Latest news with #terminalIllness
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Outrage over Democrat state's sneaky attempt to quietly pass assisted suicide bill
A controversial amendment allowing assisted suicide is making its way through the Illinois state legislature as representatives snuck the measure into a bill on sanitary food preparation. Illinois House Majority Leader Robyn Gabel, a Democrat representing Evanston, added an amendment containing the language from a stalled physician-assisted suicide bill to a food preparation sanitation bill, SB 1950, which the state Senate has already approved. Lawmakers in the House and Senate filed versions of the full assisted suicide bills in January but there has been zero movement on the legislation in either chamber. But adding the language to SB 1950 means that the Illinois Senate will only need to concur with the amendment should it pass through the House. The amendment added to SB 1950 - dubbed 'End of Life Options for Terminally Ill Patients' - allows for patients to be prescribed and even self-administer medications to kill themselves if they are diagnosed with an illness that gives them less than six months to live. The Democratic Party's absurd tactic of adding such a massive piece of legislation to an amendment within a food safety bill sparked fury. One social media user writing on X stated: 'Assisted Suicide amendment added to a food safety bill in Illinois Legislature by Robyn Gabel (Democrat of course). Illinois has the worst politicians. They sneak this stuff in without debate!' 'The Illinois house passed the assisted suicide bill disguised as 'Sanitary Food Preparation'. It's going great, you guys,' another tweeted. 'Sneaky. Sneaky. The IL Democrats are at it again in. They had opposition to physician assisted suicide and decided to hide the legislation in a 'Sanitary Food Preparation' bill,' a third wrote. 'You can't easily find the Assisted Suicide bill, but it's there. They don't like transparency.' Republican lawmakers in the state also expressed concern, with Representative Bill Hauter, speaking in opposition during the legislative session. 'I have to object to the process that we are tackling today,' Hauter, who is also a physician, said. 'When you have a process of fundamentally changing the practice of medicine, and we're putting it inside a shell bill.' 'I'm definitely not speaking for the whole house of medicine, but I do think I can confidently speak for a significant majority of the house of medicine in that this topic really violates and is incompatible with our oath,' Hauter added. Physicians typically take an oath at the end of their training, committing to practicing the highest standards of care, including the 'utmost respect for human life.' The American Medical Association has acknowledged the complexities of physician-assisted suicide, writing on their website, 'Supporters and opponents share a fundamental commitment to values of care, compassion, respect, and dignity; they diverge in drawing different moral conclusions from those underlying values in equally good faith.' Other Republicans opposed the bill based on religious beliefs, with Representative Adam Niemerg saying it doesn't, 'uphold the dignity of every human life.' 'This does not respect the Gospel. This does not respect the teachings of Jesus Christ or uphold the values of God.' However, proponents of the bill argued that terminally ill patients should have the right to end their life on their own terms. Gabel, who introduced the bill, said during the committee meeting, 'Medical aid in dying is a trusted and time-tested medical practice that is part of the full spectrum of end of life care options.' Representative Nicolle Grasse, a hospice chaplain, also supported the bill, arguing on the committee floor, 'I've seen hospice ease pain and suffering and offer dignity and quality of life as people are dying, but I've also seen the rare moments when even the best care cannot relieve suffering and pain, when patients ask us with clarity and peace for the ability to choose how their life ends.' Representative Maurice West, a Christian minister, agreed, 'Life is sacred. Death is sacred, too.' 'The sanctity of life includes the sanctity of death. This bill allows, if one chooses by themselves, for someone with a terminal diagnosis to have a dignified death.' Deb Robertson, a terminally ill woman, joined the meeting via Zoom to speak in support of the bill from her perspective. 'I want to enjoy the time I have left with my family and friends,' she said. 'I don't want to worry about how my death will happen. It's really the only bit of control left for me.' The amendment cited testimonies from Robertson, along with other terminally ill patients who want the freedom to choose aid-in-dying care. Disability rights advocates, however, have also cited concerns with the procedure, with Access Living policy analyst Sebastian Nalls telling WTTW that it will exacerbate health care inequities. End-of-life doula Tiffany Johnson told the outlet that the option gives terminally ill patients the ability to choose what works best for them. The bill passed with 63 votes in favor, all Democrats, and 42 opposed, with five Democrats joining 37 Republicans. Illinois state senators are now tasked with voting for the measure before it is sent to Governor JB Pritzker to sign it into law.
