The public debate about the legalisation of euthanasia in France is raging. Some psychiatrists published a study that reviewed the role of psychiatrists in cases of requests for assisted suicide. The study was based on 127 articles, mostly sourced from Pubmed and Cairn, dating from 1997 to 2020, involving Switzerland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxemburg and Oregon. The study emphasised the importance of an in-depth consultation with a psychiatrist in all requests for assisted suicide. This decision was based on the findings that the most prevalent reasons for a request to die are “spirituality, attachment style, social isolation, despair, depression […]. It was also found that a doctor’s qualifications influence the evaluation of patients and can obscure the motivations that lead a person to request euthanasia.
LIFEAlerts
French council of state rejects Dignitas’ appeal on a preliminary question of constitutionality (France)
Dignitas, a Swiss organisation that promotes “the right to die with dignity”, submitted a Preliminary Question of Constitution (PQC) to the French Council of State. The aim of the PQC was to counter the ban of the euthanasia drug, pentobarbital, in France. The French Council rejected the proposal and highlighted the risk of pentobarbital to public health. Dignitas is proud of its role in having assisted suicide recognised by the German and Austrian constitutional courts. They continue to try to achieve the same in France, however, thus far have failed. Their website explicitly criticises France for its suicide prevention policy indicating that Dignitas is striving to impose its deadly practices in foreign countries.
DIY abortion measures to be dropped (England)
The English government has announced that the DIY abortion scheme, introduced due to the coronavirus epidemic, will end in August 2022. Previous abortion measures will then be reinstated which involved an in-person consultation before taking the first pill. Since the approval of DIY abortion two years ago abortion rates have reached their highest rate with an estimated 200,000 women self-managing their medical abortion at home.
The Welsh assembly, despite coming under the same health laws as the English government, has made the DIY abortion measures permanent. The Welsh assembly claims they are supporting women and are providing safe benefits for women who wish to have an abortion. This directly contradicts the central health department who have made the decision to end the DIY abortion scheme because the safety and wellbeing of women is their foremost priority.
Catholic doctor to challenge abortion pill reversal ban at UK High Court (UK)
A consultant cardiologist and past president of the Catholic Medical Association (UK), Dr Kearney, is currently prohibited from providing abortion pill reversal (APR). A tribunal ruled that Dr Kearney is no longer allowed to provide treatment to women who regret taking medication to abort their unborn baby. This interim order was put in place on January 2022 and will be reviewed at the Royal Courts of Justice on 24 February 2022. Lawyers will argue that the prohibition should be reversed. Andrea Williams, chief executive of the Christian Legal Centre, states “we have seen many women immediately regret taking the first abortion pill. Dr. Kearney offers the possibility of saving the pregnancy when this happens. He should have the freedom to do it”.
Is decriminalised prostitution ANC government’s job creation plan? (South Africa)
Justice and Constitutional Development Deputy Minister, John Jeffery, released a statement indicating he has begun a series of consultative meetings to discuss the possible decriminalisation of prostitution. The statement says that the SA Law Reform Commission (SALRC) released its Report on Adult Prostitution in 2017 saying the topic needs to be further debated. However, Mr Jeffery failed to explain why Cabinet “felt the possible decriminalisation of [prostitution] should be further debated since nowhere in the SALRC Report is decriminalised [prostitution] recommended as decent or productive work”. Paragraph 46 of the SALRC Report states: “The Commission agrees with Doctors for Life that criminalisation of prostitution provides a legal mechanism to remove a prostitute from coercive circumstances and to provide her with an opportunity to enter rehabilitation, training and reintegration programmes”.
Punishment for child sex abuse and pornography toughened (Germany)
Germany’s Cabinet has approved draft legislation that will allow for tougher punishment of sexual abuse of children and the possession of child pornography. The government initiated the bill in the wake of prominent recent child abuse cases in Germany that feature large numbers of suspects.
