Dutch group offers Life Wish Declarations

Care for Life (NPV) of the Netherlands is an Evangelical group with more than 73,000 members which makes available Life Wish Declarations (Levenswensverklaring) which specify that the patient wants treatment to be continued if he is no longer able to express his wishes.

Concerns about 'death panels' overhyped

Not everyone in the pro-life movement is on board with the concerns about the “death panels” the Obama administration recently instituted, as one professor says they are overhyped.

Warren Throckmorton is an associate professor of psychology at Grove City College in Pennsylvania and fellow for psychology and public policy with the Center for Vision & Values. He believes the idea has some merit as it, for example, could have helped prevent the painful euthanasia death of Terri Schiavo at her former husband’s hands. But pro-life groups say they worry doctors would be incentivized to pressure patients into making treatment decisions that would ultimately ration their health care.

Throckmorton says the regulations don’t constitute a “death panel” because the meetings with physicians are voluntary, the patient makes his or her own treatment decisions, and helping patients with advanced directives — which could ultimately ensure they do receive lifesaving medical treatment and are not denied care — is generally a good thing. “No death panel there, just the patient, perhaps family, and the physician,” he says. “Since the conversation is voluntary, a patient can avoid the whole thing.” LifeNews

A chronically ill bioethicist tackles euthanasia

For Melbourne bioethicist Nicholas Tonti-Filippini euthanasia is more than academic. He is in chronic pain with a terminal illness. Earlier this week he published an open letter to the Premier of South Australia, Mike Rann, urging him not to support Voluntary Euthanasia Bill 2010. (It was defeated yesterday.) Dr Tonti-Filippini's professional credentials are impressive. He was Australia's first hospital bioethicist and is a member of the Australian Health Ethics Committee of the National Health and Medical Research Council and chair of the sub-committees on the Unresponsive State and Comercialization of Human Tissue. Read it in full here. 

Get to Know: I Am Music for Life

“I Am Music For Life” is a radio program that plays exclusively pro-life music. Peter Jorgensen writes: "It is my mission to have music that is; pro-life, pro-family, pro-adoption and pro-support of single parents as an alternative to abortion, played for as many listeners as possible. I started I Am Music for life in March of 1991, and it’s played on Saturday evenings at 9 through a Christian radio station in Cohoes, NY (WHAZ 97.4 FM). 

"The current airing of the programs costs $100/ month. I’m asking for your support in this endeavor, and as support is received, I will have the program played in more and more areas throughout this wonderful God-fearing country of ours."

Don't miss out on early bird registration

Early bird discounts for the LIFT Caregiver Conference end September 30. Save $5!

Imposed Death

Imposed Death exposes common misunderstandings associated with Living Wills and end-of-life decisions. This publication documents society's progress down the "slippery slope" of assisted suicide and euthanasia to dehumanize the elderly, disabled, and medically vulnerable. This 12-page resource guide is "everything you ever wanted to know about euthanasia, but didn't know who to ask."

Family Threatened for Use of Terri Schiavo's Name

Michael Schiavo has threatened to sue the Terri Schindler Schiavo Foundation for using his wife's name, to which he claims to have an exclusive right. He also accused the Schindlers of profiteering off Terri's name. The Terri Schindler Schiavo foundation, led by Terri's brother Bobby Schindler, is dedicated to "helping persons with disabilities, and the incapacitated who are in or potentially facing life-threatening situations." It was founded in 2001 originally to aid in the fight for Terri's life. David Gibbs, attorney for the Schindler's, pointed out that "Terri Schindler Schiavo is now a public figure. Any objections Michael Schiavo may have to his wife's family serving the disabled in this manner have long since passed their expiration date with regard to any legal right to challenge the use of her name." LifeSiteNews

13-Year-Old Pro-Life Superstar Tackles Euthanasia

13-year-old Lia Mills, who wowed judges and garnered widespread international attention last year for her bold speech on abortion (a video of which has been viewed hundreds of thousands of times), has taken on euthanasia this year. In another powerful and articulate address, the young Toronto native explores the devastating consequences Canada would face if it welcomed euthanasia, and implores Canadians to find ways of caring for suffering patients rather than killing them. LifeSiteNews, YouTube

LIFT Caregiver Summit recap

We're still unpacking from the conference this past weekend and have yet to evaluate the evaluations, but we're praising God that everything went smoothly and that people were encouraged. We'll have recordings of the sessions available soon for order. Watch this space for information on that and also for highlights from the exhibitors.