Reuters
5 days ago
- General
- Reuters
French lawmakers approve assisted dying bill, paving the way for approval
PARIS, May 27 (Reuters) - French lower house lawmakers approved a bill on Tuesday to legalise assisted dying, paving the way for France to become the latest European nation to allow terminally ill people to end their lives. The final passage of the bill remains some way off, with the text now heading to the Senate. However, the legislation is expected to pass, with polls showing more than 90% of French people in favour of laws that give people with terminal diseases or interminable suffering the right to die. French President Emmanuel Macron called the vote in the National Assembly "an important step." The bill, which was approved in parliament by 305 votes to 199, provides the right to assisted dying to any French person over the age of 18 suffering from a serious or incurable condition that is life-threatening, advanced or terminal. The person, who must freely make their decision, must also have constant physical or psychological suffering that cannot be alleviated. Lawmakers stipulated that psychological suffering alone would not be enough to end one's life. The patient can administer the lethal dose themselves or by an accredited medical professional if they are physically unable. Healthcare workers who object to doing so are free to opt out. Anyone found to have obstructed someone's right to die can face a two-year prison sentence and a 30,000 euro fine. Laws to enable assisted dying are gathering steam across Europe. In November, British lawmakers voted in favour of allowing assisted dying, paving the way for Britain to follow countries such as Australia, Canada and some U.S. states in what would be the biggest social reform in a generation. In March, the Isle of Man, a self-governing British Crown Dependency off northwest England, approved an assisted dying bill, potentially making the island the first place in the British Isles where terminally ill people could end their lives. "France is one of the last countries in Western Europe to legislate on this issue," leftist lawmaker Olivier Falorni told Reuters. "We are in a global process ... France is behind, and I hope we will do it with our own model."
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
The tragic story of how teen TikTok star Grace Phelan documented her terminal cancer as tributes pour in
The tragic story of how teen TikTok star Grace Phelan documented her terminal cancer battle has left millions heartbroken as tributes pour in. Phelan, 19, captured hearts across social media as she bravely documented her battle with a grade 4 malignant brain tumor. She shared intimate moments of her fight right up until her final days. The inspiring influencer's family announced her heartbreaking death on Friday, May 23, just one week after she posted a gut-wrenching final update about her deteriorating condition. 'Things haven't been good. My tumor grew and it's in the area where I can't breathe and it can't be operated,' she said. 'So, I just want to say thank you for all the prayers. It would take a miracle, but I'm not giving up yet. If you keep praying for me, I think that I'll make it.' 'So we're just going to hope and pray that I get better soon... so yeah, just keep me in your prayers. It will take a miracle, but thank you all.' The teenager's tragic story began last summer when she started experiencing alarming symptoms just days before she was set to begin college. Things got more concerning when she developed numbness on one side of her face and in her leg. This led to the devastating news. An MRI scan revealed a lesion on her brain, and a subsequent brain biopsy confirmed her worst fears - she had been diagnosed with a glioma, a aggressive type of brain tumor. 'I started losing my balance,' she said in one video. 'I started having vision problems in my left eye, my numbness in my face and on my leg is still here. My speech started to seem weird. My head's very foggy.' That's when the nightmare began. She announced her cancer diagnosis in a September 2024 TikTok video. 'This is definitely the hardest news I've ever received. By all means, this is not easy. Just going to trust in the Lord and try and keep pushing forward.' Throughout her heartbreaking journey, the brave teenager gave her followers a close look into her battle. She shared updates about radiation therapy and her worsening symptoms, which included breathing problems and dizziness. In her final, heart-wrenching video, Phelan spoke candidly about how the disease had destroyed her body. 'I don't see very well. I don't walk or shower alone, or eat alone,' she added 'My whole right side is numb... that's pretty much where we're at,' she continued in part. 'I'm not doing cancer pills right now, there isn't [sic] options for me.' Despite her declining health, the teenager maintained her unwavering faith and gratitude for her supporters right until the end. Her family announced her death in a message posted to her social media accounts. 'It is with great sadness to announce that our beautiful daughter, Anna Grace Phelan, went home to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.' 'So many of you have followed her journey through a difficult battle with cancer and bore witness to her powerful testimony of faith,' the statement continued. 'Thank you for the countless thousands of prayers for healing and peace. May we all rejoice with the assurance that she is in Heaven now, and she has been healed.' Per her obituary, Phelan's funeral will be held Thursday at Galilee Christian Church in Jackson County, Georgia, with burial to follow at the church's cemetery. A GoFundMe campaign launched for Phelan after her diagnosis has raised more than $65,000. She is survived by her parents, William 'Buddy' Phelan and Nadine Phelan, her brother Harper David Phelan, and extended family.
