Assisted dying: why Britain should back a change

UK Assisted Dying Vote:

• MPs will vote next week on a bill to legalize assisted dying in England and Wales, described by drafters as the most restrictive law of its kind globally.
• The proposed legislation restricts eligibility to terminally ill patients with a prognosis of less than six months to live.
• Approval requires independent agreement from two doctors confirming the patient is of sound mind and free from mental health conditions that could influence the decision.
• A high court judge must provide final approval to screen for coercion, a measure drafters cite as an "extra layer of protection" not present in the Victorian model.
• Health Secretary Wes Streeting has announced he will vote against the bill, citing concerns over cost and potential slippery slopes.
• The UK debate faces criticism for being rushed, with only five hours of discussion compared to over 100 hours in Victoria, Australia, where similar laws were debated.
• Prime Minister Keir Starmer supports assisted dying in principle but has not actively guided the legislative drafting or enforced a free vote for MPs.
• Evidence from Victoria, Australia, indicates assisted deaths account for only ~1% of total deaths, with 75% of cases being cancer-related and a median patient age of 73.
• Proponents argue the UK bill is stricter than laws in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and various US states, countering fears of a "slippery slope" toward broader eligibility.
• Some legal experts warn that excessive safeguards could create a "straitjacket," making the law practically unusable, potentially delaying future reforms with fewer restrictions.
• If the bill fails, the issue may be dormant for another decade, as the last major parliamentary debate occurred in 2015.

US Supreme Court and Trump's Second Term:

• By 2028, Donald Trump could appoint over half of the nine Supreme Court justices, a level of influence not seen in decades.
• Trump's first term transformed a balanced court into a 6-3 conservative majority, enabling rulings such as the overturning of Roe v. Wade and expanded gun rights.
• Potential vacancies in the coming years include Justices Clarence Thomas (76) and Samuel Alito (74), the two oldest and most conservative members.
• Speculation highlights Fifth Circuit judges James Ho (51) and Andrew Oldham (46) as potential nominees; both hold rigid conservative views on birthright citizenship and gun rights.
• Unlike the 2024 election where the court was seen as a bulwark against Trump, a 6-3 majority in a second term may lack the internal checks to block executive excesses.
• While Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Brett Kavanaugh previously joined liberals to block Trump on census and travel ban issues, they cannot be relied upon to form a majority against further conservative nominees.
• A future court could face challenges regarding birthright citizenship for children of undocumented immigrants, an issue Judge Ho has explicitly questioned.
• The court has already expanded presidential immunity from criminal prosecution (via Trump v. United States), potentially shielding second-term actions from legal accountability.

Obituary: Frank Auerbach (1931–2024):

• Frank Auerbach died at age 93, leaving a legacy defined by obsessive, repetitive painting of North London locations, specifically Mornington Crescent and Camden Town.
• A child refugee from Nazi Germany on the Kindertransport, his parents were murdered in Auschwitz in 1942 when he was eight years old.
• His technique involved layering paint so thickly it resembled mud or sand, followed by scraping it all off; he estimated 95% of his paint was discarded.
• Auerbach rejected the "expressionist" label, viewing his work as a direct portrayal of his unique mental perception of objects at specific times.
• His artistic process was driven by a dissatisfaction with every completed work, leading him to destroy and redraw until achieving a "memorable image."
• Despite his fame, Auerbach remained within a small radius of his childhood home, painting the same street scenes repeatedly to capture shifting light and mood.