Wesley J. Smith

We often hear the “choice” word thrown about in assisted suicide advocacy. But there is another “C-word” that needs more discussion: Context. Assisted suicide in the USA would be implemented amidst profound inequalities regarding access to quality care.This story is a case in . . . . Continue Reading »

Except he doesn’t. In this story, he says his pills are working well, for which we are all glad. He definitely doesn’t say whether or not he stopped taking his medication before shooting the deceptive ads. A doctor says his movements seen on tape were caused by the medications, but is . . . . Continue Reading »

PETA and Cancer ResearchCenter for Consumer Freedom, an industry supported non profit, has this truthful ad up that skewers the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) for impeding cancer and other medical research. The fact is we need to use animals in research. Period. It is part of . . . . Continue Reading »

“Certain” support for Amendment 2, which would legalize human cloning in Missouri, has dropped below 50% for the first time. In a Survey USA poll, sure support is down in less than 2 weeks from 57% to 45%. Sure no votes are up are up from 27% to 36%. Hopefully the “Show Me” . . . . Continue Reading »

Well, it seems pretty clear to me now that Fox did not take his medications so as to appear more “sympathetic” in his deceptive television ads about human cloning and embryonic stem cell research. He has used this strategy before. From his book: “I had made a deliberate choice to . . . . Continue Reading »

Response Ad to Michael J. Fox Don’t be bought, don’t be fooled,” actor Jim Caviezel, St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Jeff Suppan, and other celebrities warn Missouri voters, as they explain why voters in MO should reject Amendment . . . . Continue Reading »

It appears that Michael J. Fox went off his medications before shooting his deceptive ads against Senator Jim Talent and other politicians. I don’t think this is deceptive in that Fox wasn’t faking his symptoms, only showing how he would be without the medications. Plus, eventually the . . . . Continue Reading »

So, disgraced charlatan, would-be human cloner Hwang Wu-suk, who burned through more than 2000 eggs (some unethically procured), resulting in no cloned embryos or cloned embryonic stem cell lines, and who lied cruelly to the world before justly crashing and burning, is blaming his subordinates for . . . . Continue Reading »

I thought it would be interesting and fun to take the pulse of the readers of Secondhand Smoke. So, I devised a poll to see what y’all think about some of the most important and contentious bioethical issues of the day. In the Next Twenty Years, What is the Most Likely Scenario?Embryonic Stem . . . . Continue Reading »

I am completely cool with health care workers being warned to be on the lookout for suicide ideation among their cancer patients. When I was a hospice volunteer, I was trained similarly. I was told in no uncertain terms that if a patient threatened or even mentioned suicide, I was to tell the . . . . Continue Reading »