blogs

Britain’s growing elderly population – a massive challenge
The UK is ‘woefully under-prepared for the social and economic challenges presented by an ageing society,…

Belgium becomes world leader in organ removal
According to a recent report Belgium is now the ‘world leader’ in organ removal after euthanasia.
The…

Christians: inherently generous?
New research shows that Christians are more generous than the general population when it comes to donation,…

‘Life is but a breath’ – medical mission in Ecuador
As physicians in the UK we see tragedies and heartbreak; the stillborn baby, the young father who dies…

Speaking out for truth and justice – a Christian responsibility
Speaking out for truth and justice is just one of many responsibilities we have as Christians. But I…

Woman refuses $10,000 to abort surrogate baby with special needs
This is a bizarre story from the US state of Connecticut which appeared on CNN today but deserves far…

Fresh warning sounded to UK as euthanasia deaths increase by 25% in Belgium in just one year
Things are moving at a frightening pace in Belgium.
Further to my recent ten year review in December…

The duties of a physician – a Puritan’s prescription
Richard Baxter (1615-1691), author of The Saint's Everlasting Rest and The Reformed Pastor, was known…

‘Amour’ is a dangerously seductive piece of pro-euthanasia propaganda
Margaret Morganroth Gullette is Resident Scholar of the Women's Studies Research Center, Brandeis University…

Landmark Irish ‘right to die’ case is based on flawed assumption
Marie Fleming (pictured) is a 59 year old former Irish lecturer who has multiple sclerosis and wants…

Another unworkable proposal from NHS ‘experts’ on morning-after pill
An influential group of NHS experts is urging the Scottish Government to allow the morning-after pill…
Leading medical experts say direct abortion is not medically necessary to save the life of a mother
Leading medical experts speaking at a major International Symposium on Excellence in Maternal Healthcare held in Dublin have concluded that ‘direct abortion is not medically necessary to save the life of a mother’. About 140 Irish medical professionals participated in the symposium which featured a panel of world-renowned experts in the fields of mental health, […]
Patients, families and organ donation: who should decide?
If you live in Wales, or plan to live – or study – there for longer than six months, by 2015 you are likely to find yourself automatically registered as an organ donor, whether you are fully aware of it or not. You will have to register specifically to opt out of this if you […]
BMA Council elects strong advocate of euthanasia as new deputy chair
The British Medical Association Council, the governing body of the UK doctors’ trade union, has just elected a new deputy chairman. Retired Cheshire GP Kailash Chand (pictured) was chosen by the council following a three-way contest between him, London specialty trainee in anaesthesia Tom Dolphin and Birmingham GP Fay Wilson. The BMA reports Dr Chand […]
New suicide strategy is welcome but needs to address more effectively the phenomenon of media-induced suicide contagion
The Government has promised to pump £1.5 million into research exploring how to prevent suicides among those most at risk of taking their own lives. The pledge comes as ministers unveiled a new suicide prevention strategy (more detail including full report here) launched to coincide with World Suicide Prevention Day that is aiming to cut […]
Norman Lamb: stop using the media to promote assisted suicide
John Humphrys, presenter for the Radio Four Today Programme, is a well-known advocate for the legalisation of assisted suicide. It was therefore not surprising that he took the opportunity this morning, in an interview on suicide prevention with new junior health minister Norman Lamb (pictured), to ask him whether he thought assisted suicide should be […]
National Secular Society gets its knickers in a twist over male circumcision
The National Secular Society (NSS) is currently waging a campaign against male circumcision which plumbed astonishing depths in July when they made the following outrageous claim on their website. ‘Why MGM and FGM are not considered equally reprehensible defies compassionate reason’. This is a truly outrageous statement. FGM (female genital mutilation) is a barbaric act […]
Life with locked-in syndrome – two more good news stories
The media has a tendency to focus on the negatives of profound disability by giving a hugely disproportionate level of coverage to disabled people who wish to end their lives and very little to the majority who actually value their lives. I try to highlight these good news stories on my blog and have previously […]
What economics can tell us about teen pregnancy rates
In the past forty years over £250 million has been spent by policy makers on numerous initiatives aimed at cutting teenage pregnancy rates in the UK, yet with almost negligible effect. Some would no doubt argue that this money is well spent, in preventing the rates from worsening. However Britain still has the highest rate […]
Major Danish study – significantly higher maternal death rates following abortion
Hot on the heels of two major reports in the last week from Finland and Scotland confirming the link between abortion and preterm delivery, a major new Danish study this week has raised concerns about death following abortion. It is commonly believed that abortion is safer for women than a normal delivery but this […]
Abortion and premature birth – new Finnish study raises serious questions for UK
The link between abortion and premature birth is already well established but largely denied by authorities in Britain. However a new landmark study from Finland published last week in the journal ‘Human Reproduction’ has gained the attention of the British media with the Guardian, Daily Mail and even the BBC running the story. The matter […]
Pleas to change law in locked-in syndrome cases rejected: ‘dispassionate court’ gets it right- compassionately
The two cases of men with conditions resembling locked-in syndrome have been concluded. Heard before three judges in the High Court from 19-22 June, judgment was handed down at 2pm on Thursday 16 August. Tony Nicklinson, 59 and paralysed from the neck down after a stroke in 2005, was actually arguing for permission that a […]
Families of children with significant disabilities indicate that their lives are enriched
Alex Schadenberg has this last week reported on a new study on children with trisomy 13 and 18 (Patau’s and Edwards’ syndrome respectively) which is well worth reading. I have reproduced it here. I have myself previously blogged about trisomy conditions including a wonderful testimony. A research study that was published in the current edition of […]