Category Archives: Euthanasia

In nine states and in Washington, DC, it is legal to decide the day of your own death should you feel that your suffering is too much to bear. Though this is defined as euthanasiaaccording to Merriam-Webster, the act or practice of killing or permitting the death of hopelessly sick or injured individualsin a relatively painless way for reasons of mercyproponents of this heinous act prefer the euphemism death with dignity.

But regardless of what the secular world calls it, taking the life of an innocent personsick, elderly, disabled, or otherwiseis both wrong and immoral. We know this because the Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches that whatever its motives and means, direct euthanasia consists in putting an end to the lives of handicapped, sick, or dying persons. It is morally unacceptable. It further teaches that those whose lives are diminished or weakened deserve special respect (2277).

Respect for the sanctity and dignity of all human beings is an integral part of a Culture of Life. Yet the world erroneously teaches that people should be able to decide when they die. This takes the power out of the hands of God and gives it to man. Not only that, but it makes those who are sick and dying believe that they are burdens who should lighten the load for their caregivers, when it should be the caregivers who lighten the load for the sick and dying.

How do we know this? We read stories throughout the Bible that teach about the sanctity of life. We see teachings that prohibit murder. We see teachings commanding us to love one another. We see passages commanding us to give of ourselves to others. And we read about the value of suffering.

God gave us His words in the Bible so that we could learn how to live and how to love our fellow human beings. This biblical worldview guides us along our path to eternity with Him; and furthermore, ignoring Gods words not only hurts us, but it hurts others as well. Thats why its so important to read and understand what the Bible teaches.

Below are several inspiring Bible verses that teach us the importance of respecting and caring for our fellow human beings. When we read and reflect on these, we will come to know our Lord better. We will understand His commands and want to live our lives accordingly.

No one is master of the breath of life so as to retain it, and none has mastery of the day of death. Ecclesiastes 8:8

Whoever takes the life of any human being shall be put to death. Leviticus 24:17

You shall not kill. Exodus 20:13

There are six things the Lord hates, yes, seven are an abomination to him [including] haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood. Proverbs 6:16-17

Then the king will say to those on his right, Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me. Matthew 25:34-36

Is anyone among you sick? He should summon the presbyters of the church, and they should pray over him and anoint [him] with oil in the name of the Lord, and the prayer of faith will save the sick person, and the Lord will raise him up. James 5:14-15

Those who shut their ears to the cry of the poor will themselves call out and not be answered. Proverbs 21:13

Rescue the lowly and poor; deliver them from the hand of the wicked. Psalm 82:4

Do not rebuke an older man, but appeal to him as a father. Treat younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters with complete purity. 1 Timothy 5:1-2

No one hates his own flesh but rather nourishes and cherishes it, even as Christ does the church. Ephesians 5:29

Do not cast me aside in my old age; as my strength fails, do not forsake me. Psalm 71:9

Do you not know that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone destroys Gods temple, God will destroy that person; for the temple of God, which you are, is holy. 1 Corinthians 3:16-17

Put on then, as Gods chosen ones, holy and beloved, heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Colossians 3:12

Urge the younger men, similarly, to control themselves, showing yourself as a model of good deeds in every respect, with integrity in your teaching, dignity, and sound speech that cannot be criticized. Titus 2:6-8

Bear one anothers burdens, and so you will fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2

If someone who has worldly means sees a brother in need and refuses him compassion, how can the love of God remain in him? Children, let us love not in word or speech but in deed and truth. 1 John 3:17-18

You shall love your neighbor as yourself. Matthew 22:39

Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ loved the church and handed himself over for her to sanctify her, cleansing her by the bath of water with the word. Ephesians 5:25-26

Love one another with mutual affection; anticipate one another in showing honor. Romans 12:10

Love is patient, love is kind. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have; God is pleased by sacrifices of that kind. Hebrews 13:16

We even boast of our afflictions, knowing that affliction produces endurance, and endurance, proven character, and proven character, hope, and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the holy Spirit that has been given to us. Romans 5:3-5

Consider it all joy, my brothers, when you encounter various trials, for you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. James 1:2-3

But rejoice to the extent that you share in the sufferings of Christ, so that when his glory is revealed you may also rejoice exultantly. 1 Peter 4:13

The God of all grace who called you to his eternal glory through Christ [Jesus] will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you after you have suffered a little. 1 Peter 5:10

Its not easy to care for someone who is sick or dying. In fact, it can be incredibly difficult and drainingemotionally and physically. Yet the Church clearly teaches that we must love and care for people with compassion.

Caring for loved ones means that we must never allow them to believe they are burdens. Caring for them means we must see the face of Christ in them. It means we must see them through Christs eyes and reflect Christs love.

