Category: Procedures & Services

Canadian doctors grapple with how to approach assisted dying for young patients

Toronto’s Sick Kids hospital drafting policy on requests for assisted dying from those over 18

CBC Radio

Duncan McCue

Three years after Canada’s top court decriminalized doctor-assisted suicide, the federal government is about to wade into an emerging controversy: How to respond to requests from children for medical assistance in dying, or MAID.

Canada’s largest children’s hospital has already gotten a taste of this thorny issue.

“We had discussed that there may be a time in the future that MAID would be available for patients under the age of 18, or a group called ‘mature minors,'” said Dr. Adam Rapoport, director of the Pediatric Advanced Care team at Toronto’s Hospital for Sick Children.

“We, as an organization, like to be ready for things that might be coming down the pike.” . . .[Full text]

Mom to the internet: Anybody want to trade my girl embryo for a boy?

New York Post

Jane Ridley

Lisa, a mom desperate to give her son a little brother, is looking to trade embryos with another mom. Doing so, she’s wading into legal territory colored in shades of gray, experts say.

Just this week, Lisa’s son spotted a pair of young brothers on the street near their home in Bushwick. He turned to his mom with pleading eyes.

“When am I going to get a brother?” asked Daniel. . . [Full text]

GPs critical of timing of ICGP meeting on provision of abortion services

Raidió Teilifís Éireann

Ailbhe Conneely

GPs who organised a petition calling on the Irish College of General Practitioners to hold an Extraordinary General Meeting on the provision of abortion services in Ireland, have described the decision to hold it in four weeks time as “wholly unacceptable”.

The 2 December EGM was announced in a statement by the ICGP board this evening, after it received a petition from hundreds of General Practitioners, who are concerned about the introduction of GP-led abortion services here. . . . [Full text]


ACLU objects to Hawaii retirement home assisted suicide ban

Times Daily

Audrey McAvoy, Associated Press

HONOLULU (AP) — The American Civil Liberties Union demanded Thursday that a Hawaii retirement home stop discriminating against non-Catholic residents and allow them to take advantage of the state’s new medically assisted suicide law if they wish.

The ACLU of Hawaii sent a letter to the executive director of the Kahala Nui home after receiving an anonymous tip that the home had notified residents they would not be permitted to exercise the provisions of the law, which takes effect in January. . . [Full text]

Peadar Tóibín suspended from Sinn Féin for six months for voting against abortion legislation

thejournal.ie

Christina Finn

SINN FÉIN’S PEADAR Tóibín has been suspended from the party for six months.

Disciplinary proceedings had been initiated against the Meath TD, who broke ranks with his party’s policy by voting against the abortion legislation in the Dáil last month.

As indicated by Sinn Féin party leader Mary Lou McDonald in April, Tóibín would face suspension from the party for doing so. . . [Full text]