The stance is outlined in a new document published by the Pontifical Academy for Life (PAV).

The text, titled "Small Lexicon on End of Life", indicates a slight departure from the Church's previous position.

However, it still reaffirms its opposition to euthanasia and assisted suicide.

This new publication reflects the Vatican's evolving perspective on "aggressive treatment" in end-of-life care, particularly concerning the moral obligation to provide artificial nutrition and hydration.

The text acknowledges the complexity of determining when food and hydration, typically administered through medical technology, may no longer be considered obligatory.

In the 88-page document, the PAV reiterates the need to avoid "disproportionate interventions".

It highlights the importance of considering the overall well-being of the patient rather than focusing solely on sustaining biological functions.

According to an introduction by Italian Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia (pictured), president of the PAV, the volume has the aim of "reducing at least that component of disagreement that depends on an imprecise use of the notions implied in speech".

Moral duty to provide food and water

The document refers to past Vatican teachings including the 2020 letter Samaritanus Bonus and the 2024 declaration Dignitas Infinita. These teachings highlight the importance of avoiding aggressive treatments that may not truly help the patient.

The volume noted that the food and hydration prepared for vegetative patients are prepared in a laboratory and administered through technology, and thus do not amount to "simple care procedures."

The new lexicon also quotes Pope Francis, who in 2017 cautioned against insisting on treatments that merely sustain life without improving the overall health of the patient.

The PAV document clarifies that this nuanced position does not contradict the DDF's 2007 guidelines which emphasised the moral duty to provide food and water, even artificially, to patients in a vegetative state.

By allowing the space to be kept open for research on legislative mediation on the topic, Paglia in his introduction said "in this way, believers assume their responsibility to explain to everyone the universal (ethical) sense disclosed in the Christian faith".

Sources

Crux Now

Vatican News

CathNews New Zealand

The decision has sparked renewed debate about the sanctity of life and legislation.

Zoraya ter Beek died by euthanasia on May 22. Despite being physically healthy, the woman from Oldenzaal, a town near the German border, chose to end her life due to mental health issues.

Only days before her death, ter Beek told The Guardian: "People think that when you're mentally ill, you can't think straight, which is insulting."

Diagnosed with depression, anxiety, trauma, and other issues, she was approved to die by assisted suicide for "unbearable suffering with no prospect of improvement," as per the official Dutch Euthanasia Code.

Read More

Originally planned for early this month, the bill is due to include "active aid to die". Exact details have not yet been revealed, but the long debate about end-of-life care suggests this will allow people to help others end their lives.

Due to Church opposition to assisted death, the government deemed it better to delay revealing these details until after the Pope closes a meeting of bishops from the Mediterranean region in Marseille and celebrates a public Mass there.

Pressure to liberalise end-of-life care in France has mounted ever since Belgium and the Netherlands legalised assisted suicide in 2002.

Read More

The ACT Labor-Greens government's proposal to allow teenagers as young as 14 to access voluntary assisted dying could see assisted suicide become available to "anyone that wants it", says Archbishop Anthony Fisher (pictured).

Every jurisdiction that has introduced assisted suicide has relaxed restrictions over time, he notes.

In setting such a low bar, Fisher says the ACT would see standards "end up in the gutter with no protections at all".

ACT Human Rights Minister Tara Cheyne has released a community consultation report. It will be used to help shape legislation to be introduced by the end of the year, she says.

Protections whittled away

"The fact is, every jurisdiction in the world that has gone down the euthanasia path has then gradually stripped away its protections," Fisher says.

"So, if we start as the ACT is proposing to start, with the bar ­already very low, well they're just going to end up in the gutter with no protections at all."

Calling the ACT government "radical", Fisher says the ACT or its leader must enforce safeguards around ­assisted suicide.

"Victoria has had euthanasia for only a year or two, and they're already talking about removing most of the protections.

"Well, if the ACT starts with ­almost none, where are they going to be two or three years on?

"My guess is it will be ­euthanasia on ­demand for anyone that wants it ...".

Cheyne sees it differently. She rejects as "arbitrary" all other Australian jurisdictions' assisted suicide restrictions

Currently, assisted suicide is only available to over 18-year olds with a terminal illness and life expectancy of between six and 12 months, or to people with dementia.

No comment

Health Minister Mark Butler and opposition health spokeswoman Anne Ruston have declined to comment on territory issues.