Distributing child pornography will draw a sentence of 1 to 10 years, up from the current range of 3 months to 5 years. Possession and procurement of the material will be punished with 1 to 5 years in prison, up from the current maximum of 3 years. Perpetrators fear nothing more than being discovered, so Justice Minister Christine Lambrecht, pleaded for a massive increase in the pressure in tracking them.
The legislation requires parliamentary approval.
Senator pleads for change on child pornography language (Ireland)
Politician, Senator Eileen Flynn, introduced a bill to substitute the words “child pornography” with “child sexual exploitation material” in all legislation. She claims that this more accurately reflects the nature of the abuse. The phrase “child pornography” does not truly reflect the crime or abuse. She further states that language is powerful as it shapes and defines our understanding. It is not child pornography, it is child abuse.
Legislators have the privilege and the responsibility to look out for the most vulnerable and consider all the ways in which society can protect and help them.
LIFEalerts – IVF & Surrogacy
IVF & Surrogacy
USA – Children born through IVF can now be US citizens
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has announced that a non-genetic, non-gestational legal parent of a child born through assisted reproductive technology (ART) outside of the United States may transmit U.S. citizenship to the child under certain circumstances. This is the latest in a line of complex policy changes that have started to recognize the realities of modern families and citizenship may now be transmitted it: the parent is married to the child’s genetic or gestational parent at the time of the child’s birth; and if the relevant jurisdiction recognizes both parents as the child’s legal parents. More
LIFEalerts – Substance Abuse
Substance Abuse
USA – New study: when teens use pot, drug addiction more likely to follow.
A new study published in JAMA Pediatrics shows Teens who try marijuana or other drugs are at greater risk of developing a drug addiction than those who wait a few years before experimenting with drugs. Co-lead author Dr Nora Volkow, director of the U.S. National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) has said in a news release, “This study provides further evidence that delaying substance exposure until the brain is more fully developed may lower risk for developing a substance use disorder.” The study analysed data from the U.S. National Surveys on Drug Use and Health to assess the proportion of adolescents (aged 12 to 17) and young adults (aged 18 to 25) who had an addiction at various intervals since the first time they used or misused one of nine different drugs.
Rates of past-year cannabis use disorder were greater among teens than young adults at all the time points since first use of the drug. For example, within 12 months since first cannabis use, nearly 11% of adolescents had the disorder, compared with just over 6% of young adults. According to study co-author Emily Einstein, “Research has shown that brain development continues into a person’s 20s, and that age of drug initiation is a very important risk factor for developing addiction.” More
USA – Methamphetamine users more susceptible to have medical, mental, and substance use issues
A new study published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine shows people who use methamphetamine experienced a combination of medical, mental, and substance use issues, including all three simultaneously. The most common illnesses associated with methamphetamine use were liver disease (hepatitis or cirrhosis), lung disease (COPD or asthma), and HIV/AIDS. Methamphetamine is a commonly trafficked drug known for its illicit recreational usage, with few medical uses to treat obesity or attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD) that remain rare due to concerns over neurotoxicity. It is a highly addictive and potent stimulant affecting the central nervous system, causing higher focus and energy levels when consumed at low concentrations but can induce psychosis, skeletal muscle breakdown, and brain bleeding at higher concentrations. More, Study.
Colorado – Using drugs, alcohol and tobacco at a young age increase premature heart problems
The numbers of young adults with heart disease (atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease) have been increasing. A new study published in the journal Heart shows that drinking, smoking, and using drugs — even recreationally — is linked to premature heart disease in young people, especially women. Due to biology, women are more susceptible than men are. They add that young adults need to be educated about the long-term effects of substance use because many feel they are invincible. Using information from the 2014–2015 nationwide Veteran’s Affairs healthcare database and the Veterans with Premature Atherosclerosis (VITAL) registry, researchers looked at recreational use of tobacco, cannabis, alcohol, and drugs such as cocaine and amphetamines.
