The Peter McCormack Show #088 - Assisted Dying, Abortion Reform and Medical Ethics w/ Calum Miller & James Bogle
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Jun 30, 2025 James Bogle, a barrister with 40 years in medical law, and Dr. Calum Miller, an NHS doctor and bioethics researcher, dive into the heated issues of assisted dying and abortion reform. They reveal how recent legislation challenges the Hippocratic Oath and risks jeopardizing vulnerable patients. The discussion critiques insufficient public debate and highlights real-world examples from Canada and Europe. They also explore the ethical dilemmas facing healthcare professionals, emphasizing the need for safeguards and the implications of shifting societal values on life and death.
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Assisted Suicide Lacks Safeguards
- Assisted suicide bills lack effective safeguards and risk harming vulnerable patients.
- Modern palliative care can alleviate pain, eliminating the need for legalized assisted suicide.
Real-World Assisted Suicide Examples
- In Canada, disabled veterans were offered assisted suicide instead of practical aids.
- Some women received abortion appointments right after Down syndrome diagnoses, showing coercion risks.
Palliative Doctors Mainly Oppose Suicide
- Most palliative care doctors oppose assisted suicide due to risks and ethical conflicts.
- Physical pain is usually controllable; existential suffering drives most assisted suicide requests.