Euthanasia

The Latest

Campaigners against assisted dying gather outside the Houses of Parliament ahead of a House of Commons vote that rejected the legislation on Sept., 11, 2015, in London. Members of Parliament have voted 330 to 118 against a bill that would have allowed doctors to help some terminally ill people end their lives. Campaigners from both sides of the debate gathered outside Parliament, holding placards and voicing their opinions ahead of the first House of Commons vote on assisted dying for 20 years.

Church leaders in UK call for ‘no’ vote on assisted dying bill

Oct 4, 2024

By Andy Drozdziak

U.K. Church and pro-life leaders have warned Prime Minister Keir Starmer that plans to introduce assisted suicide will put vulnerable... Read more

Toronto Archbishop Francis Leo speaks with EWTN News President Montse Alvarado about assisted suicide and euthanasia on “EWTN Pro-Life Weekly” on Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024.

Canadian archbishop on assisted suicide: ‘It is a travesty’

Oct 4, 2024

By Kate Quiñones

Physician-assisted suicide is the fifth-leading cause of death in Canada. Read more

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Delaware governor vetoes physician-assisted suicide bill

Sep 20, 2024

By Matthew Balan

Gov. John Carney vetoed the bill Friday, citing his opposition to “enabling someone, even under tragic and painful circumstances, to... Read more

West Virginia Delegate Pat McGeehan, a supporter of the state’s ballot measure to make assisted suicide illegal, said in an interview with “EWTN Pro-Life Weekly” on Sept. 5, 2024, that he hopes the potential ban will be a “gold standard for other states to follow.”

West Virginia ban on assisted suicide ‘a fight worth fighting,’ state delegate says

Sep 6, 2024

By Kate Quiñones

“We’re trying to use it to serve as a beacon for other states who value the preservation of life, to... Read more

India's supreme court building is pictured in New Delhi on July 9, 2018.

Church hails India Supreme Court for reaffirming ban on euthanasia: ‘Extremely happy’

Aug 22, 2024

By Anto Akkara

“We are extremely happy that the sacredness of life has been upheld by the court,” Archbishop Raphy Manjaly of Agra,... Read more

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Activists sue Canada to expand euthanasia law to cover those with mental illness

Aug 22, 2024

By Tyler Arnold

Dying With Dignity Canada claims the Canadian government is discriminating against those who are mentally ill. Read more

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​​Bioethicists scrutinize Pontifical Academy for Life’s new guidance on withdrawing food, water

Aug 16, 2024

By Jonah McKeown

The Pontifical Academy for Life’s new document last month on “artificial nutrition and hydration” has some observers concerned. Read more

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American support for euthanasia based on ‘false dichotomy,’ Catholic researcher says

Aug 13, 2024

By Peter Pinedo

A poll found that 71% support legalized euthanasia in the U.S., but Dr. Scott French believes Americans’ support for euthanasia... Read more

Sudiksha Thirumalesh died in September 2023 after a legal fight to circumvent a ruling in the U.K. that she was not competent to make decisions about her care.

British appeals court overturns lower court that forbade lifesaving care to teen

Aug 2, 2024

By Martin Barillas

Britain’s Court of Appeal overturned an earlier court ruling that declared Sudiksha Thirumalesh, 19, lacked the mental capacity to make... Read more

Roger Foley enjoys taste-testing three different kinds of hummus, his favourite food, on the day of a video shoot with Amanda Achtman of the Dying to Meet You project in Canada. The two spoke about Foley's difficulty accessing quality care for his needs and being offered Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID) "several times."

Canadian man offered euthanasia ‘multiple times’: ‘I don’t want to give up my life’

Jun 23, 2024

By Daniel Payne

Roger Foley says he has been offered euthanasia as he struggles with lifelong disabilities and chronic pain from a disease... Read more

St. Paul’s Hospital in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

Family sues over hospital’s religious exemption for euthanasia

Jun 20, 2024

By The B.C. Catholic

The lawsuit filed in British Columbia’s Supreme Court on June 17 wants the province to remove the religious exemption. Read more

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Culture of death advances in Spain with two new developments

Jun 19, 2024

By Nicolás de Cárdenas

The culture of life suffered two setbacks recently as the culture of death advanced again in Spain. Read more

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Top European human rights court rules countries can’t be forced to introduce assisted suicide

Jun 14, 2024

By Martin Barillas

The European Court of Human Rights has ruled in favor of Hungary’s right to uphold its laws prohibiting assisted suicide,... Read more

French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte Macron, exit a polling booth adorned with curtains displaying the colors of the flag of France before casting their ballot for the European Parliament election at a polling station in Le Touquet, northern France, on June 9, 2024.

French euthanasia bill on hold as Macron calls ‘snap election’

Jun 11, 2024

By Daniel Payne

Reims Archbishop Éric de Moulins-Beaufort said earlier this year that the measure would “shift our entire health care system toward... Read more

Bishop Mark Davies of Shrewsbury, England.

UK Catholic bishop urges Catholics to consider end-of-life issues before general election

Jun 7, 2024

By Madeleine Teahan

Bishop Mark Davies of the Shrewsbury Diocese has issued a letter urging Catholics to consider candidates’ positions on euthanasia and... Read more

The president of Chile, Gabriel Boric, announced his support for measures to legalize abortion and euthanasia in the country.

Chile’s bishops push back against president’s abortion and euthanasia advocacy

Jun 5, 2024

By Julieta Villar

In the president’s June 1 address to the opening session of congress, he announced that at the end of the... Read more

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Netherlands permits euthanasia for physically healthy 29-year-old woman

Jun 4, 2024

By AC Wimmer

Despite being physically healthy, the woman from Oldenzaal, a town near the German border, chose to end her life due... Read more

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Pope Francis to palliative care symposium: Euthanasia is a ‘failure of love’

May 22, 2024

By Jonah McKeown

Pope Francis sent a message to an interfaith symposium on palliative care taking place in Toronto May 21–23. Read more

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Hospice and palliative care: A look at ‘absolutely vital’ end-of-life support

May 19, 2024

By Daniel Payne

In contrast to assisted suicide and euthanasia, services such as palliative care and end-of-life hospice care seek to uphold the... Read more

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New study suggests rampant ‘cafeteria Catholicism’

May 6, 2024

By Peter Pinedo

Few Catholics are in full agreement with Church teaching on abortion, euthanasia, and the death penalty.  Read more