Support First Things by turning your adblocker off or by making a  donation. Thanks!

One of the things I have come to understand about the euthanasia movement is that the law will never be loose enough to satiate the appetite of the ideologically committed for death on demand. As one example, when the Dutch formally legalized euthanasia, the very next day the Minister of Health opined that suicide pills should be made available to the elderly who are tired of living but don’t qualify to be killed. Similarly, suicide tourism would continue to Switzerland even if the UK legalized assisted suicide for the terminally ill.


Then, there will always be people like Derek Humphry who has spent most of his adult life selling how-to-commit suicide kits and books. Now, he is promoting suicide “helium hoods.” From his blog:

Last Rights Publications’ in Canada went out of business some time ago, just after the 3rd edition of Final Exit was published. So ignore the information at the bottom of page 140 of my book about where to buy the helium hood kit. Instead, today a person may purchase the helium hood kit (not the tanks) for $60 USD either from: [addresses omitted]

Supplying this equipment is not an ERGO
[his suicide kit organization] project, but we have heard that both are reliable, with a fairly good turn-around time. Overseas price is the same = $60. Check, money order or cash. No internet or telephone orders. Both groups operate discreetly, low-key—quietly serving those in need
The callousness is beyond belief.


Comments are visible to subscribers only. Log in or subscribe to join the conversation.

Tags

Loading...

Filter First Thoughts Posts

Related Articles