International Task Force on Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide

Addressing the issues of euthanasia, assisted suicide, advance directives, assisted suicide proposals, "right-to-die" assisted suicide in Oregon, cases, euthanasia practices in the Netherlands, disability rights, pain control and much, much more.

What's New...

"Letter noting assisted suicide raises questions" (KATU TV; Portland, OR; July 31, 2008)
Interview with Barbara Wagner who was denied chemotherapy, but offered assisted suicide, by the Oregon Health Plan. Includes link to video interview.
More on assisted suicide in Oregon.

"Fix this medical ethics glitch" (Oregonian; Portland, OR; July 29, 2008)
Oregon's willingness to pay for assisted suicide, but not for treatment, creates an ethical quagmire. "As the only state that both allows assisted suicide and tries to ration health care, Oregon has created a fine ethical line for state officials to navigate. In this case. They stepped over it."

"Assisted suicide gets push from out of state"
Portland Oregon based Death with Dignity National Center's annual report tells the tale of its behind the scenes manipulation of Washington State's assisted-suicide initiative.
(Seattle Post-Intelligencer, 7/28/08)

Out of state assisted-suicide groups funding, planning and coordinating Washington State initiative. (7/23/08)
Cash contributions from assisted-suicide groups.
In-kind contributions (donated goods and/or services) from assisted-suicide groups.
Pre-campaign expenditures by assisted-suicide groups in preparation for I-1000.

"'Assisted suicide' describes initiative correctly"
Washington state supporters of I-1000 complained that the measure should not be described as an assisted-suicide proposal. However, the Associated Press and newspapers will continue to refer to it as "assisted suicide."
According The Olympian's executive editor, "the phrase [assisted suicide] is a simple, accurate description of the proposal. We recognize there are negative connotations attached to the word suicide, but its definition is clear - the act of taking one's own life voluntarily and intentionally."
(The Olympian, 7/15/08)
More on Washington initiative.

Latest ITF Update (June 2008)
Oregon's assisted-suicide law; PAS initiative in Washington; Legislators attempt to camouflage assisted-suicide intent of new California bill (AB 2747); Assisted suicide & the corruption of palliative care; George Exoo and assisted-suicide for hire; Belgium; the Netherlands and more.

"Oregon's Trojan Horse"
Why hasn't Oregon's assisted-suicide law expanded yet?

"Physician-Assisted Suicide in Oregon: A Medical Perspective,"
Herbert Hendin, M.D. and Kathleen Foley, M.D. (Michigan Law Review, Vol. 106; 8, June 2008).
While previous articles have examined assisted suicide from legal and ethical perspectives, this article examines the Oregon law from a medical perspective. The authors found that seemingly reasonable safeguards which were written into the Oregon law for the care and protection of terminally ill patients, do not appear to have achieved their purpose.

"Euthanasia: False Light"
View the ITF's compelling 15-minute video, the winner of two prestigious national Telly Awards. Narrated by actor, Joseph Campanella, the video looks at euthanasia and assisted suicide through the eyes of five people -- three patients, a doctor, and a hospice nurse, all of whom speak from their hearts, not from a script.

Assisted-suicide proposals
Most of the 2007 proposals are virtually identical to Oregon's assisted-suicide law. Such attempts are not new.
From 1994 through 2007, 90 legislative proposals in 23 states that would have legalized assisted suicide have failed.

"Euthanasia, Assisted Suicide & Health Care Decisions: Protecting Yourself & Your Family."
• Table of Contents
• Part 1: Detailed and extensively documented report about the latest in attempts to legalize assisted suicide and euthanasia, along with practical tips for addressing these topics. (82.6 Kb)
• Part 2: Facts and practical information about advance directives including the difference between the Living Will and the Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care. (51.3 Kb)

To obtain the Protective Medical Decisions Document (the ITF's durable power of attorney for health care), call 740-282-3810 or 800-958-5678 between 8:30am and 4:30pm (eastern time).

Support the International Task Force:
To make a tax-deductible donation, using a credit card,
call 740-282-3810 or 800-958-5678 between 8:30am and 4:30pm (eastern time)
or
mail your gift to the International Task Force at P.O. Box 760, Steubenville, OH 43952.

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This site was last updated on Friday August 01, 2008.

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International Task Force on Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide
PO Box 760 - Steubenville, OH 43952
740-282-3810