In Italy, ten doctors who refused to perform assisted suicide on an elderly former actress, Sibilla Barbieri, are facing a criminal investigation after her family filed a complaint alleging denial of her constitutional right to euthanasia. The case highlights Italy's shift from cautious approval to mandatory acceptance of assisted suicide within its public health system, despite ethical objections from medical professionals and the country's Christian heritage.
Brigitte Stegemann, an 83-year-old woman in Ontario, Canada, was euthanized under the country's assisted dying system despite showing visible distress and opposition to the procedure, with her family alleging it was done without her express consent and questioning her competency. Her granddaughter, who was also her caregiver and medical power of attorney, is appealing to authorities to investigate the legality and circumstances of the euthanasia, citing concerns about the conduct of medical staff and the manner in which the procedure was presented and carried out.
Brigitte Stegemann, an 83-year-old Christian woman in Ontario, Canada, was allegedly killed by medically assisted suicide (MAID) without her consent, despite explicitly declining the procedure due to her faith. Her family has filed a complaint with the Office of the Chief Coroner of Ontario, alleging failures in statutory safeguards, patient consent protocols, and that the euthanasia was carried out while her legal power of attorney was away on vacation.
Brigitte Stegemann, an 83-year-old woman, was euthanized under Canada's assisted dying system, as reported by Imogen Garfinkel in the Daily Mail. Her family is now challenging Canada's euthanasia laws following her death. Alex Schadenberg, Executive Director of the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition, referenced articles about Brigitte Stegemann's case and his family's experience with Medical Assistance in Dying in July and September publications.
Brigitte Stegemann, an 83-year-old Christian grandmother in Ontario, Canada, was euthanized through Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) despite her family's claims that she did not consent and opposed the procedure due to her faith. Her granddaughter alleges that Stegemann was covered in blood during the procedure, which involved multiple needle attempts, and that the care home and practitioners proceeded without explicit consent or proper communication with the family.
Dovie, a disabled man with nemaline myopathy, passionately opposed New York's new assisted suicide bill and shared his experience of nearly dying when his ventilator hose became disconnected. On May 18, 2025, after a similar incident where help was delayed, Dovie fell into a coma and died 16 months later at the age of 35. Dovie's article against assisted suicide was published by UnHerd and reprinted in The Free Press, and he sought to provide instructions for ventilator emergencies to help others before his death on September 11, 2026.
“Even when not motivated by a selfish refusal to be burdened with the life of someone who is suffering, euthanasia must be called a false mercy, and indeed a disturbing ‘perversion’ of mercy. True ‘compassion’ leads to sharing another’s pain; it does not kill the person whose suffering we cannot bear.” ― Pope St.
In Italy, 10 doctors are under criminal investigation for refusing to assist actress Sibilla Barbieri in dying by assisted suicide, despite the procedure not being officially legal in the country and Barbieri ultimately dying by assisted suicide in Switzerland in October 2023. The investigation continues after prosecutors sought to drop the case, but a judge ruled that evidence must be presented on December 16 following a complaint from Barbieri's family alleging denial of a constitutional right.
In September 2026, the Netherlands reported its first euthanasia case of a child aged one to twelve under recently revised laws, where a nearly two-year-old child with severe disabilities was euthanized after being deemed to suffer profoundly and hopelessly. Two days later, the British House of Commons voted down a bill to legalize assisted dying, highlighting contrasting approaches to euthanasia and assisted suicide in Europe and raising concerns about the moral implications of such laws, especially regarding consent and the intrinsic dignity of human life.
A Dutch government review board concluded that the euthanasia of a two-year-old disabled toddler, who was born prematurely with cerebral palsy, epilepsy, and other impairments, was handled well despite initial medical opinions that she still had treatment options. This case marks the first euthanasia of a child aged one to twelve in the Netherlands and has sparked international concern and comparisons to historical euthanasia programs targeting disabled children.
Brigitte Stegemann, an 83-year-old Christian woman in Ontario, Canada, was euthanised under the Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) system despite showing visible distress and failing a cognitive test assessing her capacity to consent. Her granddaughter, Brigitte Kranendonk, alleges the procedure was performed without express consent, was botched causing Stegemann to bleed heavily, and is currently appealing to authorities to investigate the legality and circumstances of the death at The Pearl care home in Cannifton.
Kelsi Sheren discusses the first Dutch case under the expanded child life-termination framework, expressing horror that suffering was used to justify ending the life of a two-year-old who could not consent. She draws on her experience covering euthanasia and MAiD, noting the clinical language used to describe these irreversible actions.
A group of four Muslim doctors in Illinois is suing the state over the End-of-Life Options for Terminally Ill Patients Act, arguing that the law violates their religious beliefs by requiring them to inform patients about assisted suicide options despite their Islamic faith opposing the practice. The lawsuit claims the law's exemptions for doctors who opt out are among the narrowest in the nation and requests the federal court to strike down the law, while other healthcare professionals of different faiths have also filed lawsuits or expressed concerns about the law's requirements.
The spread of assisted suicide and euthanasia legalization and highlights that most doctors refuse to participate in these practices. It also mentions that doctors who refuse participation face threats such as professional license revocation and coercion, with bioethics figures advocating for mandatory involvement despite moral opposition.