The five MPs representing ACT also declined to comment.

Informed choice

National's MP Barnaby Joyce doesn't think 14-year-olds are mature enough to make an "informed cogent decision about the most precious thing they have, which is their life.

"If you're going to go to 14, why not go to four?" he asks.

"It's what happens when you have a Greens left-wing Labor government and the idea the state reigns supreme over the individual. It's the removal of all forms of religion to be replaced with the ethos of the state."

Northern Territory chief minister Marshall Perron devised the world's first right-to-die laws.

He thinks it is "very hard to put a finger" on when a teenager developed the decision-making capacity to be eligible for assisted suicide.

"You'll get a different opinion from different people … 16 and 17 would be an easier step to go," he says.

"However, there is an argument to go beyond that.

"If we're talking about terminally ill individuals who are going to die and are suffering horrifically, I mean, anyone who's a parent would have to have some sympathy for the child."

Source

• The Australian

During the third oral evidence session of the UK Health and Social Care Select Committee's (HSCSC) inquiry into assisted suicide, MPs heard testimonies from six experts concerning euthanasia laws in Canada, the Netherlands and Belgium.

In each jurisdiction, euthanasia is permitted for those who are not terminally ill.

During one series of questions, Lucy Allan, Conservative MP for Telford, asked Professor Irene Tuffrey-Wijne, Professor of Intellectual Disability and Palliative Care, Kingston University London, about whether tinnitus would be a reason for assisted suicide in the Netherlands.

Read More

In US author Lionel Shriver's well-reviewed novel, Should We Stay Or Should We Go, a middle-aged married couple makes a pact to end their own lives when they turn 80.

A nurse and a GP in the British National Health Service, Kay and Cyril Wilkinson have seen countless patients worn down by physical and mental decay.

They are determined to avoid the same fate.

Reluctant to burden the state or their kids, they make a pact: when Kate turns 80, they will jointly take their own lives.

At 50, that still seems a long way off.

But when Kate blows out her candles on her 80th birthday cake, things don't seem so clear cut.

The pair are still physically and mentally alert and living active lives.

What might they miss out on if they snuff it?

The novel cleverly devises options, including being sectioned by their children, experimenting with cryogenics, and living in a fancy rest home.

Most of us, from time to time, consider how life will pan out in old age.

The death of a parent can prompt speculation about our own demise.

Will we live to the same age?

Will we face the same impairments: loss of hearing, sight, mobility, or mind?

Mostly it's not maudlin, just curiosity. And we are heartened by science and statistics.

There are cures for many of the conditions that struck down our parents and new drugs to mitigate or stave off the extreme effects of other ailments. New Zealand now has the fourth-longest life expectancy in the world after Monaco, Japan and Australia.

As a Pakeha New Zealand woman, I can expect to live to 84.57 years.

My husband, at 80, is nearing the national average for Pakeha men.

Statistics for Maori and Pasifika, of course, are nowhere near as rosy.

While life expectancy is increasing for both populations, the gap persists.

Maori men's life expectancy at birth is 73.4 years, Maori women 77.1; Pasifika men can expect to live to 75.4, Pasifika women 79.

But here's a thought: what if our health or happiness does not determine the age at which we die, but by those who deem us surplus to requirements and a burden on the state?

Unthinkable? Read on.

• Venetia Sherson ponders an unnerving prospect.

He's concerned about ACT Party leader David Seymour's desire to widen the End of Life Choice Act criteria. Seymour argues the change is necessary, as many who want assisted suicide are "missing out".

Seymour says this is mainly because those people don't have a terminal illness likely to end their lives within six months.

The six-month terminal prognosis requirement prevents those with chronic conditions or disabilities from being eligible.

Betty argues broadening the eligibility criteria would not improve equitable choice for those facing end-of-life decisions.

It should not progress in light of the current palliative care climate in New Zealand, he cautions.

Nor should it happen without careful analysis.

Despite its supreme importance to New Zealand's health system, palliative care is not well catered for, says Betty.

"There's no strategic plan as to what is going to happen with palliative care, there's fragmented services, lack of funding… the list goes on. It's not a situation we can allow as a first-world, caring society."

The contrast and imbalance of palliative care vs assisted suicide and euthanasia is sizeable and cause for concern, he says.

