Keir Starmer, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), has announced that he did not consider it to be in the public interest to bring a case against Michael Irwin, a former GP, for assisting the 2006 suicide of Ray Cutkelvin, who had pancreatic cancer. Peter Saunders, CEO of the Christian Medical Fellowship, said that the DPP’s decision not to prosecute was not based on a lack of evidence. Mr Saunders said that Mr Irwin was open about his involvement in the death of Mr Cutkelvin and that he had helped kill nine people in the past. Mr Saunders said that the refusal to prosecute assisted suicide was part of an emerging pattern in the UK. He added that such a pattern of non-prosecution had emerged in the Netherlands prior to the legalisation of euthanasia. [Peter Saunders, 27 June] http://bit.ly/bUsrGj

Study shows large number of dementia patients being abused

A US study of elderly patients has found that a large number of its participants with dementia had suffered some form of abuse. 129 persons diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease or a related disorder and their caregivers were seen in their homes. The researchers determined that 47% of participants with dementia (61 people) had been mistreated by their caregivers. An expert panel met monthly to consider and assess evidence supplied mostly by the caregivers themselves. [Euthanasia Prevention Coalition, 28 June] http://bit.ly/9tCwiF

Other news:

• UK pro-life group questions why assisted suicide isn't prosecuted
  
• Fertility centre impregnate woman with wrong embryo
  
• Study shows large number of dementia patients being abused
• Australian MP promotes ultra-scans before abortion. [Perth Now, 29 June] http://bit.ly/d9b8G6
• Women preparing for IVF years in advance. [BBC, 28 June] http://bit.ly/97po20