Wesley J. Smith

There is a very sad column in today’s SF Chronicle that details the trials and travails of a terminally ill woman who became homeless because she couldn’t work and was denied SSI benefits. I have no doubt the physician who wrote the piece meant for us to conclude we need to increase . . . . Continue Reading »

“Animal standing,” that is, the drive to allow animals to sue, would be the ultimate weapon allowing animal rights ideologues to destroy animal industries and eventually outlaw all animal domestication. To do that, some believe, at least some animals need to first be declared . . . . Continue Reading »

They keep wanting to force very sick patients off of wanted life-extending treatment.  Known as futile care theory, medical futility, “inappropriate care,” and a few other names, the idea is to withdraw wanted life-sustaining and other potentially efficacious treatments based on the . . . . Continue Reading »

Former Senator Rick Santorum has an interesting piece at Real Clear Religion about the difficulties in being a faithful Catholic in politics.  I don’t know about that. But he makes a statement that, based on history and current events, I think is patently false. From . . . . Continue Reading »

A study is out that is being interpreted by some as claiming that the conservative position is the “default,” and that it takes more thought effort to be “liberal.” From “Is Conservatism Our Default Ideology?”:A research team led by University of Arkansas . . . . Continue Reading »

A California woman has been arrested for assisting the suicide of an elderly man. From the Sacramento Bee story:The motive for Koency’s suicide was not immediately released, but prosecutors said he was not terminally ill, bedridden or immobile.  ”People are to some degree . . . . Continue Reading »

The above embedded political ad accuses Rep. Paul Ryan of wanting to “throw grandma off a cliff,” for proposing needed Medicare reforms, none of which would impact current recipients. (Oregon Democratic Senator Ron Wyden has now joined with Ryan in a compromise proposal. More on that . . . . Continue Reading »

The cruel article I posted about the other day, in which a former Catholic Herald editor made an uncharitable attack on the fat and urged that they be put at the back of the health are line, put me in mind of my oft-stated retort: Fine, if you are going to punish one group for increasing healthcare . . . . Continue Reading »

What Obamacare hath . . . . Continue Reading »

Friday, I was honored to be the emcee at the Center for Bioethics and Culture Annual Paul Ramsey Award Dinner. The award was given to Mary Ann Glendon. The keynoter was my wonderful friend, Joseph Bottum. He really put the problems we face in our culture in general, and bioethics/biotech in . . . . Continue Reading »