UPDATE, 12/15, 7a: From The Sunday Times, December 14:

Public opinion has moved sharply in favour of assisted suicide, according to a poll for The Sunday Times. The YouGov survey of more than 2,000 people shows that most would consider euthanasia for themselves and think that relatives who help with assisted suicides at foreign clinics should not be prosecuted.

The poll followed the broadcast last week by Sky TV of the assisted suicide of Craig Ewert, who was suffering from motor neurone disease. By two to one (61% to 27%), people said it was right to screen it....

It also revealed strong support for a change in the law on assisted suicide to give immunity from prosecution to those who help a relative or friend with an incurable condition to die. More than two-thirds (69%) think the law should be changed.

Most strikingly, by four to one (61% to 15%), people said they would consider assisted suicide for themselves if suffering from a terminal disease....

[HT: reader Susie A.]
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On the heels of a MT judge forcing assisted suicide on her state... and on the heels of a 19-year-old committing suicide on the Internet after being goaded by commenters... and on the heels of Obama picking pro-euthanasia attorney Thomas Perrilli (who represented Michael Schiavo) for his transition team... comes this from The Sun...

The State of Washington has an initiative on the ballot to legalize physician-assisted suicide, I-1000.

According to noassistedsuicide.com...

by JivinJ

by Larry Wright...

by Steven Ertelt

So the latest news out of France is that Chantal Sebire allowed herself to get in the condition she was in so she could press for assisted suicide.

Sebire, as Jill's readers will recall, is the woman with a terrible facial tumor who received international attention for her condition and French courts denying her request for a doctor to help her kill herself.

Well, now come to find out she a) refused medical treatment, b) refused offers of surgery to correct the problem and lead a normal life, and c) refused both drugs and palliative care to help her deal with the pain.

Sadly, this woman appeared to have a death wish and appeared more interested in promoting the pro-euthanasia political agenda than genuinely seeking legitimate medical care.

This reminds of the problems in Oregon - where the assisted suicide law is not operating as it should.

Sebire's situation was certainly heart-wrenching and she originally deserved all the support in the world, but these new revelations make it tough to consider her anything but a political opportunist. And it takes away from the real pain patients with no control over their situations deal with on a daily basis.

From the Daily Mirror, September 29:

Sharon, mum to Aimee, 24, Kelly, 22, and Jack, 21, explains: "Ozzy and I have absolutely come to the same decision. We believe 100% in euthanasia so have drawn up plans to go to the assisted suicide flat in Switzerland if we ever have an illness that affects our brains. If Ozzy or I ever got Alzheimer's, that's it - we'd be off.

"We gathered the kids around the kitchen table, told them our wishes and they've all agreed to go with it.

"I saw my father suffer from the day he came back into my life in 2002 to the day he died in July. There's no way I could go through what he did, or put my kids through that...."

GujaretGlobal.com of India reported this yesterday:

A young man tried to commit suicide when his lover refused for abortion. Both were in love for more than six months and a fortnight back father of the 22 year old unemployed Hiren Desai had thrown him out of the house.

Hiren consumed poison in the presence of the girl and his one friend in the law garden. He lived in Ghodasar area of the city. The girl took the youth to the VS Hospital where his condition is said to be serious.

Hiren and Sejal met each other about six month back and they developed intimate relationship. In the meantime, Sejal became pregnant. Families of both did not like the relationship. Hiren's father severed relations with him and sejal's parents sent her to Vadodara.

They, however, remained in touch and met in Law garden. Hiren asked her for abortion, she refused. He tried to commit suicide.

Perhaps this fellow had just learned his baby was a girl.