Friends at the End (FATE) a Member Society of the World Federation of Right To Die Societies. Their site offers information on the case for supporting legislation on Assisted Suicide.
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Death comes eventually to all of us, and most people want to be allowed to die quietly and easily. Unfortunately the dying process often means a lot of pain and distress to ourselves and those around us. End of life choices for a dignified death should be a right for all.
Curated by
Mariana Funes
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DUBLIN — A terminally ill woman in the final stages of multiple sclerosis does not have the right to an assisted death, the Irish Supreme Court ruled yesterday. Delete the scoop?
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Do you like your home-brew bubbles small or have you one of the 100 other uses for home Nitrogen? Delete the scoop?
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THE terminally-ill multiple sclerosis sufferer who this week lost her Supreme Court challenge to the ban on assisted suicide has revealed she has decided on the means she will use to end her life." Delete the scoop?
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A majority of British people who follow a religious faith support the law being changed to allow assisted suicide, research suggests. Delete the scoop?
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Final Exit Network, host for the World Federation Right to Die (WFRTD) Societies Meeting, has announced the venue for the 2014 World Federation 20th Biennial Conference. The date of the conference is September 17 to 21, 2014, Wednesday through Sunday, and it will be held at the Embassy Suites Downtown/Lakefront Hotel, Chicago, Illinois Delete the scoop?
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A paralysed man is taking up the legal challenge previously mounted by the late Tony Nicklinson for the right to die with the help of a doctor. Delete the scoop?
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With the furore over Liverpool Care Pathway showing little sign of going away it may be a good time to pull together some of the threads.
Mariana Funes's insight:
A blog with a more health care angle and includes good resources on its history. Delete the scoop?
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The Liverpool Care Pathway for the care of the dying (LCP) has come in for ill-informed criticism (report, 9 January). Via Dignity in Dying 
Dignity in Dying's curator insight,
January 18, 8:45 AM
Retired Cardiologist and Dignity in Dying Supporter, Dr Chris Ward, has written a letter to the Independent, in which he suggests that the Liverpool Care Pathway has ‘come in for ill-informed criticism’
“Those who criticise the LCP in hysterical, apocalyptic terms demonstrate a lack of understanding of the working of palliative-care teams in general, and specifically of the LCP.”
You can read the full letter here: http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/letters/letters-pathway-to-solace-in-death-8453029.html Delete the scoop?
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The LCP is an integrated care pathway that is used at the bedside to drive up sustained quality of the dying in the last hours and days of life. 
Mariana Funes's comment,
April 12, 7:53 AM
Douglas Hall's insight:
The LCP is a starting-point; the beginnings of an alternative to avoidance & silence. The hint of a doctor unilaterally putting a patient on the LCP touches on a core implication of the current criminal status of assisting dying – the sensitivities of discussion and risk of repercussion generating avoidance. As illustrated, when relatives & family are given information, the ‘openness’ results in few/no problems. A spin-off example of sensitivities is the current publicity about how crematoria deal with the ashes of very young babies; I am sure the rationale behind the information given to grieving parents was well-meant, but a lack of openness – avoiding emotional realities – has had a detrimental effect on all. The LCP must be a move in the right direction. Careful monitoring will optimise learning, Delete the scoop?
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Adrian Michaels reviews Dispatches: Death on the Wards, Channel 4’s documentary on the process of dying and the Liverpool Care Pathway. Delete the scoop?
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‘A good death is an extraordinary, moving and sacred experience. It can also have a healing quality, not only for the person who is involved but their families, friends and the wider community.
Mariana Funes's insight:
I have talked about this in the past, but I was not aware it was available in the UK. From the website: 'Soul Midwives are non-medical, holistic companions who guide and support the dying in order to facilitate a gentle and tranquil death.' Delete the scoop?
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Talking about death doesn't bring death closer. It's about planning for life. Without communication and understanding, death and terminal illness can be a lonely and stressful experience, both for the person who is dying and for their friends and family. Delete the scoop?
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Death is still a subject not everyone is happy to discuss, according to research from the Dying Matters Coalition. The study shows that although 70% of the public have said they are comfortable talking about death, most of us have not done anything to discuss our end of life wishes or put plans in place. The charity warns that people risk not getting appropriate end of life care, making it harder for their families to deal with bereavement. BBC Breakfast spoke to Steve Evans, who was forced to face his mortality when he was diagnosed with terminal stomach cancer.
Mariana Funes's insight:
Inspirational piece that shows it is possible to deal with death as an integral part of life. Delete the scoop?