Daily Mail
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
I made a shocking discovery about my boyfriend after his death that turned my whole world upside down
Imagine being with someone for years and thinking you know every intimate detail about them... only to find out after their death that they hid a dark secret from you. That was the case for one woman, 24, who spoke exclusively to about how she made a shocking discovery about her boyfriend after his passing that turned her whole world upside down. The woman asked to keep her identity private so she will be referred to as the pseudonym Kate throughout the story. Kate explained that she met her boyfriend through a website for furries: enthusiasts for humans who dress up like animals. They became close immediately, bonding over their shared love of the phenomenon, which has grown in popularity in recent years. They were friends for three years before they started dating in 2021, and Kate believed she had found her soulmate. But their happy love story was sadly cut short when he was diagnosed with a terminal disease a year into their romance. And after nearly two years of battling the illness, he recently passed away. Following his tragic death, Kate began clearing out his old devices... when she came across something devastating on his laptop. It turns out, the man she had loved had a secret and disturbing fascination that went way beyond their innocent involvement in the furry fandom. She found tons of saved pages containing zoophile material, which is a term used to describe a person who is sexually attracted to animals. While she didn't divulge any more information on the content she saw, she admitted that it left her pretty shaken up. While chatting with about the horrific discovery, Kate said she's trying not to let it 'get in the way of her mourning.' She explained that she has no plans to tell anyone else about what she found because she doesn't want to 'damage' his legacy. 'Even though he has passed it would still be a betrayal of his trust,' she said. 'Whether right or wrong, him watching the material has never hurt anyone. 'It would be damaging to both him and me to reveal such a thing too since some people would probably think I'm lying when I have no reason to.' She said she believes her late boyfriend wasn't a longtime zoophile, and theorized that he looked at the material because he knew he was dying. 'There was no signs or anything [before], that's why I think it was more like, "I'm doomed anyway so let's check this thing out,"' she said. Kate also spoke about the ordeal on Reddit, admitting in an unflinchingly honest post, 'I don't even know how to feel about it. 'I can't feel mad about it. I'm too emotionally exhausted from everything, from his passing to all the arrangements that have to be made to feel anything,' she added. 'This is the person who was most important to me, gave me unconditional love, and who I helped to keep alive through my own care throughout last year and a bit beyond. It's more just a bit of a shock. 'You think you know someone inside and out but there is always something that ends up ready to surprise you.'
Daily Mail
14-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Tears as MSPs back assisted suicide by 14 votes
Proposals to make assisted dying legal in Scotland have passed their first hurdle. Despite major legal and practical concerns, a majority of MSPs on Tuesday backed the general principles of legislation allowing people with terminal illnesses to ask a doctor for help to end their life. The Bill, proposed by Liberal Democrat MSP Liam McArthur, was passed by 70 votes to 56 following nearly five hours of debate at Holyrood. But the vote immediately sparked warnings about the threat of another costly legal battle if the legislation is challenged in the courts. A wide range of concerns were raised about aspects of the Bill, including the risk of a 'slippery slope' where legal challenges force it to be extended, and the dangers of 'coercion', where vulnerable people may feel forced to end their life because they think they are a burden on their family or the State. Last night's vote also came despite direct warnings about the 'practical and legal concerns' about the proposals, including that the Bill may not be within the legal competence of the Scottish Parliament. Mr McArthur hailed the result as a 'landmark moment for Scotland' and said it will provide a 'compassionate choice for the small number of terminally ill Scots who need it'. But Dr Gordon Macdonald, chief executive of Care Not Killing, said: 'This could result in Holyrood becoming embroiled in yet another expensive court case as and when any future legislation is challenged through the courts. 'There is massive opposition to the Bill and our campaign will now be stepped up as we prepare for what lies ahead.' Labour MSP Pam Duncan-Glancy, Holyrood's first permanent wheelchair using MSP, said: 'I'm heartbroken. I genuinely hoped that colleagues would see the risks associated with the Bill and understand the message it could send across Scotland to disabled people. 