“We knew that substances like alcohol, tobacco, and illicit drugs played a role in the development of atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases (ASCVD), but we did not know that use had such profound effects in the development of premature ASCVD, particularly in women,” Dr. Robert Ochsner, chief medical officer of Colorado-based rehab facilities Sandstone Care, told Healthline. More, Study.
South Africa – Study: factors that influence drug use among youth in rural SA
Associate professor in the University of Missouri School of Health Professions grew up in a rural village in Zimbabwe seeing first-hand as a child the lack of educational opportunities that were easily accessible and how that impacted the youth in his village. Prof Wilson Majee found in a recent study that young people that a lack of educational opportunities, combined with other factors – such as a lack of motivation, absent adult role models and few recreational activities – compound to create feelings of hopelessness and despair in young people. These feelings can influence drug use and other risky behaviours. More, Study.
LIFEalerts – Pornography
Pornography
UK – No age checks is a dangerous weapon lying around
Members of Parliament are calling for tougher checks to protect children from the damaging effects of online pornography and a more robust approach to safeguarding children from harmful material on websites and social media platforms. Their concern is that incidents of self-harm and depression in young people, have all got worse. A poll conducted by Christian Action, Research, and Education (CARE) of more than 2,000 adults found that 80% were in favour of age verification access to porn sites. A report, published in the British Journal of Criminology, found 8,000 titles describing physical aggression or forced sex acts on the homepages of the three biggest porn sites – many of which were free to view with no age restrictions. British Journal of Criminology, Reporting article.
USA – Real Experience in The Porn Industry: A Panel Discussion (VIDEO)
The porn industry is often considered a champion of sexual expression, empowerment, and harmless entertainment in today’s culture, but that is not the experience of many on the other side of the screen. Survivors from the porn and commercial sex industries share what their real experiences were like, how they saw these industries foster exploitation, and why they eventually left. This panel discussion is hosted by Fight the New Drug, a non-religious and non-legislative organization that exists to provide individuals with the opportunity to make an informed decision regarding pornography by raising awareness on its harmful effects using only science, facts, and personal accounts. Panel Discussion
USA – School board to resign over sexually titillating writing assignments
The mayor of Hudson in Ohio is calling for the resignation of the entire Board of Education. Mayor Shubert stated that it has come to his attention that educators are distributing what is essentially child pornography in the classroom. The assignment that sparked the mayor’s strong reaction was a book titled “642 Things to Write About” that was given to seniors taking a college credit course at Hudson High School. The book contains prompts such as, “write a sermon for a beloved preacher who has been caught in a sex scandal,” “describe your favourite part of a man’s body using only verbs,” “choose how you will die,” and “write an X-rated Disney scenario. Other prompts asked students to “write a sex scene you wouldn’t show your mom.” The principal said the school is in the process of collecting the book from students. More
USA – Parents Group Demands Child Pornography Investigation
Though Netflix’s animated series, “Big Mouth,” bills itself as TV-MA and is ostensibly intended for adults, it features 12- and 13-year-old characters engaging in sex acts and includes animated nudity according to a parents group demanding Netflix be investigated over the show. A new report from the Parents Television and Media Council (PTC) argues that, despite being a cartoon, “Big Mouth’s” sexually explicit content is meant to depict minors and therefore qualifies as child pornography. The group is calling on law enforcement to investigate the distributor, Netflix. More
Ireland – New Sexual Offences Set To Become Law
Several new sexual offences, including up-skirting, down-blousing and adults masquerading as children online, are set to become law following the introduction of the second stage of legislation by Justice Minister, Naomi Long. Long said: “The Justice (Sexual Offences and Trafficking Victims) Bill has the protection of victims at its heart. She is determined to do everything she can to ensure victims are heard and that they feel confident in the criminal justice system. Services for victims of trafficking and exploitation will also be enhanced as a result of this legislation. Other provisions within the Bill include the exclusion of the public from all serious sexual offence hearings and the introduction of anonymity for defendants. More