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Euthanasia legislation in Ireland

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Ireland

Some time ago we were approached by the organization ‘Family Solidarity Ireland’ with the request to share our experiences with and vision on (legislation on) the end of life in the Netherlands and Belgium. This in connection with the bill ‘Dying with Dignity’ that is now being discussed in Ireland. Now, legislation is not our specialty, but a more philosophical reflection on the social phenomenon underlying such legislation, related to the Catholic faith and based on our experiences in the Low Countries, was also welcomed.

The ‘talk’ was titled ‘Living with Dignity’

This video of almost 30 minutes was ‘pre-recorded’, followed by a ‘Q& A’ with about twenty participants from Ireland, but also Belgium, the Netherlands and even Malta. The text of the nomination can be found here (pdf):

Vincent Kemme


Euthanasia in the Low Countries of Europe

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Biofides is an apostolate that tries to shed light on the relationship between science (life sciences in particular) and faith (the catholic-christian faith in particular). Besides that, Biofides provides clarity on bio-ethics: how do we handle life, human life in all aspects of its existence, in every stage of life and in relationship to his natural environment: the earth with all its biological and other riches. We work closely together with physicians, in the Dutch speaking world (The Netherlands, Flanders in Belgium) on a European level and even on a global level. Recently, we were asked to deliver a speech in Rome, at a very short distance of the Vatican, about euthanasia and medically assisted suicide in the Low Countries (of Europe). It was at the occasion of a international medical congress of MaterCare, an ONG of the World Federation of Catholic Medical Associations, (Fédération Internationale des Association Médicales Catholiques, FIAMC). The question asked was ‘how to create a resistance movement against euthanasia and medically assisted suicide’.  Well, Biofides is not exactly a resistance movement: we just share our views on life and therefore also on active termination of human life, without judging anyone and respect for everybody. Our answers are based on medical and biological insights, as well as faith, as you can expect from us.

wij geven gewoon onze visie op het leven ne dus ook op actieve levensbeëindiging bij de mens, maar veroordelen niemand en laten iedereen ui zijn waarde. Ons antwoord is ook gebaseerd op medisch-biologische inzichten, zowel als geloof, zoals u van ons mag verwachten. Moreover, we demand from our selves that our answers are reasonable, in every aspect. Here, your can find the text and slides of what we had to say to the participants.

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Persistent Vegetative State explained

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ncbc pvsNeurologists define the Persistent Vegetative State (PVS) usually as a lack of awareness of self and of the environment. Nevertheless, more resent discoveries show that some patient are in fact conscious about their environment and of themselves as well. This has created controversy over the accurate diagnosis of PVS. Edward J. Furton MA, PhD of the National Catholic Bioethics Center in Philadelphia (USA) explains in a 3 minute video that we are happy to share with you.     

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