The term death with dignity is an immense deception. Every single personregardless of abilityhas dignity. Dignity is something we inherently have as human beings. We do not lose it. And we do not need to die to have or retain dignity. Yes, there may be some occasions or times in life that make us feel sad, humiliated, embarrassed, or ashamed. These may include allowing others to care for us. But those are just feelings. And those feelings do not mean an absence of dignity.

Seeing people through the eyes of Christ means that we must have compassion for them. Compassion never results in the taking of someones life. True compassion lies in walking with the suffering person, caring for him, and serving him.

Before Mary appeared to the children at Fatima, an angel appeared and spoke with the children. He told them they were to sacrifice daily. When Lucia asked how they should sacrifice, he responded: With all your power offer a sacrifice as an act of reparation for the sinners by whom He [the Lord] is offended, and of supplication for the conversion of sinners.

In other words, our suffering helps others! Thats why the Church teaches the redemptive value of suffering. We believe that good can come from all suffering. How is this so? When we suffer, we can offer it up for a soul in purgatory. We can also offer it up for someone else who is sick here on earth. Knowing that our suffering is helping others can create great joy within usif we let it. Knowing that were growing closer to God also helps us feel that joy.

Furthermore, when we suffer, we unite ourselves with Christ on the cross. We experience a small part of what He experienced when He gave His life for us, and we give a small part of ourselves to Him in return. This brings us closer to eternal life with Him.

St. John Paul II explains this in Salvifici Doloris (On the Christian Meaning of Human Suffering):

As the individual takes up his cross, spiritually uniting himself to the Cross of Christ, the salvific meaning of suffering is revealed before him. He does not discover this meaning at his own human level, but at the level of the suffering of Christ. At the same time, however, from this level of Christ the salvific meaning of suffering descends to mans level and becomes, in a sense, the individuals personal response. It is then that man finds in his suffering interior peace and even spiritual joy.

Further Reading: Human SufferingDoesHave a Purpose

While euthanasia is a grave evil, we must understand that we are not required to use extraordinary means to keep our loved ones alive. The Catechism teaches: Discontinuing medical procedures that are burdensome, dangerous, extraordinary, or disproportionate to the expected outcome can be legitimate; it is the refusal of over-zealous treatment. Here one does not will to cause death; ones inability to impede it is merely accepted.

Further reading: Ordinary and Extraordinary Means of Treatment

For example, when a frail and elderly woman has battled cancer and is near the end of her life, she need not feel obligated to continue treatment that will make her sicker.

Only God should have control over life and death, so we must never do anything to hasten death.

We know that Gods love for us is immeasurable; we can see this love every time we look at the crucifix.

Our suffering leads us closer to Him. And isnt that the whole point of life?

Why Euthanasia Is WrongFrom a SecularViewpoint

Church Teachings on Euthanasia

See original here:

25 Bible Verses about Euthanasia - Human Life International

An October 11 report from Common Sense tells the harrowing tale of a Canadian mother who discovered that her son scheduled himself to die. Her story offers a real-life account of the dangers that legalized euthanasia can pose to individuals in distress, the families they leave behind, and society as a whole.

Euthanasia

Margaret Marsilla, 46, is a mother of two who lives in Toronto with her husband and daughter. Her 23-year-old son, Kiano Vafaeian, lives with his aunt and generally keeps his business to himself. Marsilla often worries about her Kiano, because he suffers from depression that stems from his diabetes, a condition that worsened this summer, causing the loss of sight in one of his eyes.

Marsillas worries for her sons well being led her to do a little snooping, with the help of her daughter who had access to Kianos facebook and email accounts. It was then that she learned that her son had sought and been approved for medically assisted suicide, part of Canadas Medical Assistance in Dying law, also called MAiD.

Discovering that her son had just about two weeks left to live before the procedure, Marsilla began to investigate. The next day, she called the doctor and pretended to be a prospective patient, describing her condition as much like her sons. The doctor, Joshua Tepper, seemed accommodating, going so far as to offer a formal assessment, which could be conducted in person or over video conference.

Social media

Not knowing what else to do, Marsilla took to social media, sharing her story and seeking advice. When another physician who performed MAiD procedures expressed surprise that Kiano was accepted based on diabetes, Marsilla organized a meeting with all the involved parties: Kiano, Tepper, Kianos aunt, and Marsilla herself.

Unfortunately, this meeting was mostly fruitless, due to a Canadian news source picking up the story. The publicity had prompted a storm of angry phone calls to Teppers office. However, the pushback from the public led Tepper to delay and ultimately cancel Kianos procedure.

Speaking with Common Sense, however, Kiano said that his feelings on seeking suicide have not changed:

I was so ready. I was actually very looking forward to ending my pain and suffering. I tried to do as much as I can and, hopefully, in doing so, I might come across something or someone that could change my mind. The 23-year-old added, My thoughts are that I would be closer to God.