"We have one part of the system fully-funded and overseen in an apparently coherent way by the Ministry of Health (assisted suicide and euthanasia), and the other sector that doesn't even have a strategic plan in place, that is inequitably funded, and has no coherent overview of how to develop the service.

"Why don't we have the exact focus on palliative care, so anyone making the biggest decision of life can make an equitable, informed choice?"

It's remiss of the Government, politicians and the Ministry of Health, he says.

Betty says New Zealand's 5,500 GPs, specialist GPs, trainees and rural hospital doctors often provide palliative care to their patients free of charge.

That's because there is no funding available for end-of-life care - a serious failing of the system, he says.

"Palliative care is so dependent on local funding, which is traditionally done by DHBs, but there's a total lack of funding, resourcing and a national approach."

This, coupled with a growing workload and an increasing complexity in clinical patient needs, adds pressure to palliative care practices.

"The question becomes - why don't we have that exact same focus on palliative care," Betty says.

The Assisted Dying Service Data and Report from 7 November 2021 to 30 September 2022 says only about 80 percent of those choosing assisted suicide or euthanasia have access to palliative care.

Betty cautions against this analysis.

"It doesn't show perceptions of what is going on or the quality of care they are receiving," he says.

The data's effectiveness should be questioned when the Act is reviewed, he adds.

"Everyone is affected by death and dying. That is part of health. Good dying and having equitable choice is a fundamental part of the healthcare system we set up. It has to be given space and focus at this point."

Source

• Scoop
• NZ Herald
• 1News

Tracey Thompson, a Toronto resident in her 50s, told CTV News she had begun applying for Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) due to her enduring illness and lack of financial support. MAiD first became legal in Canada in 2016.

"MAiD is exclusively a financial consideration," she told CTV News Toronto.

After 26 months of lost income since the onset of symptoms, no foreseeable ability to work and an absence of support, Thompson said she expects to run out of money in about five months.

"My choices are basically to die slowly and painfully, or quickly. Those are the options that are left," Thompson said.

Thompson said in addition to severe fatigue, her symptoms included being unable to read books or text longer than a tweet, blurring vision around sunset, difficulty digesting food, altered sense of taste and smell, difficulty breathing and scars on her heart from swelling due to myocarditis.

Long covid is ill-defined and difficult to diagnose. Some experts claim roughly 5 per cent of people who contract the virus go on to develop long-term symptoms including shortness of breath, fatigue, fever, headaches and "brain fog".

Thompson stressed she didn't want to die.

"I'm very happy to be alive," she said.

"I still enjoy life. Birds chirping, small things that make up a day are still pleasant to me, they're still enjoyable. I still enjoy my friends. There's a lot to enjoy in life, even if it's small."

But she said she didn't think she could survive without an income.

"I don't relish the idea of suffering for months to come to the same conclusion," she said.

"When support is not coming, things aren't going to change. It seems irrational to put myself through that just to die in the end."

Since Thompson's illness is not clearly outlined in the Ontario Disability Support Programme (ODSP) eligibility, she believes it could take years to qualify. Even if she did qualify, she says the whole sum of the monthly support would, at best, cover her rent.

"That would be the entirety of my living budget," she said.

A year after Thompson became ill, MAiD legislation was revised in Canada. Previously, only those whose natural death was reasonably foreseeable — otherwise known as Track One patients — were eligible to apply for MAiD. For instance, patients with terminal illnesses.

The legislation amended in March 2021 has seen the creation of a Track Two patient. Now, Canadians enduring an "intolerable" and "irreversible" illness, disease or disability who may not be near the natural end of their lives can qualify for assisted death as well.

Thompson has sought one doctor's approval for MAiD and is waiting to hear from a second specialist. To be considered, applicants need two independent doctors or nurse practitioners to confirm they meet the criteria. That goes alongside a written request for MAiD signed by the person who is applying for it.

Applicants have until the moment before the procedure to withdraw consent. Ultimately, the decision is in their hands once the criteria are reached.

While Thompson is still working through the necessary steps, she's confident she'll get approval.

"As best I know I would meet the criteria. I'm very ill."

"There is no treatment. There is no cure. You don't have to be terminally ill," Thompson said.

Sources

CTV News

New Zealand Herald

CathNews NZ

Where to get help:

Need to Talk? Free call or text 1737 any time to speak to a trained counsellor, for any reason.

