Researchers at Rutgers School of Public Health and Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey analyzed data from each of the 5,329 patients across the U.S. who died from medical aid in the 23 years after Oregon became the first state to legalize it and found one demographic dominates the group: well-educated, white patients with cancer. More than 72% of patients who died with medical aid had at least some college education, more than 95% were non-Hispanic whites, and nearly 75% had cancer. Nearly 60% of the people who died with medical aid were between ages 65 and 84. Another 16% were 85 years old or older, while 8% were 54 years old or younger.
LIFEAlerts
Understanding why patients request euthanasia when it is illegal (USA)
Why do patients in palliative care units request euthanasia when they know it is illegal? Euthanasia requests appear to be a willful means to remove oneself from the impasse of an existence paralyzed by suffering. It creates a space for discussion. Firstly, the study showed that patients requesting euthanasia within a PCU were unaware of or tended to ignore the difference between palliative care and euthanasia. Whatever the legal context of euthanasia, this confusion demonstrates the significant evolution of the societal representation of palliative care. Second, the request for euthanasia can constitute a call for help. If this is taken properly into consideration, it can decrease the overall suffering or even hinder the move to a suicidal act.
The relationship between assisted suicide and rates of non-assisted suicide (England)
The systematic review published by Cambridge University in June 2022 do not support the claims made that the introduction of EAS results in reduced rates of non-assisted suicide. Several studies reported increases in overall rates of self-initiated death and, in some cases, increased non-assisted suicide, although this latter increase was generally not significant when sociodemographic factors were controlled for. The studies based in Switzerland and Oregon suggest that older women might be disproportionately vulnerable to EAS where this is legislated for, and when the higher rates of depressive illnesses among women are considered, this may indicate a need to address suicide prevention more assertively in this population.
Decriminalisation of cannabis, UN delves into impacts of cannabis legalisation (Europe)
Highlighted in the 2022 World Drug Report by the U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime, cannabis remains the most widely used drug worldwide, with roughly 209 million people having used cannabis in 2020, a 23% increase from the 170 million people in 2010. As cannabis use and THC potencies increase, there has been a “notable increase” in related treatment admissions and psychiatric comorbidities. Cannabis was the most common substance reported in emergency rooms, where it was present in 26% of acute drug toxicity cases. In a study involving patients presenting first episode psychosis, cannabis use was associated with a three times greater likelihood of psychotic disorder. Daily use of high-potency cannabis increased the risk of psychotic disorder more than fourfold.
Decriminalisation of cannabis, high court rejects bid for work reinstatement (South Africa)
An employee who was fired after repeatedly testing positive for cannabis, in breach of company rules, has failed in their bid to be reinstated. The company had a zero-tolerance policy towards alcohol and drugs requiring employees to undergo regular tests. After failing several weekly tests the employee was charged with breaching the company’s Alcohol and Substance Abuse Policy and was fired. Johannesburg Labour Court Acting Judge Makosho Ntsoane held that the employee was at all times aware of the policy which had been applied consistently to all employees. He said in light of the dangerous environment, the company was entitled to its zero-tolerance policy and the Constitutional Court judgment on cannabis did not offer protection to employees who breach company policies.
Decriminalization of cannabis, five teens, three year old girl, suffer from cannabis side effects (Thailand)
Six children suffered from cannabis side effects between June 21 and 26, 2022, Dr Opass Putcharoen, head of Chulalongkorn University’s Emerging Infectious Diseases Clinical Centre, reveals. People have bought food, beverages and products with cannabis as an additive after the plant was legalised for medical and commercial use on June 9. “The legalization of cannabis has caused medical staff to work harder, especially psychiatrists and neurosurgeons, as many children and teenagers have begun to suffer from side effects,” Opass said. Citing the Royal College of Paediatricians of Thailand, cases included a 3-year-old girl suffering from “dizziness” after consuming cannabis cookies and a 16-year-old male who suffered from “confusion and tried to use a knife to harm himself” after smoking cannabis.
Real World Data: More Than 800 000 lives saved by Pro-Life Pregnancy Centers since 2016 (USA)
Analysis of a nationally representative dataset reveals that since 2016 more than 800 000 lives have been saved through the community based care of pro-life pregnancy centers. Charles Donovan, President of CLI said, “ Pro-Life Centers help women fulfill their dreams by listening to their concerns and building a network of community support to partner with the mother through pregnancy and beyond. This is what the violent activists are trying to silence.” The new analysis was based on a nationally representative group of more than 1100 Care Net Pregnancy centers’ de-identified data since 2008. Moira Gaul MPA, lead author of the analysis explained: “More than any other group, pro-life centers are best equipped to support women facing unintended pregnancies in a post.”
Japan passes bill to prevent exploitation of young people in porn (Japan)
A bill to prevent young people from being exploited in pornographic productions was passed in an effort to end the abuse of young people. The bill allows people who agree to appear in pornographic content to terminate their contracts at any time before the film’s public release as well as up to a year afterward. If the contract is terminated, video vendors are obliged to recover the products and delete the footage, and cannot claim compensation from the performers. False representations or acts of intimidation will be punishable by a prison term of up to three years or a fine of up to 3 million yen ($22,000) for an individual, or 100 million yen for a corporation.
Euthanasia included in advance directives (Spain)
On May 31, a royal decree amended the law relating to euthanasia in Spain. Since its legalization on March 18, 2021 (cf. Spain legalizes euthanasia and assisted suicide), the procedure was regulated by a decree published on February 2, 2022. With this revision, the request for euthanasia can be made by “a third person”, parent or doctor, if the patient no longer has the capacity to decide for himself and has formulated advance directives to this effect.
Quebec: expansion of “medical assistance in dying” postponed (Canada)
In Quebec, the Minister of Health had to face the facts on Thursday: the examination of the extension of “medical assistance in dying” to patients suffering from Alzheimer’s disease requires more time than the deputies had it before the end of the parliamentary session on June 10. Bill 38 consisted of about fifty articles. In particular, he would have authorized “advance requests” for “medical assistance in dying”, for patients with “serious cognitive disorders”. It had been tabled at the end of May, following recommendations issued by a cross-partisan commission in December. The resumption of parliamentary work is scheduled for October.