Wesley J. Smith

We have discussed the Baby Joseph futile care case here.  He is the baby who a Canadian hospital wanted to force off life support against the parents will and whose parents want a tracheotomy to help him live longer and at home. The impasse was resolved when the parents were able to move him to . . . . Continue Reading »

I am often called a bioethicist—although I don’t call myself one.  Why?  I write a lot about bioethical issues and some people pay attention to my opinions—some in support and others in opposition.  Voila—I’m a bioethicist!The bioethics movement sees this . . . . Continue Reading »

I have a new piece out on IVF in the CBC’s newsletter.  It deals with IVF—which I don’t oppose assuming proper regulations and reasonable restraints.  Alas, that is not what we have—particularly in the USA, where the baby making industry is creating its own mini . . . . Continue Reading »

I am going to get in some trouble for this post, as it could bruise some feelings.  That isn’t my intent.  Rather, it is to show how a supposedly “compassionate” assisted suicide can more than bruise the feelings of other people struggling with terminal and disabling . . . . Continue Reading »

Dr. Wolf Wolfensberger, who created the “social role valorization” (SRV) concept, has died.  From a death announcement published in the NDIS Good for People With Disablities blog:Dr Wolfensberger had a strong commitment to people made vulnerable in a society where individualism, . . . . Continue Reading »

From the story:Almost a third of NHS staff say basic hygiene supplies such as hot water and soap are not always available when they need them, according to a comprehensive survey of the workforce. A similar proportion said they would not be happy with the standard of care provided by their hospital . . . . Continue Reading »

A Minnesota nurse who urged people to commit suicide over the Internet can’t defend himself based on free speech. From the story:Freedom of speech is no defense for a former nurse who engaged in “lethal advocacy” when he encouraged an English man and Canadian woman to kill . . . . Continue Reading »

. . . . Continue Reading »

A bill is wending its way through the Minnesota Legislature that would make all human cloning, for example, through somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT), in the state a felony. Not just reproductive cloning—the kind of pseudo ban, but actually, the prohibition of one use of a cloned embryo, . . . . Continue Reading »

For years we have been told bioethics promotes patient autonomy.  Want to refuse care even though you die, and the health care team disagrees?  AUTONOMY!  Want assisted suicide?  AUTONOMY!  Want to use every novel IVF procedure available to have a biologically related . . . . Continue Reading »