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The euthanasia campaigner dubbed Dr Death is to set up more assisted-suicide groups following the popularity of the inaugural meeting. Delete the scoop?
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Dr Philip Nitschke is in Perth to present a euthanasia system he has devised that is under investigation by the medical practitioners' regulator. Delete the scoop?
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Mariana Funes's insight:
Our review sheds light on ordinary people’s perspectives about assisted dying, when they are ill or disabled. Unbearable suffering is a key construct, and common factors are revealed that lead people to ask for help to die. The consistency of international views indicates a mandate for legislative and medical systems worldwide to listen and understand this. Delete the scoop?
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LONDON — A man paralysed in a road accident has joined the legal campaign for the right to a doctor assisted death, saying that he wants to "call it a day".. Paul Lamb, previously identified only as 'L', has waived his right to anonymity after the Court of Appeal ruled he could be part of the case of the late Tony Nicklinson. Lamb's case will also be attached to separate action by Nicklinson's widow Jane and both cases will be heard in the court of appeal in May. Delete the scoop?
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Inactive Account Manager is a new service offered by Google that allows users to determine how they want all their Gmail and other data dealt with after a certain period of inactivity (aka DEAD).
Mariana Funes's insight:
Something to think about. I have enabled Inactive Account Manager for my data and as Google is the only service that currently offers this, I am considering transferring all my data to them. Delete the scoop?
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Jeremy Hunt has announced that he’s going to make it illegal to place dying patients on the Liverpool Care Pathway (LCP – or ‘Death Pathway’ if you read the Mail or the Telegraph) – a medical regime intended to ease the last days of the terminally ill – without seeking patients’ consent and ‘consulting’ with relatives.
Mariana Funes's insight:
An advocate blog, presenting a clear position politically and personally on the LCP. Agree or disagree it may help you think about the issues at stake. Delete the scoop?
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Dispatches investigates the truth behind allegations that tens of thousands of seriously ill people have been put on a pathway to death - likened to legalised euthanasia - and claims from families that doctors have callously killed off patients who could have had months or even years to live. The programme interviews leading specialists, terminally ill patients and families. And it reveals the results of the first survey of thousands of doctors into how the process of dying is managed in our hospitals. The Liverpool Care Pathway (LCP), which originated in the hospice movement for cancer patients, is intended to ease the often lengthy and painful process of dying.
Mariana Funes's insight:
Link has expired now.
Mariana Funes's comment,
April 3, 3:38 AM
From Michael Irwin (Retired GP)
Presently, Co-ordinator of the Society for Old Age Rational Suicide (SOARS) "In my opinion, the Liverpool Care Pathway is essentially the same as previous palliative care procedures which have progressively been given the following names - "Double Effect", "Terminal Sedation"; "Continous Deep Sedation". All of these procedures are basically a form of "slow euthanasia". Hopefully, the dying individual (if mentally competent) is consulted (and gives her/his approval) before the LCP begins: with the equally important involvement of close relatives."
Mariana Funes's comment,
April 3, 3:39 AM
From Liz Nichols, FATE council member after watching the documentary:
I wonder how many others have watched it and I too am interested in what others think. My emotions veered throughout but the closing statements that the LCP may be withdrawn altogether and the tone that many will die on it who didn't choose it, felt so wrong. It seemed clear largely that where information is given to relatives and patients directly about end of life choices/decisions there isn't a problem, and that the media is responsible for scaring people. Can it really be true that the system allows a single junior doctor to put a patient on the LCP without proper consultation with relatives, consultants etc.? it may have happened but I don't suppose it is what has been intended. ie the system is probably ok but needs closely monitoring. Delete the scoop?
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Nine in 10 doctors claim they would be happy to effectively starve to death under a controversial end-of-life regime, if they were terminally ill. Delete the scoop?
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We offer training in all aspects of Soul Midwifery from our very popular Practititoner Training courses to in-house programmes for Hospices, Care Homes and organisations
Mariana Funes's insight:
If you feel called to support others in death, this may be of interest. Delete the scoop?
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Our aims are: to release fears and taboos; support those dying and bereaved; raise awareness of 'green' and family-based approaches to death; and to encourage the acceptance of the concept of continuity of consciousness. Delete the scoop?
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Do you have a death wish?" is not a question normally bandied about in seriousness. But have you ever actually asked whether a parent, partner or friend has a wish, or wishes, concerning their death? Burial or cremation? Delete the scoop?
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veryVery very important topic.