Robert Schindler Dies

Robert Schindler, the father of Terri Schindler Schiavo, whose former husband subjected her to a painful 13-day starvation and dehydration death, died overnight. Schindler, 72, had been battling health issues and he died of apparent heart failure. Bioethics watchdog Wesley J. Smith noted that "his health was broken by the ordeal of trying to save his daughter’s life and he never fully recovered from the horror of watching her dehydrate to death." LifeNews

LIFT Caregiver Summit registration information

Download the LIFT Caregiver Summit brochure to get full workshop and speaker information, as well as all the details for registration for the October 24 event.

What is LIFT? PowerPoint available

The What is LIFT? PowerPoint (PDF version) is available for download. You can use it in your church, Sunday school, or just to familiarize yourself with this respite program of Baptists for Life. If you'd prefer the full PPT file (which comes with slide transitions, animations, and notes), email us.

LIFT Summit line-up

The 2nd annual LIFT Caregiver Summit line-up is shaping up with these scheduled workshop and plenary speakers:

• Christiana Getz, from the Alzheimer’s Association, speaking on “Meaningful Activities for Persons with Dementia”
• Anne Ellermets, from the Area Agency on Aging, on “Caregiver Resources”
• Sharon Van Dyke on “Making the Most of Chronic Illness"
• Rev. Ray Paget on “Grief Recovery and Mourning”

The Summit will be Saturday, October 24, 2009, at Grandville Bible Church in Grandville, MI. For more information, email or phone 1-800-968-6086, (616) 257-6800.

Faith leaders join forces against assisted suicide

Three of Britain’s most senior religious leaders have come together to express their concern about ‘back door’ attempts to legalise euthanasia. Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury; Vincent Nichols, the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Westminster; and Sir Jonathan Sacks, the Chief Rabbi, have signed a joint letter to The Daily Telegraph. Christian Institute

Get to Know: ALERT

The aim of ALERT is to warn people of the dangers of any type of euthanasia legislation and pro-death initiatives. These include the promotion of Living Wills and Advance Directives, which create a climate for the acceptance of euthanasia. ALERT was founded in December 1991 to provide well-documented information on these and related issues, and to defend the lives and rights of the medically vulnerable, recognising that all human beings are of equal value. ALERT - "Defending Vulnerable People's Right to Live."

Get to Know: The Center for a Just Society

The mission of the Center for a Just Society is to advance and defend Judeo-Christian principles of human dignity and social justice in law, policy and the public square. "We seek to improve the quality of life of our nation's citizens through research, education and advocacy aimed at assisting lawmakers, the media and voters in building and sustaining a just society."

New Award-Winning Documentary on Terri Schiavo will be Featured at the National Right to Life Convention

Few cases remain as controversial today as the court-ordered death of Terri Schiavo. This new award-winning documentary from Franklin Springs Family Media cuts to the heart of the story through poignant interviews with family members and participants on both sides of the issue. But "be warned," says the Dove Foundation who gave the film their highest rating, "some of the things you see will anger you." The National Right to Life Committee will host a special screening of the new documentary, The Terri Schiavo Story, at their national convention June 18-20 in Charlotte, NC. eMediaWire

Get to Know: BFL's history

Ever wonder about the origins of Baptists for Life? Curious about where Baptists have historically stood on the issue of abortion or euthanasia? Read BFL Before 1984 . . . the year of our formation.

Why I am opposed to euthanasia after 14 years of caring for mum

Multiple myeloma is an aggressive form of cancer of the plasma cells, and sufferers have an average life expectancy of between two to four years. At 37, I've had to put my career as a travel presenter and poetry writer for TV and radio on hold so I can devote my time to her. I believe it's worth fighting for every moment of life - which is why I was so dismayed to hear in the past few days that there are 800 British people on a waiting list for Dignitas, an organisation in Switzerland that helps ill people end their lives. Daily Mail

Love makes suffering bearable

Colin Harte, director of the U.K. anti-euthanasia group ALERT, addressed the question of suffering head-on at the 2nd International Symposium on Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide. "Once suicide is considered a legitimate option . . . words of hope lose their power - because death itself is seen as a means of liberation, the means of satisfaction. Death is regarded as the source of hope." If assisted suicide is legal, it makes the caregiver's job nearly impossible. "I would [be] regarded as being cruel . . . to encourage [a hopeless, suffering person] to live. Once you have a law allowing the so-called 'compassionate choice' to die, if you want to emphasize another option which is going to involve suffering, you are suddenly becoming the person who is not compassionate, who is inflicting suffering. We live in a ... world today where those who give up the fight are called tenacious, and those who abandon their use of free will by killing themselves somehow achieve an independence. It's madness!" said Harte. "We should be able to say plainly: it's mad. It's absurd." LifeSiteNews