While the young man acknowledges that his mothers actions were based in love, he remains angry at her for her intervention. In a heated string of text messages between the pair he cursed her for adding to [his] pain and suffering. Still, Marsillas efforts have helped to keep Kiano alive, as he noted that most MAiD doctors want nothing to do with him now.

MAiD deaths

Common Sense notes that MAiD deaths have only increased in the years since the law was passed, in 2017. It is estimated that in some Canadian provinces MAiD deaths make up nearly 5% of the annual total. While the majority of the 31,664 recorded MAiD procedures were performed on the elderly and terminally ill, the number of young people who elect to euthanize themselves has consistently risen each year.

This steady increase comes due to a widening scope of how medical practitioners define reasonably foreseeable death, as well as an increasing number of medical conditions that doctors can accept as intolerable to the patient.

Next year, Canadian lawmakers are expected to adjust the criteria for euthanasia eligibility, to include the mentally ill and mature minors. The latter would allow underaged patients to make such decisions for themselves if the doctor deems them mature enough; however, the basis for recognition of maturity in this instance is not clearly defined.

Read the whole intense story at Common Sense.

Read more:

Canadian moms harrowing tale shows the real dangers of legal euthanasia - Aleteia

David Minns is 74 years old and lives in Suffolk. A few years ago, doctors diagnosed him with multiple myeloma and amyloidosis. It means that excess proteins are building up in his organs and shutting them down. Doctors have given him only months to live.

He tells Hannah Moore that he would like the right to decide for himself when his suffering has become too extreme and that he can choose the time that feels right for him to die. But as the law stands in England, assisted suicide or euthanasia is illegal.

As Nicola Davis explains, a conviction for assisting someone to die could result in a murder charge and a long prison sentence. But that does not mean it doesnt happen. Instead, for those with means, there is an option to travel elsewhere in Europe such as Switzerland where laws are more permissive.

The debate has a long history and in parliament remains unresolved. Currently a bill seeking to change the law is being debated in the House of Lords, but with the government not in support, the prospects are uncertain.

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Is it time to rethink the laws on assisted dying? - podcast - The Guardian

If youre looking for a sign to add a new furry member to your family, here it is. You can adopt a dog or puppy at a San Antonio animal shelter for free this weekend.

Happening now through Sunday, October 16, San Antonio Pets Alive is waiving all adoption fees on dogs and puppies at all three of its locations. This does not include dogs in foster care.

They are in despite need to free up kennel space to help more animals in need. So when you adopt a pet, youre helping save another life but creating space.

According to SAPAs executive director Rebecca Mayberry, there have been more Code Red days in the past four years. That's when 25 or more dogs are being "released to euthanasia by San Antonio Animal Care Services in one day."

San Antonio Pets Alive staff are then notified and spring into action by alerting supporters, rescue partners, and fosters. Back in August, a total of 127 puppies and dogs were scheduled to be euthanized due to capacity. Staff stepped in to help 56 of those puppies and dogs. The remaining animals were placed in transitional kennels, partnered with other rescue organizations, and found placement through the foster program.

Here are all three San Antonio Pets Alive locations:

Petco Love Adoption Center at 6001 NW Loop 410, San Antonio, TX 78238. Medical Care Center at 9107 Marbach Road, Suite 109, San Antonio, TX 78245. Rescue Center at Animal Care Services 4710 Highway 151, San Antonio, TX 78227.

Original post:

Alive offer free adoptions for dogs and puppies - mySA

A surge in animal adoptions during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic has turned into a crisis for Volusia County animal shelters, as high housing prices, inflation and a shortage of veterinarians are all contributing to record numbers of pet owners giving up their animals.

Hurricane Ian just made it worse.

Karen Spaulding, executive director of the Southeast Volusia Humane Society in New Smyrna Beach, has worked in animal welfare for 30 years. She said she has never seen an animal-housing crisis as severe as the one the county is facing now.

Halifax is at max capacity. New Hope is at max capacity. Edgewater is almost [at] max capacity, Spaulding said. Even the rescues are at max capacity. Ive never seen it where everyone is at max capacity for this duration of time.

Combined, Halifax Humane Society, the West Volusia Humane Society, and the Southeast Volusia Humane Society can house a total of approximately 575 animals.

Spaulding cited financial constraints as the reason behind most animal surrenders.

Many of the calls that were getting nowadays have to do with finances. The people are having to move, because they cant afford to live where theyre living, Spaulding told The Beacon. But it seems to be at a much higher rate than prior to COVID happening. And then, on top of that, you have so many people adopting less because of the financial constraints that theyre experiencing all more complicated by the hurricane.

