F-files

'Inhumane deaths': from unsubstantiated claim to full-on polemic

Posted on Tuesday 9th April 2019 at 7:15am

An article in the journal Anasthesia purported to find “very high” rates of “failure of unconsciousness” during contemporary VAD practice. It found nothing of the sort, yet anti-VAD campaigners uncritically lauded it.

Jones Paton and Kheriaty "suicide contagion" playbook exposed

Posted on Saturday 18th November 2017 at 11:27pm

A detailed and comprehensive analysis of Jones & Paton's 2015 "suicide contagion" paper finds a very poor understanding of the subject and numerous instances of substantial bias. The paper should be retracted.

Prof. Somerville should retract indefensible 'suicide contagion' claim

Posted on Friday 14th April 2017 at 10:47pm

Catholic ethicist Margaret Somerville claims that every assisted suicide jurisdiction shows 'contagion' to the general suicide rate. The empirical evidence contradicts her claim.

AMA uncovered: dud assisted dying policy 'review'

Posted on Monday 27th March 2017 at 8:50pm

I reveal how the AMA's own review exposed its policy opposed to assisted dying as indefensible.

BMA's anti-assisted dying policy rot exposed

Posted on Friday 14th October 2016 at 1:21am

The British Medical Association (BMA), has recently republished its policy on assisted dying (AD). It insists that AD must not be legalised in the UK, demonstrating ignorance, incoherence and hubris.

Palliative Care Australia filibusters against assisted dying

Posted on Wednesday 5th October 2016 at 10:21pm

Palliative Care Australia (PCA) demonstrates ignorance about assisted dying research and turns it into a filibuster against assisted dying conversation and policy development.

How the AMA and Dr Megan Best oppose your right to choose

Posted on Monday 3rd October 2016 at 1:38am

I recently wrote about serious misinformation in an AMA publication. The AMA’s response to my criticisms is truly informative, confirming both AMA and ‘expert’ ignorance about and bias against assisted dying choice.

Dr Megan Best gets Belgian study wrong

Posted on Monday 26th September 2016 at 2:32am

The AMA has just published an article about the Belgian assisted dying law experience, which it says “splits Aussie experts.” But the AMA report indicates that at least one, Dr Megan Best, gets her facts fundamentally wrong.