Wesley J. Smith

The puff biopic about Kevorkian won a Golden Globe this weekend, and The Corner asked for my reaction.  I reiterated the facts about K that I have pointed out repeatedly for my entire 18 years of anti euthanasia advocacy.  I won’t repeat those fully here—you can see them in the . . . . Continue Reading »

The great US national health care reform debate is now entering its second, and I think, climactic phase.  For the next two years the Republicans and a few Democrats will attempt to “repeal, replace, and defund” Obamacare.  The final decision will probably come with the 2012 . . . . Continue Reading »

Single payer systems collapse under budget constraints.  That is the lesson of the ongoing “NHS Meltdown” chronicled here over the last several years.Things have gotten so bad, I have to double triple up on the reporting from the front lines of the collapse.  First, a Telegraph . . . . Continue Reading »

I have always marveled at how some—generally on the Left or among Greens—have little or no problem with human cloning and enhancements—with some notable exceptions, of course, such as Bill McGibben—but rail angrily against animal or grain modifications.  With that in . . . . Continue Reading »

We’ve discussed this before, but I think it bears repeating.  Chimpanzees—because of their genetic similarity to us—still provide a crucial, albeit limited role, in medical research.  For example, HIV is thought to have infected humans from chimps.  But what kills . . . . Continue Reading »

I am all for trying to prevent suicide.  Apparently the comic book character Captain America is on the case in a story called “A Little Help.”  From the story:Captain America’s latest foe is deadlier than the Red Skull: suicide. The character armed with his trademark . . . . Continue Reading »

The opening movement of the Holocaust targeted infants with disabilities first, and then adults in the notorious T-4 program.  Between 1939-1945, German doctors and other health care professionals willingly killed hundreds of thousands of people with disabilities—not because they were . . . . Continue Reading »

I have tinnitus, not a huge problem—but irritating.  How would you like to be in the Tetons on a beautiful day and want to “listen” to the silence—and all you perceive is annnoying high-pitched squeal?  Sometimes, it’s two toned.  Sometimes my ears . . . . Continue Reading »

Jack Kevorkian, who assisted the suicide of at least 130 people—mostly depressed people with disabilities, is having a splendid post prison career.  He receives $50,000 a speech, he was portrayed by Al Pacino in a puff biopic that won an Emmy.  And he is now a public speaker who . . . . Continue Reading »

I try not to get into personalities here.  But Jack Kevorkian is an icon of all that I see going wrong with our culture.  The man was not—and is not—about compassionate help for people who are suffering.  His assisted suicide campaign was always about him.Why do I bring . . . . Continue Reading »