Spaulding said people are desperate.

One of the things thats happening is people are dumping animals, just turning them loose, because they dont feel like they have any other options. So were getting a lot more strays in, Spaulding said. The other option is, were getting a lot more requests for euthanasia. Because people have no other options, and they cant afford to take their animals to a vet.

Financial hardship isnt the only problem.

According to Adam Leath, director of Public Protection for Volusia County, which includes Animal Services, lack of access to veterinary care has been one of the largest factors in the increase in surrenders.

It is really challenging for pet owners to get access to veterinary care, and care for preventative medical problems. Theres a veterinary shortage crisis across the country. We do not have enough veterinarians to meet the demand of the rising population and their associated ownership, Leath said.

And, sometimes, owners who were excited to adopt during the COVID-19 pandemic have realized pet ownership wasnt for them.

Barry KuKes, the community outreach and marketing director at Halifax Humane Society, said that some pet owners feel their jobs are finished, now that the height of the pandemic has passed.

People really stepped up and adopted a lot during COVID. And then when COVID has to calm down now, in some peoples minds, its gone, KuKes said. Theyre returning animals because they dont need them anymore, or they cant care for them any longer, because theyre going back to work and traveling and so on.

More than 23 million American households approximately one in five adopted a dog or cat during the pandemic, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

KuKes was baffled by some owners reasoning for surrendering their animals.

You wouldnt think people would return an animal after being with it sometimes as long as two years. And then just say, No, I dont [need it]. Weve had people be as coarse as saying, I dont need this animal anymore. Whats wrong with you? KuKes asked. Why did you get the animal? Yeah, they just wanted some company, and now Im going back to work and I dont want to deal with it. Well, you adopted for the wrong reason to begin with.

Victoria Figueroa, director of the West Volusia Humane Society, said her shelter has seen the same thing.

We also noticed, as the prices of things were starting to go up, once that inflation went up, we noticed that there were a lot more surrendering when it came to pets that had, you know, medical needs, or that were having a little more issues, people werent as willing to kind of be as attentive to those needs as they were before, Figueroa said.

The increase has taxed, not only the capacity of shelters, but the emotional capacity of workers, as well.

Animal welfare is a really, really tough industry. In general, theres this thing called compassion fatigue, and secondary post-traumatic stress, those kinds of things that animal shelter workers experience generally, Southeasts Spaulding said. I think during this time, theyre more susceptible to it, not because of necessarily the surrenders, but because theres also a lot of abuse and neglect cases going on, that were getting way more animals coming in from seizures.

KuKes, at Halifax, concurs.

It takes its toll on, especially, admission staff, because theyre trying to help people. The admission side is the sad side of the building, because its typically somebody whos coming in to surrender, somebody who found a stray dog, but they dont want that and they cant take care of, or theyre looking for a lost pet, KuKes said. Well, if you add, you know, double or 30 percent more surrenders happening, thats that many more people you are dealing with that you are trying to convince not to do something.

Figueroa observed this in the West Volusia Humane Society staff, too.

They get worn out, especially when having to deal with trying to be sympathetic to the public and not getting the same reception back, Figueroa said. It does become an emotional toll on you, because you are trying to do what you can, and when you hit a path that has that block up, that wall and you cant get past it, its hard. It is hard for you as an animal care worker.

This decline in mental health can also be seen in the veterinary field, where there is high pressure on the few available veterinarians, along with severe compassion fatigue.

Suicide in the field of veterinary medicine is quite high. It is a huge burnout, Leath told The Beacon. Rarely do you see a field of study where youre trying so hard every day to make a difference in the lives of pets. And then youre also in the exact same position to have to be considering euthanasia.

A quick note on euthanasiaWhile the three main animal shelters in Volusia County are no-kill, they do offer euthanasia services. Halifax Humane Society offers euthanasia for terminally ill and injured animals, as well as those whose behavior is unstable to the point that the animal is dangerous.Halifax Humane Society, however, said it has ceased performing most of the euthanasia requested by animal owners.The West Volusia Humane Society also offers euthanasia for terminally ill and injured animals, as well as those deemed dangerous by animal control officers.The Southeast Volusia Humane Society offers euthanasia for animals with medical problems and those that have exhibited aggressive behavior.

Animal shelters across Volusia County are urging the community to find alternatives to surrendering their animals.

We went out there on social media and other methods and said, Please dont surrender your animals. Try to find an alternative. Try to rehome your animal. If [somebody says], Im gonna surrender, because I cant afford food to feed my dog. Well give you the food. Here, well help you. Just dont surrender your animal, KuKes said.

Its very easy over the last couple of months to reach capacity, Figueroa said. Adoption has been a little slow, and the surrendering has been a little high. Its not balancing out.

