Death with Dignity (Dan Barker and Annie Laurie Gaylor, Freethought Radio podcast)

Incursions of Christian nationalism at the federal and state level are increasing, and we are fighting back. 

We report a quick legal victory removing a Ten Commandments monument from an Illinois county courthouse. 

Then, we remember the lives of two precious freethinkers who died this month: long-time FFRF member Dick Hewetson, an Episcopal priest turned gay/atheist activist, who died at age 95; and satirical songwriter Tom Lehrer (“Vatican Rag”), who died at age 97.

Interview: 

https://ffrf.org/news/freethought-radio/freethought-today-july-31-2025/

At long last, Delaware enacts "death with dignity" law to ease human suffering

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u3YJgvyWsPQ

 

Final Exit (Dan Barker and Annie Laurie Gaylor, Freethought Radio podcast)

This week, we track a tsunami of (mostly bad) bills in Wisconsin, Oklahoma, Texas, Iowa, West Virginia and North Dakota. 

After hearing sneak previews of some of FFRF’s other shows — “Ask an Atheist,” “Freethought Matters” and “We Dissent” — we talk with Brian Ruder, president of the board of the Final Exit Network, which offers people who are unbearably suffering an intractable medical condition the option to die legally and peacefully.

Interview: 

https://ffrf.org/news/freethought-radio/freethought-today-march-6-2025/

MPs vote for bill to legalize assisted dying in England and Wales

Terminally ill adults with less than six months to live will be given right to die under proposed legislation…

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2024/nov/29/mps-vote-for-assisted-dying-in-england-and-wales

I Am Dying Out Loud: ONE NATION, ALL BELIEFS (Daniel Miller and Bradley Onishi; Straight White American Jesus podcast)

On this episode of ONE NATION, ALL BELIEFS (subscribe links below): Dave Warnock was caught up in the Jesus movement of the 70s and lived the bulk of his life as a Charismatic Evangelical, serving as a pastor on three different church staffs.

Following several years of internal struggle, Dave came to the conclusion in 2011 that he no longer believed in a personal God. In 2019 he was diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease), a progressive neurodegenerative disease with an average 3-5 year life expectancy. In early 2023, Dave, along with Bevin Jett and Sheila Hoover, founded I Am Dying Out Loud, a nonprofit organization with the mission to enhance the quality of life by advocating against the unwanted intrusion of religion in the areas of healthcare, dying, and death, and by providing “bucket list” moments for those diagnosed with ALS.
Interview: 

https://www.straightwhiteamericanjesus.com/episodes/special-episode-one-nation-all-beliefs-i-am-dying-out-loud/

‘It’s a right over our own bodies’: a remarkable documentary on medically assisted death

Film-maker Ondi Timoner captures her family in a transitional phase, approaching death head-on in Last Flight Home, after her father requests the right to die…

https://www.theguardian.com/film/2022/oct/06/last-flight-home-medically-assisted-death-documentary

Why Catholic Hospitals Are Bad for America

Let's talk about what these hospitals do and don't do, and why the University of California shouldn't partner with them without serious changes to their agreement.
https://youtu.be/c8uXVFbrG1k

Terminally ill, he wanted an assisted death – but his hospital was Catholic

Patients in eight states can now legally obtain lethal drugs to end their lives but face obstacles enacting their wishes as Catholic hospitals expand ....
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2020/jan/28/catholic-hospitals-lead-fight-against-access-drugs-assisted-dying

Final Exit: My Life, My Death, My Choice (Seth Andrews, The Thinking Atheist)

In the United States, the majority of states have made it illegal for terminally ill patients enduring great suffering to end their own lives on their terms. Most of the opposition is fueled by religion.

