Latest news with #DeathwithDignity
The Star
19-06-2025
- Health
- The Star
Faced with a terminal illness themselves, doctors prefer assisted dying
When it comes to advanced cancer or Alzheimer's disease, over half of doctors would consider assisted dying for themselves, but preferences seem to vary according to their jurisdiction's legislation on euthanasia, reveal the results of an international survey, published online in the Journal of Medical Ethics . And most say they would prefer symptom relief rather than life sustaining treatment for their own end of life care, indicate the responses. Previously published research suggests that doctors' views on their own end of life care inform their clinical practice, and that their perceptions of their patients' treatment wishes are influenced by their own preferences, note the researchers. But most of the studies on physicians' preferences for end of life practices are outdated and/or narrow in focus, added to which little is known about whether doctors would consider assisted dying for themselves, and whether this might be influenced by national or state legislation on the practice, point out the researchers. Survey in five countries To shed more light on these issues, the researchers surveyed doctors in eight jurisdictions with differing laws and attitudes to assisted dying: Belgium; Italy; Canada; the states of Oregon, Wisconsin, and Georgia in the United States; and the states of Victoria and Queensland in Australia. Physician-assisted suicide law entered the statute book in Oregon in 1997, while Death with Dignity legislation has been introduced in Wisconsin numerous times over the past 20 years but remains illegal. It is also illegal in Georgia which is one of the most religious states in the US. In Canada, both physician-assisted suicide and euthanasia have been permitted since 2016. In Belgium, assisted dying has been legal since 2002, but remains illegal in Italy, one of the most religious countries in Europe. The Australian state of Victoria implemented assisted dying legislation in June 2019. In Queensland, assisted dying legislation was passed in 2021, but had not yet come into force when the data for this study were collected (May 2022–February 2023). Two hypothetical situations were included to probe doctors' views on end of life care: advanced cancer and Alzheimer's disease. Respondents were asked the extent to which they would consider various end of life practices for themselves. These included cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), mechanical ventilation, tube feeding, intensified alleviation of symptoms, palliative sedation, the use of available drugs to end life, physician-assisted suicide, and euthanasia. Responses were sought from family doctors (GPs), palliative care doctors, and other medical specialists highly likely to treat patients at the end of their life, such as cardiologists, emergency medicine doctors, oncologists, neurologists, and intensive care specialists. What's a good option? Of the 1,408 survey responses received, 1,157 were included in the final analysis. These showed that doctors rarely considered life sustaining practices a (very) good option in cancer and Alzheimer's, respectively: CPR 0.5% and 0.2%; mechanical ventilation 0.8% and 0.3%; tube feeding 3.5% and 3.8%. Most (94% and 91%, respectively) considered intensifying symptom relief a good or very good option, while 59% and 50%, respectively, considered palliative sedation a good or very good option. Respondents who considered palliative sedation for Alzheimer's disease as a good or very good option ranged from just over 39% in Georgia to just over 66% in Italy. About half of respondents considered euthanasia a (very) good option: just over 54% and 51.5%, respectively, for cancer and Alzheimer's disease. The proportion of those considering euthanasia a (very) good option ranged from 38% in Italy to 81% in Belgium (cancer scenario), and almost 37.5% in Georgia, to almost 67.5% in Belgium (Alzheimer's disease scenario). Around one in three (33.5%) respondents said they would consider drugs at their disposal to end their own life (cancer scenario). While sex, age and ethnicity didn't seem to influence doctors' preferences for end of life practices, prevailing legislation in their jurisdiction did. Doctors working in a jurisdiction with a legal option for both euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide were three times as likely to consider euthanasia a (very) good option for cancer and almost twice as likely to consider it a (very) good option for Alzheimer's disease. 'This may be because these physicians are more familiar and comfortable with the practices and have observed positive clinical outcomes. 'It also suggests that macro-level factors heavily impact personal attitudes and preferences, and physicians are likely influenced by what is considered 'normal' practice in their own jurisdiction,' say the researchers. Religious views GPs and other specialists were less likely to consider palliative sedation a good or very good option than palliative care doctors, and they were more likely to consider euthanasia, physician-assisted suicide, and the use of available medication to end their own life a (very) good option. And doctors who weren't religious were more likely to consider physician-assisted suicide or euthanasia a preferable option than those with a strongly held faith: physician-assisted suicide 65% vs 38%; euthanasia 72% vs 40%. Due to the study design and nature of surveys the results can't be considered fully representative, and those doctors with a particular interest in the subject may have been more likely to take part, acknowledge the researchers. While the overall recruitment of respondents was satisfactory in all jurisdictions, GPs were under-represented among the Canadian respondents. But note the researchers: 'Our findings show that across all jurisdictions physicians largely prefer intensified alleviation of symptoms and to avoid life-sustaining techniques like CPR, mechanical ventilation, and tube feeding. 'This finding may also relate to the moral distress some physicians feel about the routine continuation of treatment for their patients at the end of life. 'These findings warrant reflection on current clinical practice since life-prolonging treatment is still widely used for patients,yet is not preferred by physicians for themselves.'