To add to the problem, reaching max capacity has taken the shelters to their limits financially.

An increase in intake means that the limited resources that any one shelter has available is going to be less, Leath said. Its difficult for them to continue to operate.

Now, more than ever, Volusia Countys animal shelters are relying on the help of the community, even for individual animals.

For instance, the Southeast Volusia Humane Society is seeking donations to cover the cost of amputating a dogs leg.

Ian, named after the hurricane he was found running around in, is about a year old. He lost his leg because of a long-untreated shattered knee.

A black-and white-shorthair that may be part Boston terrier, Ian weighs about 30 pounds, and loves to have his belly rubbed. Visit the Southeast Volusia Humane Society website to find out how you can donate to help Ian and his sheltermates.

The Halifax Humane Society and West Volusia Humane Society are also looking for donations. Information can be found on their websites.

If you cannot donate monetarily, you can donate your time. All of the shelters are seeking volunteers.

We love our volunteers. It is a rough time for animal welfare. We surely appreciate compassionate people, Spaulding said.

If you see an animal in need or need pet-related resources, call Volusia County Animal Services at 386-248-1790.

Related

See the rest here:

Animal shelters are overwhelmed - The West Volusia Beacon

Living in a place like Canada evokes images of an elite way of life. We imagine a world full of rainbows and unicorns. We often crave a life like this. But as we look closer, we see that these advanced countries have their own darker problems, that do not exist anywhere else. Would you believe that Canadians are opting to die because they feel they have no other choice left? This is taking place in Trudeaus land. People are willfully opting for death as a solution to their pain and misery.

We might not be wrong to conclude that Canada has gone too far with medical assistance in dying. Death by a doctor is no rare thing in Trudeaus land now.

A 54-year-old man from St. Catharines is currently filing for medical assistance in dying (MAiD), not because he wants to pass away but rather because he feels his social supports are failing him and he may not have any other options.

According to CityNews, years ago, Amir Farsoud suffered a back injury that left him in constant pain. At his worst, he claims to be sobbing like a 5-year-old and not sleeping for days on end. Farsoud also takes antidepressants and anxiety medications.

He describes his quality of life as awful, non-existent and terrible I do nothing other than manage pain.

Farsoud clarified that his application for MAiD is not motivated by his pain from injuries. He submitted an application because he hates going without a place to live more than he fears passing away. Its not my top pick, he said.

Farsoud currently has a rooming house that is available for sale that he shares with two other persons. He claims he couldnt find another place to live that he can afford while receiving social assistance.

Already the house rents in Trudeaus Canada are touching the skies with affordability having a different meaning now. People in Canada are not able to pay their rent. Making a big claim, in some neighbourhoods, not owning a home now costs more than owning one.

Read More: Trudeau makes Canada the most Euthanasia friendly country

I dont want to die but I dont want to be homeless more than I dont want to die, shared Farsoud.

I know, in my present health condition, I wouldnt survive it anyway. It wouldnt be at all dignified waiting, so if that becomes my two options, its pretty much a no-brainer, said Farsoud.

When asked if he would consider assisted dying if he had stable housing, Farsoud said he wouldnt even be close to it yet.

Farsoud continued, It would be on my radar because my physical condition is only going to deteriorate.

In Trudeaus land, if you arent mentally happy, the government is ready and impatiently waiting to take you to the other side. The Liberal government in Canada is going off the charts on the metric of brutality and they seem to be happy about it.

It has been some time since Trudeaus government green-lit one of the worlds most liberal euthanasia regimes. The Canadian health system is now actively going after people struggling with mental health. Can you believe this? The government is promoting a suicide prevention drive on one hand, and executing state-sanctioned deaths on the other.

But this is business as usual in the country. Trudeaus Canada is following the footprints of Hitlers Germany. We might not be wrong if we call this Aktion T4 2.0. The aforementioned 1930 Nazi program was an involuntary euthanasia program better known as mass murder in Hitlers Germany.

Read More: How house rents in Canada went from cheap to average to unaffordable in last 10 years

Instead of finding solutions as to why people in Canada are choosing death so rapidly, the Canadian government is asking them to die peacefully. If you are scouting assistance or affection in his land then you are probably backing the wrong horse because you might just get a chance to meet the lord.

But how a thing so abnormal and so horrifying became not just unthinkable but inevitable? Clearly, the government of Canada has given up in their efforts to do anything for the people of the country. They somehow know how death is better than living in a hell hole of a country.

Excerpt from:

Poor Canadians are now willing to legally die instead of living in Trudeaus Canada - TFI Global News

Candidates for state Senate in the 43rd District differ in approaches to the states planned reduction in the threshold for farmworker overtime wages.