Lifeline: 0800 543 354 or text HELP to 4357

Suicide Crisis Helpline: 0508 828 865 / 0508 TAUTOKO (24/7). This is a service for people who may be thinking about suicide, or those who are concerned about family or friends.

Depression Helpline: 0800 111 757 (24/7) or text 4202

Samaritans: 0800 726 666 (24/7)

Youthline: 0800 376 633 (24/7) or free text 234 (8am-12am), or email talk@youthline.co.nz

What's Up: online chat (3pm-10pm) or 0800 WHATSUP / 0800 9428 787 helpline (12pm-10pm weekdays, 3pm-11pm weekends)

Kidsline (ages 5-18): 0800 543 754 (24/7)

Rural Support Trust Helpline: 0800 787 254

Healthline: 0800 611 116

Rainbow Youth: (09) 376 4155

If it is an emergency and you feel like you or someone else is at risk, call 111.

Due to her enduring illness and lack of financial support, Tracey Thompson, a Toronto resident in her 50s, told CTV News she had begun the process of applying for Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD), a procedure that first became legal in Canada in 2016.

The former chef has lost 26 months of income, has no foreseeable ability to return to work, and expects to run out of money in about five months. Read more

Fewer than 50 percent of patients wanting palliative care can access it.

These findings contradict the Government's stated plans to its improve its palliative care provision.

Evidence is mounting that assisted suicide is actively damaging the already inadequate palliative care system.

Some patients are choosing to die rather than to continue to live without adequate palliative care.

The Catholic Church has long supported palliative care for patients living with a life-threatening illness.

It calls euthanasia or medically assisted suicide an "intrinsically evil" act.

What palliative care experts say:

Three palliative care experts say since Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) legislation was passed in June 2016, palliative care provisions and services have reduced.

"It's like a cancer growing within the palliative care programmes", Dr. Neil Hilliard says.

"(MAiD) is starting to take over to a certain degree. But still only five percent of people are choosing MAiD; 95 percent would prefer to live well until they die naturally."

His comments support recent testimony from two of Canada's leading palliative care physicians to a Special Joint Committee of Parliament.

The Committee is reviewing the country's assisted suicide legislation.

Dr. Leonie Herx told the Committee that only 30 to 50 percent of Canadians who need palliative care have access to it.

"Currently, Canadians have a right to medical assistance in dying, but not to medical assistance in living.

"Having accessible, high quality palliative care needs to be a universal health care right in Canada."

Only a "very few," or about 15 percent, have access to specialist palliative care, she said.

The physical, emotional and spiritual suffering can lead patients to feel depressed and hopeless, and a burden to others. There are many factors driving requests for MAiD.

"Earlier palliative care can alleviate suffering before it becomes irremediable."

She said "significant deleterious effects" MAiD has had on palliative care include diminished resources and increasing distress experienced by palliative care clinicians."

She is especially concerned that:

Places where euthanasia is incorporated into palliative care has led to palliative nurses leaving their jobs because they felt unable to provide such care.

Hospice palliative care nurses are expected to provide assisted suicide.

Palliative care clinicians are suffering increasing moral distress from forced participation in MAiD; if they don't participate, hospices and palliative care units lose funding.

There is a critical shortage of specialist and generalist palliative care physicians.

Time is spent on administrative issues related to MAiD instead of providing palliative care.

There is decreased access to specialised palliative care when beds are taken by patients to have MAiD administered.

About patient fear - some won't access palliative care because of their association with assisted suicide. Some fear palliative care will hasten their death or they might be euthanised without their consent.

Another specialist told the committee assisted suicide needs to be "distinct and separate" from palliative care to ensure that the latter does not suffer.

"MAiD assessors and providers are in a conflict of interest if providing palliative care at the same time."

Source

• America Magazine

Where to get help:

Need to Talk? Free call or text 1737 any time to speak to a trained counsellor, for any reason.

Lifeline: 0800 543 354 or text HELP to 4357

Suicide Crisis Helpline: 0508 828 865 / 0508 TAUTOKO (24/7). This is a service for people who may be thinking about suicide, or those who are concerned about family or friends.

