Wesley J. Smith

Just when you thought the culture couldn’t become more demeaned.  From the story:It’s official. Octomom Nadya Suleman doesn’t want your dog or cat following in her footsteps. As a front yard full of paparazzi cheered her on, Suleman unveiled a 3-foot-by-4-foot plastic sign . . . . Continue Reading »

Please, people—can we discuss climate issues without the constant WE’RE ALL GOING TO DIE scenarios?  A scientific conference sponsored by the Heartland Institute—which opposes global warming alarmism—has descended into the same kind of hysteria that I find so . . . . Continue Reading »

Biotechnology has not been much in the news lately.  Adult stem cell successes continue to be ignored by media and induced pluripotent stem cell research continues apace.  There are no human trials approved for embryonic stem cells—despite years of promises by Geron and others, . . . . Continue Reading »

Back in December, Peter Singer and Agata Sagan wrote a piece in the Guardian arguing on behalf of robot rights.  I took exception here as SHS, my headline being, “Robots Will Never be People and Should Never Have Rights.” Singer and Sagan have now taken exception to my exception in . . . . Continue Reading »

This is what happens when a country jumps off a vertical moral cliff.  First, the euthanasia numbers are climbing dramatically.  From the story:Last year, 700 official cases of euthanasia were reported. The figure is 40 percent up on the year before, as 2008 only had 500 cases. Experts . . . . Continue Reading »

First Things asked me to opine on the recently introduced New York legislation (A-9865) to enact a presumed consent law for organ donation.  Glad to oblige.  I open by identifying the problem.  From  “Presumptuous Consent:”Many more sick people need kidneys, hearts, . . . . Continue Reading »

The intractable problem PETA will never . . . . Continue Reading »

Many more sick people need kidneys, hearts, and livers than there are kidneys, hearts, and livers to go around. This shortage is the result of both decreased supply and increased demand. For example, public safety laws requiring that motorists wear seat belts and motorcyclists helmets have reduced the kind of catastrophic head injuries that often lead to organ donation… . Continue Reading »

Flemish doctors not only admit to killing patients who have not requested to be euthanized, but the levels of such terminations without request or consent are barely under the rate of legal voluntary euthanasia.  From the study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal (may have to . . . . Continue Reading »

Pro assisted suiciders often claim that the only reasons to oppose euthanasia/self mercy killing are religious.  They will claim that opponents see suffering as “redemptive” and thus desirable—intentionally misstating that doctrine— and oppose mercy killing on the basis . . . . Continue Reading »