I would push for the repeal of lowering the threshold for farm overtime, said state Assemblyman Jake Ashby, R-Castleton, who is running for the open state Senate seat in the new 43rd District.

Andrea Smyth, the Democratic candidate, said officials should continuously evaluate the impact of the change as it is implemented in phases over a 10-year period.

At this point, where the budget makes downturns, and we may have to stop the subsidies that are supposed to hold the farmers level, at that point, I would advocate for freezing the movement toward the 40-hour overtime, said Smyth, speaking at a recent Rensselaer County League of Women Voters virtual candidate debate.

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On Sept. 30, state Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon announced that the department ratified a recommendation of the state Farm Laborers Wage Board to reduce the threshold for overtime pay from 60 hours per week to 40 hours per week, over a 10-year period.

A public comment period on the recommendation is to begin later this month.

The threshold had been 60 hours since Jan. 1, 2020.

Before that, overtime pay was not required for farmworkers in New York.

The threshold would be reduced to 56 hours starting Jan. 1, 2024, and be reduced in subsequent biannual increments.

A tax credit enacted as part of this years state budget will help cover the additional cost of increased overtime wages.

The 43rd Senate District includes Rensselaer County and portions of Washington and Albany counties. In Washington County, the district includes from Fort Edward south to the Rensselaer County line.

Ashby, who has served four years in the Assembly, and Smyth, a health care and family issues policy advocate from Troy, debated for an hour, responding to questions that residents submitted to the League of Women Voters in advance of the debate, which was conducted over Zoom and video recorded for viewing over YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_7stF0V0-ps.

The candidates also differ on approaches to bail reform and euthanasia.

Smyth said that legislators should consult with district attorneys and law enforcement officers about whether additional changes are needed to bail reform legislation.

I am prepared to look at what is working and what is not, and make sure that bail-eligible offenses are correct in protecting our communities, she said. I am definitely interested and know that this bail vs. jail discussion is going to be part of my first session in the Senate.

A 2019 bail reform law ended the practice of requiring cash bail for the release of those arrested for misdemeanor and non-violent felony offenses, in most cases.

Some changes to the 2019 law, providing more discretion for judges, were enacted as part of this years state budget.

Ashby said the 2019 law should be repealed entirely.

We need to start from scratch on this issue, he said.

Ashby said the 2019 law was rushed through without adequate input from district attorneys and law enforcement officers.

We need to do a better job of creating these laws and not just getting them done to check a box to say that we have addressed this issue, he said.

Ashby said he opposes a proposed state law that would allow physicians to assist with euthanasia.

I believe that all life is sacred, from conception to death, and even during these times of immense struggles and suffering, I believe that life still has value, he said.

Smyth said euthanasia is a personal decision, without addressing the specific legislation.

I think, like other personal health care decisions, this requires the Legislature to allow personal autonomy in their decision-making, she said.

Smyth said she has 30 years of experience helping to craft legislation in her role as an advocate, and that she has empathy and enthusiasm.

I do 23 push-ups daily as a reminder of the average number of American veterans who have died by suicide daily, and I do one extra for a family member who died by suicide, she said. To me, this is a daily reminder that those of us with hope must share it with those who have lost hope.

Ashby, an occupational therapist and Army veteran, said that he has a record of bipartisanship and a reputation for tenacity.

Ashby said he was initially rejected for military service because of flat feet and a heart murmur, but challenged the rejection.

At the time, I had to write to my congressman, it was Michael McNulty, and (he) helped get me on that track to be able to serve, Ashby said.

Maury Thompson covered local government and politics for The Post-Star for 21 years before he retired in 2017. He continues to follow regional politics as a freelance writer.

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43rd Senate District: Ashby, Smyth offer contrasts on farm overtime, other issues during virtual debate - The Post Star

Full of familiar themes and tropes, Irving's meandering brick-of-a-novel is as much about the writing life as it is about finding belonging

THE LAST CHAIRLIFT by John Irving (Knopf Canada, 912 pages). $45. Rating: NNNN

After seven years, 80-year-old John Irving returns with his fifteenth novel in a storied and celebrated career that includes The Hotel New Hampshire, A Prayer For Owen Meany, A Widow For One Year, Until I Find You, and In One Person, books that place him at the heart of our culture, a Dickens for our time.

Narrator Adam Brewster, born in 1941 to an unwed mother, is a novelist and screenwriter in many ways a cipher for Irving himself: his fourth novel, for example, his first bestseller, makes him self-supporting as a writer, just as The World According To Garp did in 1978. Almost a quarter of this one, however, is written as a screenplay (remember Irving won an Academy Award for best adapted screenplay of The Cider House Rules), a choice that spurs the narrative drive, even though at times the content is repetitive.