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Sufjan Stevens Releases 'Death with Dignity' Demo Ahead of Carrie & Lowell Reissue: Stream
The post Sufjan Stevens Releases 'Death with Dignity' Demo Ahead of Carrie & Lowell Reissue: Stream appeared first on Consequence. To preview the upcoming 10th anniversary edition of his album Carrie & Lowell, Sufjan Stevens has released the demo to album's opening track, 'Death with Dignity.' With a similar arrangement to the finished version on the 2015 album, the demo for 'Death with Dignity' strips back the song's polished sound for something more raw. Without doubling, Stevens' voice is more intimate, almost bare, gently easing into his upper register coo as it introduces the album's themes of time and loss. Throughout, the plucked arpeggios and piano interludes fill the sonic space with a nostalgic feel. Watch the newly-released lyric video for 'Death with Dignity (Demo)' below. Due on May 30th via Asthmatic Kitty, the 10th anniversary reissue of Carrie & Lowell was announced last month with the release of another Stevens demo, 'Mystery of Love.' Upon arrival, the new edition will include 40 minutes of bonus material, consisting of more demos and outtakes. It will also include a 40-page book of family photos, artwork, drawings, and more. Pre-orders for the Carrie & Lowell (10th Anniversary Edition) are now ongoing. The original Carrie & Lowell was released 10 years ago last month, and was recognized by Consequence at the time as the 2nd best album of 2015. Stevens released his most recent studio album, Javelin, two years ago, dedicating it to his late partner Evans Richardson. It also earned our praise, placing 3rd on our rundown of the best albums of 2023. Last fall, he collaborated with John Legend on the children's album My Favorite Dream. Popular Posts LAPD Releases Body Cam Footage of Shooting Involving Weezer Bassist's Wife Jillian Lauren Katy Perry Goes Viral for Cringe Choreography at "Lifetimes Tour" Kickoff Phish Snubbed by Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Despite Winning Fan Vote Jack Black's Minecraft Song "Steve's Lava Chicken" Sets Billboard Record for Shortest Hot 100 Hit Bruno Mars Adds New Dates to His Eternal Las Vegas Residency at Park MGM Rock & Roll Hall of Fame's 2025 Class: The White Stripes, OutKast, Soundgarden & More Subscribe to Consequence's email digest and get the latest breaking news in music, film, and television, tour updates, access to exclusive giveaways, and more straight to your inbox.
Yahoo
31-01-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Oregon's Death with Dignity law replicated in other states
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — An estimated 66% of Americans said assisted suicide should be legal. Today, it's legal in ten states and Washington D.C. News 2 's Mark Kelly spoke with the law's original champion. 'For me, it's about honoring how that person wants to live their final days,' said Geoff Sugerman, national legislative director at Death with Dignity, a group that advocates for aid in dying legislation in the U.S. Sugerman was one of the first in the country to bring to life what is sometimes called Death with Dignity legislation. 'They are at the point in their illness where there is no treatment options left for them.' The work to pass the new legislation started in Oregon in 1994. By 1997, the Death with Dignity legislation became law. And according to a state report from Oregon, the following year, 16 people chose to use the law and take a prescription to end their life. In 2023, that number rose to 367 people. Sugerman said Oregon's law has become a model for other states. 'There's a really solid and strong process in place that really protects patients and yet still allows this choice for those people who are really at the end of life.' Sugerman said Oregon's law has four key guardrails to prevent abuse: The patient must be diagnosed with a terminal illness and two doctors agree that the patient has six months to live. The patient must be mentally competent to make their own decisions. The patient must make their decision voluntarily. And the patient must self-administer the medicine. Supporters believe these guardrails are critical because they differentiate Death with Dignity from suicide and euthanasia, which is when a doctor deliberately kills a patient. Euthanasia is illegal in the U.S. 'A person with a disability just doesn't qualify to use the law, unless they also have an underlying terminal illness; a person with a mental health issue does not qualify to use the law; a person with Alzheimer's or dementia is not allowed to use the law because they're not deemed capable of making their own healthcare decisions,' said Sugerman. ⏩ Interestingly, a new Gallup poll found 66% percent of Americans not only support assisted suicide, a great many also support euthanasia – and that spans political parties: 79% of Democrats; 72% of Independents; and 61% of Republicans say they support legalizing euthanasia. 'The general public, as it is on most issues, is far ahead of most legislatures in support for this,' said Sugerman. Ten states and Washington D.C. have legalized physician-assisted suicide. New York and Massachusetts may very well be next. But Sugerman says that here in Tennessee a Death with Dignity law doesn't seem to be on the horizon in the near future. 'We look at states that have strong organizations and strong legislative champions. And those tend to be the states where we focus more of our efforts legislatively,' said Sugerman. A recent change in Oregon law allows people from other states to travel there for physician-assisted suicide, opening up the procedure to more Americans. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
29-01-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Woman with ALS explains decision to die with medical assistance