Depression Helpline: 0800 111 757 (24/7) or text 4202

Samaritans: 0800 726 666 (24/7)

Youthline: 0800 376 633 (24/7) or free text 234 (8am-12am), or email talk@youthline.co.nz

What's Up: online chat (3pm-10pm) or 0800 WHATSUP / 0800 9428 787 helpline (12pm-10pm weekdays, 3pm-11pm weekends)

Kidsline (ages 5-18): 0800 543 754 (24/7)

Rural Support Trust Helpline: 0800 787 254

Healthline: 0800 611 116

Rainbow Youth: (09) 376 4155

If it is an emergency and you feel like you or someone else is at risk, call 111.

In response to a federal lawsuit, the State agreed to stop enforcing the residency requirement on March 28. In addition, the Oregon Health Authority agreed to write a bill for state lawmakers which would repeal the requirement entirely.

Oregon Right to Life, a pro-life group active in the State, deplored the settlement and expressed worry that this would mark the start of "death tourism" in Oregon.

"We already have a problem with dangerously short physician-patient relationships and the push to eliminate any waiting period for life-ending drugs. We should not be expanding access to lethal prescriptions," said Oregon Right to Life Executive Director Lois Anderson.

Read More

Some Scottish lawmakers are again advocating the legalization of assisted suicide and have now suggested that online consultations with doctors could help fulfil purported safeguard requirements.

"How can a medic make a decision on the state of mind of an individual on a remote internet connection without being in the physical presence of that person to try and make a measured judgement?" Gordon Macdonald, the chief executive of Care Not Killing, told the Scottish newspaper The Herald.

Read More

"Our concern was not in relation to Fr. David's views themselves, but the manner in which these views have been expressed in the context of our diverse community of people of many faiths," the university says.

Palmer had been named as chaplain to the Catholic community at the University and as Catholic chaplain to Nottingham Trent University.

Nottingham Trent University accepted the appointment. However, after interviewing Palmer, the University of Nottingham wrote to McKinney about concerns regarding the appointment.

It later explained the concerns related to Palmer's social media posts, highlighting one on assisted suicide and another on abortion.

"They referenced a tweet where I had referred to the proposed ‘assisted dying' bill [introduced in Britain's Parliament in May] as a bill to allow the NHS ‘to kill the vulnerable,'" Palmer says.

"I was told it was fine for me to have this opinion, but they were concerned with how I expressed it. When I asked how they would suggest I express it, quite remarkably, they suggested I should call it ‘end of life care,' which is a completely unacceptable policing of religious belief."

Palmer tweeted last week that the university also objected to a second post in which he described abortion as the "slaughter of babies,". His comment was made in the context of the debate over U.S. President Joe Biden's reception of Holy Communion despite backing legal abortion.

Palmer says he defends both posts as reflecting Catholic belief.

He says after the university rejected his placement, the bishop declined to nominate another priest. The university then agreed he could offer Mass on campus on Sundays as a "guest priest."

Stressing that the university supported its Catholic community, a university spokesperson said: "We have no issue with the expression of faith in robust terms, indeed we would expect any chaplain to hold their faith as primary."

"The University of Nottingham remains committed to supporting staff and students of Catholic faith and continuing our 90-year tradition of providing Catholic chaplaincy for them," the spokesperson said.

Tweeting about the issue, Palmer noted that the university does not pay for chaplains. He also said most pastoral work with Catholic students would take place at the Newman House and St. Paul's in Lenton, a parish that includes the university within its boundaries.

Palmer rejects the university's explanation.

They say they have ‘no issue with the expression of faith in robust terms,' but this is precisely what they had an issue with, he says. It appears "diversity only goes so far, certainly not as far as the Catholic chaplain being able to express ‘robustly' mainstream Catholic beliefs."

"The suggestion that they are grateful for the bishop's ‘solution' almost seems to imply that the bishop somehow agrees with the university ‘policing' the expression of Catholic teaching on pro-life issues."

"His ‘solution' was an attempt to ensure that the university didn't end up barring sacramental ministry to the students entirely. It wasn't tacit approval of their behavior."

Source

• Catholic News Agency
• Image: British Council

The bishops' conference said a change in the law would affirm a self-centred view of life that proposes death as a solution to one's problems!

They also maintain the proposed law would be "bad news, since human life is not a commodity at anyone's disposal."

If passed by Spanish legislators, the controversial law would make Spain the fourth European country to legalize physician-assisted suicide. Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg are the other countries where euthanasia has been legalized.

Currently, assisted suicide is punishable in Spain with up to five years in prison.

