When my 79-year-old mother died peacefully in St Vincent's Hospice, we were thankful we were there with her. At home until just a few days before, she remained in control as much as anyone dying from cancer can. In the hospice, the morphine made the last few days bearable, and killed her. This is what ethicists call "double effect"; the intention is good but it has a foreseeable bad outcome.

Hospices help people die with dignity. My mother was lucky she was not in hospital — they are not designed to help people die but to keep them alive. (by Merrilyn Walton, Professor of medical education at the University of Sydney). Read article »...

An Auckland doctor who has just months to live after being diagnosed with a terminal illness says it's time for euthanasia to be legalised.

Dr John Pollock said it was unfair that if he lived in Holland, Belgium or some American states he would have the option of ending his life if his condition deteriorated to a point where he was suffering, but in New Zealand he faces a death he cannot control.

He believes it is time for a law change so people facing death have the comfort of knowing they can control the end.

"The law as it stands in my view is cruel. It's outdated, it's cruel, it's unnecessary - it needs to be changed," said the former GP, who has metastatic melanoma.  Read more »...

The case of Tony Nicklinson will re-open the debate on assisted dying and so-called "mercy killing". He has locked-in syndrome, following a stroke. Unable to talk, he communicates by blinking or nodding his head. He also has a specially adapted computer with a push-button control.

Mr Nicklinson wants his wife to be allowed to inject him with a lethal drugs dose without the fear of her being prosecuted for murder or manslaughter. As the law stands, that seems a vain hope because actively taking a life, even with consent, has always been treated as a crime, leading to a jury trial. Read more »...

The news was welcomed yesterday by Attorney-General Lara Giddings and Greens leader Nick McKim, who said their proposed new laws to legalise euthanasia would end confusion for police, doctors and families.

DWD/VE advocate and Melbourne doctor Rodney Syme was investigated by Tasmania Police over the death of Allens Rivulet man Rob Cordover.

More than one in three German doctors would consider helping a patient to commit suicide, according to survey which has been kept under wraps since last September.

The survey also shows that around a quarter of doctors would consider actively participating in the death of a patient, according to the analysis.  Read more »...

Doctors will be allowed to remove life support from terminally ill patients after confirming their wish to die, under new medical guidelines on mercy killing. The guidelines were drawn up by a committee of eighteen representatives from parliament, civic groups and the judicial, religious and medical communities, the health ministry said.  Read more »...