SPAIN : Parliament votes to consider legalization of euthanasia
Feb. 12, 2020 – After Spain’s socialist party tried and failed twice last year to legalize euthanasia and assisted suicide, the lower house of the country’s parliament has now voted to consider a bill that would legalize the practices in certain circumstances.
NETHERLANDS : 22% rise in euthanasia requests in 2019.
Feb. 7, 2020 – A Dutch organization that carries out euthanasia received 3,122 requests last year, a 22% increase from the year before, the Euthanasia Expertise Center said.
INDIA : Doctor has been providing free palliative care for 16 years
Jan. 16, 2020 – The story of this Indian doctor reveals the full human dimension and the medical importance of palliative home care.
Only 14% of world population has access to palliative care services
Dec. 17, 2019 – This is what a recent research from the University of Glasgow has concluded. Led by Professor David Clark, the study found that only 30 countries from 198 in the world have sophisticated levels of palliative care provision that are fully integrated into the health and social care system
Personal health data sold to tech giants
Nov. 11 2019 – Tech giants (Google, Facebook, Apple, Amazon) are aggressively looking to buy personal health data, now teaming up with health care providers. The Wall Street Journal notably reported that Google has an under-the-radar partnership with Ascension, America's nation’s second-largest health system. Questions are being asked about the morality of such transactions.
SWITZERLAND : Doctor sentenced for helping healthy woman to die
Oct. 18, 2019 – A court in Geneva has given a suspended sentence to the regional vice-president of EXIT, Pierre Beck, for helping an 86-year-old woman to die when she was not sick. The woman wanted to die along her sick husband.
NEW-ZEALAND : 1500 doctors sign open letter against euthanasia
Nov. 12, 2019 – Despite a strong opposition from numerous physicians, the Parliament of New-Zealand voted 69 against 51 in favor of a bill legalizing euthanasia for sick persons whose life expectancy is under six months. New Zealanders will vote on the issue in a referendum November next year.
UK : NHS changes its guidance on Down syndrome
Nov. 5, 2019 – After being pressured by parents because of an advice on Down syndrome which amounted to an 'endless lists of problems', the NHS change its web page for more « balanced and informative » guidance. The page also now underlines that screening tests are discretional and not systematic. In Britain, 9 out of 10 parents choose to abort their child with prenatal Down syndrome diagnosis.
GEORGIA : The World Medical Association reaffirms its opposition to euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide
Oct. 26, 2019 – After an intensive process of consultation with physicians and non physicians around the world, the WMA at its annual Assembly in Tbilisi, Georgia, adopted a revised Declaration on Euthanasia and Physician-Assisted Suicide, precising some key terms, but keeping its historical opposition to euthanasia.
RUSSIA : Biologist preparing to edit the genetic code of human eggs
Oct. 27, 2019 – M. Denis Rebrikov’s goal is to eliminate a gene causing degrees of deafness. While he has consistently vowed to follow all the protocols required by the Russian government, many experts are unhappy with Rebrikov’s haste, which could potentially harm the human embryos.
ROME : Abrahamic Religions sign joint declaration on euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide
Oct. 28, 2019 – Christian, Jewish and Muslim envoys signed Monday a joint document that denounced euthanasia and assisted suicide as “inherently” wrong acts that should be forbidden.