'But what I did hear was considerable trepidation in some colleagues and many colleagues saying that they would they need to see the Bill amended at Stage Two for it to retain their support. I am convinced that they will not be able to find the amendments that will put in the safeguards that are necessary, and I think my colleagues will see that.' MSPs backed the legislation despite First Minister John Swinney and Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes both voting against it. Among those supporting the legislation in the free vote - where MSPs did not need to follow the party whip - were six of Mr Swinney's Cabinet ministers: Shona Robison, Fiona Hyslop, Jenny Gilruth, Mairi McAllan, Angus Robertson and Shirley-Anne Somerville. Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar voted against, while Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay supported the proposals. Many MSPs agreed to support the legislation in the first stage vote but will now see if amendments address the range of concerns before deciding whether to back the Bill becoming law in the final stage three vote. Introducing yesterday's debate, Mr McArthur told MSPs: 'I know how much this Bill matters to those dying Scots and their families who are desperate to see the law change to allow more choice, compassion and dignity at the end of life. 'And it's their voices, their needs, their interests, that must be at the centre of this debate, at the heart of our considerations and at the forefront of our minds as we come to vote later on this evening.' During Tuesday's debate, many MSPs told deeply personal stories about their decisions. Ms Duncan-Glancy said: 'We are not simply voting on a principle of choice, but on a hugely consequential piece of legislation that, yes, could put disabled people at material risk. 'Worryingly it is also legislation that could serve to legitimise the view that a life like ours, one of dependence and often of pain, is not worth living.' She said that the proposal 'brings the real risk that in moments when we are ground down, we would not only believe we are better off dead, but the state could help make that happen'. She added: 'It is inconceivable to suggest that the introduction of assisted suicide is about choice at the end, when so many people do not have choice throughout life. 'It is impossible to accept that there could ever be certainty that someone has not been pressured into ending their life prematurely. The Bill is the start of a slippery slope.' Tory Jeremy Balfour, who is also disabled, told MSPs: 'I could imagine, in a few years time, having some terminal illness and feeling the burden that could be put on my wife and my children because of the care that they give me day-in day-out. 'I have spoken to other disabled people who have felt and feel the same. 'We as MSPs are bound to vote on behalf of the best interests of our constituents. 'I would beg you, I would urge you to consider the most vulnerable in your constituency or in your region and say no to pray and dice with the sanctity of their lives.' George Adam, MSP for Paisley, also spoke emotionally about his wife Stacey's health conditions, including secondary progressive multiple sclerosis, osteoporosis, asthma, and high blood pressure, and acknowledged that the 'road ahead could get harder'. He said: 'We hope that time never comes, but if it does, if the suffering becomes unbearable, Stacey should have that right to choose how her life ends, with dignity, with compassion. 'This bill gives Stacey peace of mind, because the truth is I don't know if I would be strong enough to let go. The thought of life without her is unbearable. 'I don't want to make that decision, I want Stacey to be able to decide. That's what this Bill is about. 'For Stacey, for me, for thousands of other families, it is about having that choice, peaceful and dignified end. This isn't about ending life early, it is about making sure when death is near people have a choice that is safe, legal and compassionate.' Highlands and Islands MSP Edward Mountain, who fought off bowel cancer following his 2021 diagnosis with intensive radiotherapy, chemotherapy and surgery, said: 'I stand to speak in this debate with sadness; sadness because it is all about the ending of life. 'During life there will never ever be a bigger to make than the decision to either take a life or to sanction the ending of life. 'As a young soldier my view was death happened to other people. But age and cancer have made me realise that death was inevitably coming closer and I was forced to contemplate carefully how my life might end - not a comfortable or easy experience and this bill brings all that into sharp focus.' He said he will 'always seek life' and said those with terminal illnesses can access good palliative care which puts them into control. He added: 'This parliament in my mind has a duty to make it easier to choose life, rather than making it easier to die, which is what this bill will do.' SNP MSP Marie McNair, who previously worked in hospices, warned that passing the bill would 'send a message' that some lives are valued above others and 'fundamentally change the relationship between patients and clinicians' She also raised concerns that the legislation 'opens a door we may not be able to close' and that eligibility will be extended in the future, and added: 'We cannot, with any great certainty, guarantee that safeguards would be kept in place and that leads us down the very dangerous path of living in a society that devalues the lives of the most vulnerable.' Following yesterday's vote, the Bill will now be scrutinised by the health and sport committee and MSPs and the Scottish Government will propose a long list of amendments before the final stage three vote to decide if it becomes law.