Adams lesbian mother Rachel, a.k.a. Little Ray, is a diminutive expert skier who spends many months of each year of his childhood away from him, so he is raised by his grandmother who he considers his winter mom. Nana Brewster reads him Moby-Dick, and young Adam becomes enthralled, a fact that his older cousin Nora insists shaped and screwed up the rest of his life, a life we witness unfold over seven decades.

If, like me, you are an Irving completist, you will warm to the familiar themes and tropes wrestling, sexual politics, secrets, war, perverse accidental death, euthanasia, grief, empathy, love and first-person narrative of this meandering brick-of-a-novel that is as much about the writing life as it is about finding belonging in our own lives.

Many of the characters are outsiders, perhaps even iconoclasts, who push against conformity, like Nora, who interprets her partner Ems pantomime in their comedy club show of biting political and social satire,Two Dykes, One Who Talks. The snowshoer, the little Phillips Exeter Academy English teacher Elliot Barlow, marries Adams mom, takes to wearing her clothes, cross-dressing for pleasure in their little New England town, eventually coming out as a transgender woman in her forties.

Because Adam writes fiction, Mr. Barlow rightly observes hes a worrier with a heightened imagination for worst-case scenarios. But Adam is also correct when he notes, When you love someone whos different, you worry about them more youre always looking out for them. He explains, The sexual-minority subject had been near-constant background music in the years I was growing up. These outliers, nevertheless, are devoted to family life and, as Little Rays long-time love Molly reminds Adam, Theres more than one way to love people. Family is who loves you.

Love abounds in this story and takes many forms as the characters push up against the troubled history of their time including the Vietnam War, the AIDS crisis and the rise of tyranny with the election of Trump in 2016. Irving faces it all head on, defaulting to compassion at every opportunity. But violence is a part of Irvings imaginative universe. Corpses stack up as in a Shakespearean tragedy: car crashes, train derailment, avalanche, murder, electrocution, suicide, AIDS and fright all snuff out lives along the way. Darlings are not spared. Its not fair; neither is real life.

There are ghosts, real and imagined, who keep Adam company and also torment him in his quest to discover who his father is. He freely acknowledges that not every ghost is seen by everyone. Yet he is comforted decades later when his own son Matthew sees the ghosts of his grandparents larking about on Torontos TTC and matter-of-factly reports: Theyre not getting any older all those two do is goof around.

Although the repetitive aspects of the plot may be trying at times, it is Irvings affection and empathy for his characters that shines. Little Ray is right: We have to be who we are. And her one and only Adam is right, too: we do meet people who change our lives. In person and in words.

Janet Somerville (@janetsomerville) is the author of Yours, For Probably Always: Martha Gellhorns Letters Of Love & War 1930-1949, available now in audio, read by Tony Award-winning Ellen Barkin.

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John Irving's latest novel is full of empathy and affection for his characters - NOW Toronto

Background: Euthanasia can be thought of as being either active or passive; but the precise definition of "passive euthanasia" is not always clear. Though all passive euthanasia involves the withholding of life-sustaining treatment, there would appear to be some disagreement about whether all such withholding should be seen as passive euthanasia.

Main text: At the core of the disagreement is the question of the importance of an intention to bring about death: must one intend to bring about the death of the patient in order for withholding treatment to count as passive euthanasia, as some sources would indicate, or does withholding in which death is merely foreseen belong to that category? We may expect that this unclarity would be important in medical practice, in law, and in policy. The idea that withholding life-sustaining treatment is passive euthanasia is traced to James Rachels's arguments, which lend themselves to the claim that passive euthanasia does not require intention to end life. Yet the argument here is that Rachels's arguments are flawed, and we have good reasons to think that intention is important in understanding the moral nature of actions. As such, we should reject any understanding of passive euthanasia that does not pay attention to intent.

Short conclusion: James Rachels's work on active and passive euthanasia has been immensely influential; but this is an influence that we ought to resist.

Keywords: End-of-life care; Euthanasia; Intent; James Rachels; Passive euthanasia; Withholding treatment.

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What passive euthanasia is - PubMed

Mehmet Oz, the Republican nominee for U.S. Senate in Pennsylvania, is facing accusations over his treatment of animals following a report that dozens of his experiments at Columbia University resulted in the deaths of hundreds of dogs.

The issue went viral after Jezebel published a report Monday about Ozs time at the Columbia University Institute of Comparative Medicine labs, where he served as a principal investigator for a number of years. Between 1989 and 2010, he published the results of 75 experiments that involved 1,027 animals.

Of those experiments, at least 34 killed about 329 dogs, two killed 31 pigs, and 38 killed 661 rabbits and other rodents, Jezebel reported.