When CBS News visited Barbara Goodfriend's home in New Jersey, it was crowded with family and friends — a place that seemed full of life. So it was hard to process that it was also a place where she was determined to die just 24 hours later. "It's been a week of family, friends. We've done a lot of crying, all of us, but we've laughed. We've enjoyed being together," Goodfriend said. Last April, Goodfriend was diagnosed with ALS, or Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, a disease that attacks the nervous system and robs people of their muscle control. The 83-year-old widow spent decades working in fashion while raising her only daughter. After a doctor told her she might not live through the fall, she deteriorated quickly and suffered falls that caused bruises on her face. Rather than suffer, Goodfriend has chosen what's known as "Medical Aid in Dying," or MAID. A doctor prescribes a mixture of lethal medication. The patient must have six months or less to live, be of sound mind and must administer it themselves. The procedure is different than euthanasia — when a doctor gives a patient a lethal injection — which is illegal in the U.S. Goodfriend says she doesn't want to die, but she also doesn't want to continue living with a terminal disease. "What am I going to give this up for? To be in a wheelchair? To have a feeding tube? I wish I had more time to live, but I don't want more time as a patient," Goodfriend said. "I hope that something will get done, something will be accomplished, so that others can have the privilege that I'm having." Dying with medical assistance is currently legal in 10 states and Washington, D.C., but eight other states are considering similar laws this year, according to the nonprofit Death with Dignity. Dr. Robin Plumer has attended nearly 200 deaths in New Jersey, where MAID was made legal in 2019. The law doesn't require Goodfriend to have a doctor at her bedside on her final day, but she wanted Plumer there. "You're going to drink this medicine and drift off into sleep and you're going to just feel all the love and support," Plumer said. Goodfriend says no one tried to talk her out of it. Her daughter, Carol, helped her through the process. "I think the hardest part in all of this, for me as her only child, is to support something so difficult and so contrary to what you want to do. The ultimate love that you can give somebody is to respect their wish, to live the way they wanna live, and to die the way they want to die," Carol said. Goodfriend's last day of life was spent with her loved ones in a room full of unmistakable emotion. But the calmest one there was the woman in bed who'd made the choice to die. "I'm not afraid of dying...I was afraid of living," Goodfriend said. Trump's statement on New Jersey drones issued at White House press briefing AI stocks plunge as China's DeepSeek sends shock wave through Wall Street U.S. troops head to southern border as deportations continue
CBS News
29-01-2025
- Health
- CBS News
Woman with ALS explains "Medical Aid in Dying" decision: "I don't want more time as a patient"
When CBS News visited Barbara Goodfriend's home in New Jersey, it was crowded with family and friends — a place that seemed full of life. So it was hard to process that it was also a place where she was determined to die just 24 hours later. "It's been a week of family, friends. We've done a lot of crying, all of us, but we've laughed. We've enjoyed being together," Goodfriend said. Last April, Goodfriend was diagnosed with ALS, or Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, a disease that attacks the nervous system and robs people of their muscle control. The 83-year-old widow spent decades working in fashion while raising her only daughter. After a doctor told her she might not live through the fall, she deteriorated quickly and suffered falls that caused bruises on her face. Rather than suffer, Goodfriend has chosen what's known as "Medical Aid in Dying," or MAID. A doctor prescribes a mixture of lethal medication. The patient must have six months or less to live, be of sound mind and must administer it themselves. The procedure is different than euthanasia — when a doctor gives a patient a lethal injection — which is illegal in the U.S. Goodfriend says she doesn't want to die, but she also doesn't want to continue living with a terminal disease. "What am I going to give this up for? To be in a wheelchair? To have a feeding tube? I wish I had more time to live, but I don't want more time as a patient," Goodfriend said. "I hope that something will get done, something will be accomplished, so that others can have the privilege that I'm having." Dying with medical assistance is currently legal in 10 states and Washington, D.C., but eight other states are considering similar laws this year, according to the nonprofit Death with Dignity. Dr. Robin Plumer has attended nearly 200 deaths in New Jersey, where MAID was made legal in 2019. The law doesn't require Goodfriend to have a doctor at her bedside on her final day, but she wanted Plumer there. "You're going to drink this medicine and drift off into sleep and you're going to just feel all the love and support," Plumer said. Goodfriend says no one tried to talk her out of it. Her daughter, Carol, helped her through the process. "I think the hardest part in all of this, for me as her only child, is to support something so difficult and so contrary to what you want to do. The ultimate love that you can give somebody is to respect their wish, to live the way they wanna live, and to die the way they want to die," Carol said. Goodfriend's last day of life was spent with her loved ones in a room full of unmistakable emotion. But the calmest one there was the woman in bed who'd made the choice to die. "I'm not afraid of dying...I was afraid of living," Goodfriend said.
