How scientists mould public opinion on controversial bioethical issues
One of the puzzling features of bioethics debates is how quickly the public changes its mind about controversial issues. This is particularly evident in discussions...
Nitschke gets US tax-deductible status for his suicide machines
Americans can now get a tax-deduction for promoting assisted suicide. The world’s best-known assisted suicide activist, Australia’s Philip Nitschke, has drawn the curtains on a...
Will Canadian doctors be forced to market euthanasia to their patients?
Canada is constantly working to increase the number of euthanasia deaths. The latest development is proposed guidelines which practically require doctors and nurse practitioners to...
Australia’s capital is on track to legalise euthanasia. But activists are already unhappy.
The government of the Australian Capital Territory plans to introduce legislation permitting voluntary assisted dying (VAD) later this year. The Minister for Human Rights, Tara...
Is the world’s most influential theory of medical ethics fit for purpose in analysing abortion and euthanasia?
As a word, principlism may be clumsy and unpronounceable, but as an explanation of medical ethics, it is supreme. The four principles of autonomy, beneficence,...
Extreme Barbie: cosmetic surgery to the max
Dolly and Daisy Simpson, 26-year-old twins from the English town of from Stockton-on-Tees are living, breathing Barbie dolls. If you are searching for gender stereotyping,...
‘Barbie’ is more than a film about Barbie
Barbie, which has grossed about US$1.2 billion worldwide, has provoked a surprising amount of commentary. Director Greta Gerwig has created a film whose pink, plastic,...
Quebec euthanasia deaths the highest in the world
Euthanasia in Quebec has reached 7% of deaths, the highest in the world. Nonetheless, the head of the province’s Commission on End-of-Life Care, Dr Michel...
Japanese doctor with stage-4 cancer: “I want my patients to live with dignity until the end”
Fumio Yamazaki, a 75-year-old palliative care doctor, has been battling stage-4 cancer for four years. But despite his own illness, he has continued helping his...
Singapore bans elective sperm freezing to protect consumer rights
In a recent amendment of regulations on assisted reproduction services, the Singapore Ministry of Health explicitly banned elective sperm freezing without a medical indication. This...
Is the philosophy behind Canada’s experiment with euthanasia weakening in its appeal?
The growing toll of euthanasia in Canada – from zero to more than 10,000 in five years – is upsetting settled ideological allegiances. How could...
The number of elderly is rising, but not the number of geriatric specialists
In 1950, 8% of the American population was 65 years old and over. In 2023, that figure is about 17%. By 2050, it is estimated...