In this broadcast, we explore Death With Dignity issues, we talk about various organizations assisting those who wish to take some control over their life and death, and we finish the show with special guest Dan Diaz, husband of the late Brittany Maynard, who's story (and partnership with http://www.compassionandchoices.org) gained international attention.
Interview:
https://youtu.be/5jpcgFrBs3I

New Jersey law giving terminally ill patients the right to end their lives goes into effect this week - The Hill

A law allowing physicians to provide lethal prescriptions to terminally ill patients who want to die will go into effect in New Jersey this week....
https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/455185-new-jersey-law-giving-terminally-ill-patients-the-right-to-end-their

Death on demand: has euthanasia gone too far?

Countries around the world are making it easier to choose the time and manner of your death. But doctors in the world’s euthanasia capital are starting to worry about the consequences...
https://www.theguardian.com/news/2019/jan/18/death-on-demand-has-euthanasia-gone-too-far-netherlands-assisted-dying

Senate Committee Approves 'Medical Aid in Dying for the Terminally Ill Act' - Insider NJ

Legislation sponsored by Senators Nicholas Scutari and Richard Codey that would create a process for terminally ill patients with less than six months to live to seek medical assistance to end their lives was approved by the Senate Health Committee today...

https://www.insidernj.com/press-release/senate-committee-approves-medical-aid-dying-terminally-ill-act/

Medical aid in dying laws in Washington, D.C., California spark debate

Debbie Gatzek Kratter, a California attorney with Stage 4 pancreatic cancer, wants to die on her own terms. She's had chemotherapy treatment, but at a point, it will stop working. She doesn't know if she'll be able to.....

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2018/06/25/washington-dc-california-medical-aid-dying-physician-assisted-suicide/713546002/

David Goodall: For assisted suicide, 104-year-old went from Australia to Switzerland - The Washington Post

On his final day, before he went to a Swiss clinic to die, David Goodall spoke about his 104 years of life — and his scheduled death....

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/to-your-health/wp/2018/05/09/this-104-year-old-plans-to-die-tomorrow-and-hopes-to-change-views-on-assisted-suicide/

Aid-in-dying gains momentum as erstwhile opponents change their minds | The Sacramento Bee

Susan Boyce, married and the mother of four, doesn't know when she will die, but she knows how. One day, her diseased-decimated lungs will no longer be able to pump oxygen through her bloodstream....

http://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/national-politics/article204833344.html

What Medical Aid In Dying Means to Me - Honolulu Civil Beat

A retired registered nurse says the law works as intended in Oregon, as it will in Hawaii.....
http://www.civilbeat.org/2018/03/what-medical-aid-in-dying-means-to-me/

This Couple Died By Assisted Suicide Together. Here’s Their Story - TIME

On the last morning of their lives, Charlie and Francie Emerick held hands. The Portland, Ore., couple, married for 66 years and both terminally ill, died together in their bed April 20, 2017, after taking lethal doses of medication obtained under the state's Death with Dignity law. ....
http://time.com/5179977/assisted-suicide-couple-death/

Doctor: My terminally ill patients deserve end of life options

Sam was a 42-year-old patient of mine with ALS, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis — also known as Lou Gehrig disease. He was relatively vibrant when he first came to me, but eventually became weaker and had to use a wheelchair to get around. He began having trouble forming words and spoke in a whisper. He even had difficulty swallowing his saliva. He was rapidly losing weight, both in muscle bulk and in overall body mass....

https://www.delawareonline.com/story/opinion/contributors/2018/02/21/doctor-my-terminally-ill-patients-deserve-end-life-options/359511002/

Reporter Shares Life Lessons From A Year With 'The Oldest Old' (Terry Gross, Fresh Air)

New York Times reporter John Leland followed six people above the age of 85 for one year. That series changed his understanding of old age — and inspired his book, Happiness is a Choice You Make.
Interview:
https://www.npr.org/2018/01/24/580212243/reporter-shares-life-lessons-from-a-year-with-the-oldest-old

Aid-in-dying advocates target next battleground states -- CNN

Will efforts to expand the practice to Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey and Hawaii succeed this year?....
http://www.cnn.com/2018/01/25/health/aid-in-dying-battleground-states/index.html