A person found to have been directly involved in someone's death can face homicide charges and if convicted, the offender could face up to 10 years in prison.

The Bioethics Committee of Spain (CBE) has unanimously rejected the underlying principles behind the euthanasia bill.

The 12 member committee is responsible for issuing reports on matters with relevant bioethical implications.

The CBE noted the bill is invalid because it decriminalizes euthanasia as an exception to the general rule requiring life to be protected.

The committee further argued against the law because it recognizes death as a right that can be incorporated into the list of public health benefits.

Pope Francis has also expressed his concern over the proposed legalization of euthanasia in Spain.

Cardinal Juan Jose Omella said that Pope Francis had told a private meeting with local bishops that he is "worried" by the new measure. Omella stated that the pope is particularly concerned by the impact of such a decision on all life issues.

Spanish media have reported that one survey has revealed that up to 87% of the public is sympathetic to the introduction of a euthanasia law.

Another survey revealed that approximately 70% of doctors are in favour of legalizing euthanasia in Spain.

Sources

• Catholic News Agency
• National Catholic Reporter
• The Tablet

Because of its views, the Delta Hospice Society (a member-run organisation) is likely to lose $1.5 million in funding from the Fraser Health Authority, a public health care authority in British Columbia. It is also facing losing its permission to operate as a hospice in February 2021.

Both euthanasia and assisted suicide were legalized federally in Canada four years ago.

Since April last year, at least 6,749 Canadians died as a result of euthanasia or assisted suicide.

The Supreme Court of British Columbia ruled in June that the hospice had acted wrongly in its attempts to define its Christian identity and to exclude euthanasia because it had not been indiscriminately approving new applications for membership during 2020.

The Society has appealed the decision.

The hospice has been challenged by three of its members, including former director Sharon Farrish.

The legalization of euthanasia in Canada led to governance problems for the Delta Hospice Society, says Madam Justice Shelley Fitzpatrick, who wrote the June decision.

Farrish became executive director of the Delta Hospice Society in June 2019, when the society had about 160 members.

At that time, Fitzpatrick noted, "there was an increasing view that [Medical Assistance in Dying - MAiD] should be offered by the Society."

Membership in the hospice society swelled last year from about 400 at the beginning of October to 620 by the end of November.

"The clear inference is that the MAiD issue caused substantial interest in the community, and motivated people to get involved in the Society so that they could express their views at the [Annual General Meeting] as members of the Society," Fitzpatrick said.

At a general meeting in November 2019 a new board was elected that opposed provision of euthanasia at the hospice's facilities. Farrish was terminated as executive director.

The British Colombia hospice maintained physician-assisted suicide was "incompatible" with hospice palliative care, and that being pressured to provide it was incompatible with its mission.

Angelina Ireland, president of the board of the hospice society, says the Hospice has "worked really hard to have the people to trust us that when they come to hospice they will not be killed. We will take care of them, they will take care of their families.

"And now basically the government has said that any hospice that does not provide euthanasia, it's not allowed to exist."

Since then, the board of Delta Hospice Society has worked to preserve its character as an organization that allows for natural death.

Ireland is proposing the Society "return to our roots and fully affirm our Christian identity." She is urging the acceptance of a new constitution and bylaws.

The proposed new constitution would call the Society "a Christian community" meant "to provide compassionate care and support for persons in the last stages of living, so that they may live as fully and comfortably as possible, until their natural death."

Source

• CNA
• Image: The Times

A similar proposal in 2016 also faced opposition.

It offers death rather than social support to people who are lonely and depressed, critics say.

Among the critics is Dr. Gordon Macdonald, head of the UK-based alliance Care Not Killing.

The proposal is "deeply troubling," he says.

"The slippery slope is real and the Dutch euthanasia law has already been massively extended."

"To now consider extending the euthanasia law to people who are just tired of life, and may well be depressed, is highly irresponsible, immoral and dangerous."

Assisted suicide became legal in the Netherlands in 2002 for terminally ill adults who are mentally competent.

Since then, the law has been expanded to encompass:

• individuals with non-terminal chronic illnesses and disabilities
• individuals with mental health problems
• children and seriously ill infants.

People suffering from a mental illness but have no physical impairment are the quickest growing category of euthanasia deaths in the Netherlands.

