International Task Force on Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide

Addressing the issues of euthanasia, assisted suicide, advance directives, assisted suicide proposals, "right-to-die" assisted suicide in Oregon, cases, euthanasia practices in the Netherlands, disability rights, pain control and much, much more.

What's New...

Depressed patients are receiving prescriptions for assisted suicide in Oregon, according to British Medical Journal. (Oct. 8, 2008)

Campaign Against Washington's I-1000 Releases Ads Featuring Actor, Martin Sheen (Article contains links to radio and TV ads opposing Washington assisted-suicide initiative.)
Sheen says, "When I heard about I-1000, I wanted to help stop it before it harms people who are at risk."

"An Open Letter to Baroness Warnock on Assisted Suicide" (American Thinker, 10/4/08)
When she said people with Alzheimer's should be able to appoint someone to request euthanasia for them, Britain's leading medical ethicist, Baroness Mary Warnock, caused a firestorm of controversy. A similar, but little known, proposal was made by those in the forefront of Oregon's assisted-suicide law and the current Washington State initiative to legalize assisted suicide.

Latest ITF Update (10/08)
Message to Washington: Oregon assisted suicide is NOT abuse free
   Chronicle of abuses
   Annual reports: Not a true reflection of PAS practice
   No real safeguards
   One difference in Washington
   An open invitation
and much, much more.

$2.5 Million for Assisted Suicide (Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Sept. 29, 2008)
Ex-Gov. Booth Gardner, Gardner's family, the American Civil Liberties Union have joined assisted-suicide advocacy groups in bankrolling efforts to pass an Oregon-style assisted suicide law in Washington State.

"Assisted suicide: Conspiracy and control" (Oregonian; Sept. 24, 2008)
"Members of Compassion & Choices authored and proclaim they are the stewards of Oregon's assisted-suicide law....They have arranged and participated in 75% of Oregon's assisted-suicide cases."

"Oregon's Suicidal Approach to Health Care" (American Thinker; Sept. 14, 2008)
Oregon seems to have found a surefire way to lower health care costs: Tell the patient you'll pay for drugs that will end her life, but not those that would extend her life." Now, Oregon assisted-suicide activists are trying to bring the Oregon experience to Washington.

"Letter noting assisted suicide raises questions" (KATU TV; Portland, OR; July 31, 2008)
Interview with Barbara Wagner who was denied chemotherapy, but offered assisted suicide, by the Oregon Health Plan. Includes link to video interview.

"Physician-Assisted Suicide in Oregon: A Medical Perspective,"
Herbert Hendin, M.D. and Kathleen Foley, M.D. (Michigan Law Review, Vol. 106; 8, June 2008).
While previous articles have examined assisted suicide from legal and ethical perspectives, this article examines the Oregon law from a medical perspective. The authors found that seemingly reasonable safeguards which were written into the Oregon law for the care and protection of terminally ill patients, do not appear to have achieved their purpose.

"Euthanasia: False Light" (15-minute video)
View the ITF's compelling video, the winner of two prestigious national Telly Awards. Narrated by actor, Joseph Campanella, the video looks at euthanasia and assisted suicide through the eyes of five people -- three patients, a doctor, and a hospice nurse, all of whom speak from their hearts, not from a script.

Assisted-suicide proposals
Most of the 2007 proposals are virtually identical to Oregon's assisted-suicide law. Such attempts are not new.
From 1994 through 2007, 90 legislative proposals in 23 states that would have legalized assisted suicide have failed.

"Euthanasia, Assisted Suicide & Health Care Decisions: Protecting Yourself & Your Family."
• Table of Contents
• Part 1: Detailed and extensively documented report about the latest in attempts to legalize assisted suicide and euthanasia, along with practical tips for addressing these topics. (82.6 Kb)
• Part 2: Facts and practical information about advance directives including the difference between the Living Will and the Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care. (51.3 Kb)

To obtain the Protective Medical Decisions Document (the ITF's durable power of attorney for health care), call 740-282-3810 or 800-958-5678 between 8:30am and 4:30pm (eastern time).

Support the International Task Force:
To make a tax-deductible donation, using a credit card,
call 740-282-3810 or 800-958-5678 between 8:30am and 4:30pm (eastern time)
or
mail your gift to the International Task Force at P.O. Box 760, Steubenville, OH 43952.

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This site was last updated on Wednesday October 08, 2008.

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International Task Force on Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide
PO Box 760 - Steubenville, OH 43952
740-282-3810