Questions over treatment of animals in research that Oz oversaw at Columbia date back to the early 2000s, when the animal rights organization People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals detailed allegations from a whistleblower. The USDA eventually ordered Columbia to pay a $2,000 penalty for violations of the Animal Welfare Act as part of a settlement.

And this isnt the first time the allegations against Oz, a celebrity doctor, have popped up on the campaign trail. In September, Billy Penn published an investigation into Ozs time at Columbia, as well as the fallout over the experiments.

An Oz spokesperson called the Jezebel story preposterous, and said Oz was not present during the research and does not condone the mistreatment of animals.

Here is what you need to know about the allegations and Ozs role in the research:

Oz oversaw studies involving animals that focused on cardiac functions, ailments, and surgical procedures.

Whistleblower Catherine DellOrto, a postdoctoral veterinary fellow at the school, went public in the early 2000s about research at the university, saying that it inflicted needless suffering on research animals. PETA detailed some of the allegations in letters to the USDA and Columbia in 2003 and 2004, saying experiments by Oz and other researchers included serious violations of the Animal Welfare Act.

In one letter from 2003, then-director of PETAs research and investigations department Mary Beth Sweetland detailed an incident in which a litter of fully conscious puppies was placed in a plastic bag and killed with an expired euthanasia drug.

The puppies cried out as they received the IC injection because it is, of course, very painful and should not be done without first anesthetizing animals, Sweetland wrote.

Ozs name, however, did not appear in PETAs letters until 2004, when Columbia and the USDA agreed to a $2,000 settlement in connection with animal abuse allegations. That settlement came following an internal investigation by Columbia.

The settlement agreement detailed a number of findings, two dealing with dogs. In one, pups whelped from a dog being used in a research study were euthanized with outdated euthanasia solution and were not properly sedated at the time. Another finding notes that a dog exercise plan does not provide evidence that plan is approved by the attending veterinarian. Other findings deal with primate enclosures, facility conditions, and procedures for evaluating pain and discomfort in animals.

After the allegations began spreading online last month, at least one viral tweet indicated that Oz pumped injections into puppies hearts without sedation. However, The Inquirer was unable to find documentation from the time of the experiments that Oz himself euthanized any of the dogs.

DellOrto corroborated as much in an interview with Billy Penn, saying that it wasnt him that did the euthanasia of the puppies. Billy Penn also noted that administering euthanasia is rarely, if ever, left to department leaders or directors.

Despite the lack of evidence that Oz personally mistreated dogs, animal rights activists still believe he bears responsibility.

As principal investigator, Oz was tasked with undertaking full scientific, administrative, and fiscal responsibility for the conduct of his studies, according to the schools animal research handbook. But an Oz campaign spokesperson told The Inquirer that Oz was not alerted to any issues until after the cases were finished, and was not present for operations or treatments on animals.

It does not appear that anyone from [Columbias Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee] actually bothered to inspect the dogs used in Ozs experiments despite the invasiveness of the experiments and the strong potential for suffering, Sweetland wrote in a 2004 letter to the USDA. She added that the USDA ought to require that Columbia University suspend all further use of animals by Dr. Mehmet Oz.

DellOrto echoed a similar sentiment to Billy Penn, saying that when your name is on the experiment, and the way the experiment is designed inflicts such cruelty to these animals, by design, theres a problem.

DellOrto, Sweetlands letter says, took her concerns to then-head veterinarian Sulli Popilskis, who allegedly told her: You still dont understand do you? Its all political.

Popilskis, meanwhile, reportedly told Billy Penn last month that PETA isnt a reliable source.

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Lt. Gov. John Fetterman, the Democratic nominee for Senate, seized on the controversy, tweeting on Monday that some sick people like Dr. Oz get their jollies by harming animals, and called Oz a puppy killer. Fetterman also shared a photo with his rescue dogs Levi and Artie, writing that he would be hugging them extra tight tonight.

The Fetterman campaign also called Oz a puppy killer in a Monday news release. Fettermans wife, Gisele Barreto Fetterman, called the Jezebel article a truly heartbreaking report.

Ozs campaign denied the allegations in a statement to The Inquirer on Tuesday, and accused Fetterman of using the viral story to distract from other issues.

While Dr. Oz was busy operating on human lives, researchers and veterinarians were in the Columbia University research labs finding new approaches to treat patients with atrial fibrillation which impacts millions of Americans including John Fetterman, said Oz spokesperson Brittany Yanick. Dr. Oz was not in the operating room when the operations were done, he wasnt present during the post op treatments, no one alerted him of the problem until after the cases were finished and he does not condone the mistreatment of animals.

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Mehmet Oz is facing accusations of animal abuse tied to medical research. Here's what you need to know - The Morning Call