Maiden Mother Matriarch with Louise Perry The Case Against Assisted Suicide - Dan Hitchens | Maiden Mother Matriarch Episode 168
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Oct 19, 2025 Dan Hitchens, senior editor at First Things magazine, dives deep into the complex issue of assisted suicide and its implications for society. He explores how legalizing assisted suicide could redefine societal duties towards the vulnerable. Hitchens raises alarms about the risks posed by the NHS's centralized system and discusses the economic pressures driving this debate. He also sheds light on historical parallels, the shifting national identity, and the need for careful consideration of compassion and societal values.
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Six-Month Rule Is Vaguer Than It Sounds
- The proposed UK bill uses a six-month terminal diagnosis model similar to Oregon and New Zealand.
- Dan Hitchens warns the six-month rule is vague and can include many not imminently dying, undermining safeguards.
NHS Could Remove Natural Safeguards
- The NHS changes the dynamic compared with places like Oregon by centralising access and streamlining processes.
- Hitchens argues that a national health service can remove natural barriers that limited assisted suicide uptake elsewhere.
Fiscal Strain Creates A Dangerous Incentive
- Fiscal strain on welfare states creates a perverse incentive to view assisted suicide as cost-saving.
- Hitchens warns this seductive logic risks normalising death as a solution to budgetary problems.