Other opponents to the assisted suicide proposal argue it preys on lonely and possibly depressed elderly people, who need support and resources rather than offers of suicide.

The KNMG Royal Dutch Medical Association has also spoken out against the proposal, as have both Christian parties in government.

The legislation must be reviewed by the State judicial advisory committee before a potential debate and vote next year.

Critics say assisted safeguards built into the Netherlands' suicide laws, that are intended to protect the vulnerable, are not always followed.

Earlier this year, a doctor in the Netherlands was cleared of murder after euthanizing a woman with advanced Alzheimer's who repeatedly said that she did not want to die.

Macdonald says the latest proposal "would further liberalise the most liberal assisted dying laws in the world and risks introducing euthanasia on demand for anybody at any time."

"No doubt those advocating for this change will try to talk about safeguards, but these are illusionary and temporary," he says.

Source

• Catholic News Agency
• Gut Microbiota for Health

The application - lodged by Hospice on April 9 - asks the High Court to provide rulings on the legal meaning of certain aspects of the End of Life Choice Act 2019, including:

• Whether an organisation such as a hospice can conscientiously object to Assisted Dying and operate a euthanasia-free service.
• Whether a district health board or other funding agency can decline to fund or contract with an organisation if it does not agree to provide assisted dying services.
• Whether the Act's mandatory obligations on a health practitioner override the ethical, clinical or professional judgments of that practitioner and their obligations under the Code of Health and Disability Consumers' Rights.
• Whether a health practitioner may exercise a right of conscientious objection on the basis that they hold as a core value that they must not act in a way that is contrary to their ethical, clinical or professional judgment and obligations.

A Hospice NZ spokeswoman said the application was necessary in order for the charitable organisation to be able to provide accurate advice to its members in advance of the referendum.

A 2017 statement on the Hospice New Zealand website acknowledges that euthanasia is a "challenging and emotive topic."

"We respect that everyone has the right to their opinion."

However, they note that legalising euthanasia and/or assisted suicide will place pressure on vulnerable people - those living with disabilities, mental health issues, terminal illness - for fear of being a financial, emotional or care burden.

According to the Euthanasia Prevent Coalition Hospice New Zealand has probably launched the court case based on concerns with developments in Canada.

In February 2020, the Delta Hospice Society was informed that they will lose their funding because they refuse to do euthanasia.

Source

• alexschadenberg.blogspot.com
• nzherald.co.nz
• hospice.org.nz
• Image: wp19.genethique.org

Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia says he would offer this comfort because "no one is abandoned" by the Church.

Paglia, who heads the Vatican's Pontifical Academy for Life, explained his views during the presentation of an upcoming symposium on end-of-life issues the Academy is co-sponsoring.

The symposium on "Religion and Medical Ethics: Palliative care and the mental health of the elderly", is being co-organized by the British Journal of Medicine and Qatar's WISH foundation.

He was responding to a question about one bishops' conference's directive that a priest should not be in the room if euthanasia or assisted suicide is performed.

"I believe that from our perspective, no one is abandoned, even if we are against assisted suicide, because we don't want to do death's dirty job," he said.

"To accompany, to hold the hand of someone who is dying, is something that every faithful must promote as they must promote a culture that opposes assisted suicide."

Regardless of a willingness to accompany a person through such a decision, Catholics should continue to fight against a "selfish" society that labels the elderly, the terminally ill and others as "not good enough" and a surplus to the world, he said.

Pointing out that suicide - in whatever form - is a "defeat" for the rest of society, Paglia said: "We can never transform it into a wise decision".

He also said he always celebrates the funerals for those who take their own lives.

In his opinion, suicide is "a great request for love that was not satisfied. This is why the Lord never abandons anyone."

Paglia told reporters that even though they were looking "for a rule," the principle of never abandoning anyone is not a matter of law for him.

"In this selfish society, we don't need new laws. We need a love supplement, a co-responsibility supplement".

"We are all necessary, with no one to spare. A society that runs towards a perspective of justifying suicide or leaving behind those who are not ‘good enough' is a cruel one".

"For me, a person who takes their own life shows a failure of society as a whole".

"But it is not a failure from God. We are each children of God. Can a mother abandon her son?"

There's no certainty that even the apostle Judas, who betrayed Jesus before killing himself, is in Hell, he said.

"For a Catholic to say so, it's heresy."

Source

• Crux
• Image: Crux Now

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