The assisted suicide Bill, known as the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, was rejected by MPs in the House of Commons by 286 votes to 270, prompting relief among disability rights campaigners who oppose the legislation. These campaigners, including Baroness Campbell and Liz Carr, emphasized the need to focus on improving palliative and social care rather than legalizing assisted suicide, with analysis showing that twice as many MPs with disabilities voted against the Bill as voted for it.
The Netherlands reported its first euthanasia death of a child under 12 years old at the end of 2025, involving a 2-year-old born prematurely with severe disabilities including cerebral palsy and epilepsy. The article draws a historical parallel to the Nazi euthanasia program initiated in 1939, and notes ongoing debates in Canada about expanding euthanasia to include children, with some hospitals considering policies that allow euthanasia without parental consent.
Meghan Schrader, a disability activist and EPC-USA board member, discusses the Texas vs. Kennedy lawsuit which threatens new protections against euthanasia and infanticide.
Four Muslim doctors in Illinois have filed a lawsuit against the state's End-of-Life Options for Terminally Ill Patients Act, which requires them to assist terminally ill patients in obtaining lethal drugs for assisted suicide, conflicting with their religious beliefs. The doctors, represented by Becket, seek a federal court order to block the law and protect their right to refuse participation in assisted suicide without facing fines or penalties.
The first euthanasia death in the Netherlands of a child under the age of 12 occurred at the end of 2025, involving a child around 2 years old. The child was born very prematurely, and this case follows the country's existing allowance of infant euthanasia under the age of 1 based on the Groningen Protocol.
MPs voted 286 to 270 to defeat the Edwards assisted suicide Bill on 11 September. A new EasyAction email tool has been launched to show constituents how their MP voted and to send a tailored follow-up email encouraging support for improving palliative, hospice, and social care.
A medical review committee in the Netherlands concluded that the doctor who oversaw the country's first euthanasia of a child under 12 had acted with due care, as the child suffered from severe disabilities and unbearable suffering without prospect of improvement. The euthanasia was performed shortly before the child's second birthday, following consultations with other physicians and parental consent, marking the first such case since the Netherlands authorized euthanasia for children under 12 in 2024.
The UK Parliament rejected the assisted suicide Bill by 286 votes to 270 after two years of national debate, with opposition from leaders of Labour, the Conservatives, Reform UK, and the Liberal Democrats, and no Northern Irish MPs voting in favor. This defeat follows a similar rejection in Scotland earlier in the year and is seen as significant for right-to-life campaigners, demonstrating continued parliamentary resistance to legalizing assisted suicide despite media support for change.
Judy Markey, a beloved Chicago radio host who co-hosted the Kathy and Judy Show on WGN-AM from 1989 to 2009, died by assisted suicide at a Swiss clinic on September 11, 2026, after battling a debilitating neurological disorder diagnosed in 2024. She made the decision to end her life under Switzerland's Medical Aid in Dying law, supported by her family and friends, and was known for openly discussing topics such as assisted suicide on her show with co-host Kathy O'Malley.
The British Parliament recently voted on an assisted suicide bill that was supported by some commentators as a solution to the challenges posed by an aging population and the associated fiscal and cultural crises. The bill was promoted as a way to reduce costs related to pensions, the NHS, and care, while critics highlighted concerns about the true voluntariness of the choice for those receiving lethal drugs.
A two-year-old child with cerebral palsy and epilepsy was euthanized in the Netherlands in 2025, marking the first euthanasia case for a non-infant child under 12 following the country's 2024 law expansion allowing euthanasia for children of all ages. Despite independent doctors initially concluding the child was not continuously suffering unbearably and that reasonable alternatives existed, the euthanasia proceeded after a second opinion confirmed the criteria were met, and the doctor complied with due-care requirements according to the Review Committee.
Assisted suicide bills were defeated in the UK, Scotland, and Slovenia due to issues with unclear language and lack of protections for vulnerable people, highlighting cultural challenges and the need for better end-of-life care. The Euthanasia Prevention Coalition opposes medical homicide and calls for improved care, equality for people with disabilities, and support for those with chronic conditions, emphasizing that opposition to killing must come before providing better care.
The Federal Labor Government in Australia is proposing to expand voluntary assisted dying (VAD) via telehealth, allowing patients to choose assisted suicide over a video call without a doctor being physically present. Critics argue that this expansion risks undermining safeguards, especially for vulnerable individuals in rural and remote areas, where mental health services are limited and face-to-face assessments are considered crucial for evaluating patients' motivations and ensuring proper care.
The expansion of euthanasia programs beyond terminally ill patients, highlighting concerns about their use for vulnerable groups such as the poor, homeless, veterans, and those with treatable mental and physical conditions. It specifically mentions the Dutch government euthanizing a 'severely disabled' child, which has caused public horror and criticism of assisted suicide policies.
A two-year-old child with cerebral palsy and epilepsy died by euthanasia in the Netherlands at the end of 2025, marking the first euthanasia case for a non-infant child under 12 following the country's 2024 law expansion allowing euthanasia for children of all ages. Independent doctors initially concluded the child was not continuously suffering unbearably and that reasonable alternatives existed, but a subsequent doctor determined the euthanasia criteria were met, and the Review Committee found the doctor complied with due-care requirements.
Alex Schadenberg, Executive Director of the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition, expressed gratitude for the defeat of assisted suicide bills in the UK, Scotland, and Slovenia in 2025. These outcomes highlight both a lack of overwhelming support for euthanasia and assisted suicide and reveal significant cultural challenges, particularly in the UK, partly due to ineffective language in the proposed bills.
