Concentration and Assisting Death

Well, two of my most interesting subjects are back in the news.

There is an article in the journal Nature today which recommends the drug Ritalin as an aid to improving concentration and memory for those without Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). As sometimes I lack both, perhaps I should take some after all

The other subject, assisted suicide has been raised by a member of the Scottish Parliament Margo MacDonald.

The Lothian MSP, who has Parkinson’s Disease, does not wish her own condition to be the centre of the debate, but is sure from the post she receives from her constituents that the legislation covering assisted death must be changed.

A Sad End…

I have been saddened by the news that Daniel James, 23 year old paraplegic, victim of a rugby accident, decided that his life was so bad that he persuaded his parents to take him to an assisted suicide clinic in Switzerland to end his life. This was after a number of suicide attempts had not worked.

It wasn’t through lack of support, it wasn’t through lack of friendship, it was through lack of will to go on in his paralysed state. He could have lived for many years, but refused to do so. He did not want to live in the prison his body had become, so reports say…

The assisted suicide legislation in Switzerland: “Swiss law does not consider suicide a crime or assisting suicide as complicity in a crime.” but there is growing concern there that many non-terminally ill patients are taking the step to end their own life, which many Swiss people did not vote for. I suppose they may be worried that these people are being pressured to end their own life (Baroness Warnock again and its no surprise she supports this! see my previous post)

Mr & Mrs James are now facing prosecution, and the debate goes on…

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