In giving their judgment in Ireland's right to die appeal case 1996, the following points were made by the majority of the five judges involved: Withholding of medical treatment is lawful. Artificial nutrition and hydration are medical treatments, not just care. Everyone has a right to refuse medical treatment, even if that refusal should lead to death. The Ward (the person on whose behalf the application was being made) had limited capacity, if any. Therefore, the courts had

After the Supreme Court Ruling on the right-to-die case in 1995, the Irish Medical Council was deeply unhappy. The court had ruled that keeping someone alive via gastrostomy tube feeding amounted to medical treatment, not just to care. As such, then, it could be lawfully discontinued. A member of the Medical Council, Dr John Monaghan, speaking on his own behalf, said afterwards in an interview, published the next day, that any doctor who cooperated with this Supreme ruling ma

Over 50% of men aged 65 to 74 are taking statins daily. This is according to a Google search. The report does not say how many women are taking statins every day, but I can tell you, as a retired doctor, that it would not be much fewer. Lipid-lowering drugs are the most prescribed medicines across the so-called "developed world." Millions, if not indeed billions, consume them daily. This is at an enormous expense to the global economy and to individuals. Lipid-lowering drugs

The origin of the term Kangaroo Court is somewhat obscure. However, having spent some time researching it, a consensus seems to emerge. That consensus, not surprisingly, implies jumping. It is, after all, what that unpleasant creature is best at doing: jumping. And so a Kangaroo Court simply jumps the usual requirements of a properly constituted court, a court of Law, for example, and pretends to function as if it were legitimate and that there were no problems. Kangaroo Cour

The Irish Medical Council has 25 members. 12 of these are elected by their peers from the Irish Medical Profession; they are elected doctors, in other words. The other 13, the majority, are appointed by the government; they are non-elected lay people with government affiliations. The 12 doctor-appointed members tend to be conservatives who canvassed their conservative colleagues for votes to be elected in the first place.

Discover the 'Podcast: Write Coach Ireland' for authors and books. Tune in to Carl J Ashley's insightful podcast for authors and books.

Personally, I'm all in favour of assisted suicide and, under the appropriate conditions, can see the need for it to be made legal. But what are the "appropriate conditions"? That's the burning question. First of all, I think the decision to opt for assisted suicide needs to be a shared one and not one taken by an individual alone on their own behalf in secrecy. Secondly, there needs to be a grave cause for such a decision. By this, I mean severe, retractable pain, terminal il

I had to share my good news with you today! The Foxhunter: To Die With Dignity is currently sitting at NUMBER ONE on Goodreads' 'Works of Pure Genius' Listopia list — yes, you read that right. *** NUMBER ONE ! *** Above The Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, 1984, and To Kill a Mockingbird.

Explore the groundbreaking right to die case Karen Ann Quinlan, a pivotal moment in medical ethics. Discover the impact of Karen Ann Quinlan's story.

Book reviews and star ratings on The Foxhunter book With Mother's Day coming up on 15 March 2026, here is a reminder why a mother fights for her daughter. A couple of readers' reviews of The Foxhunter book, out of ninety reviews taken so far. Review 1: "Reading The Foxhunter was not just reading a boo it was bearing witness. From the opening chapters, I felt a growing unease, not because of dramatic exaggeration, but because everything felt so believable. The ordinary moment

Of course a defibrillator is a wonderful piece of medical equipment. When required, it can literally be life-saving. Indeed, it is no exaggeration to say that, at the right time and in the right hands it can bring someone back from the dead. Image from iStock When you suffer a cardiac arrest your heart stops beating, your circulation collapses and you are dead. Dead you will remain unless someone or something intervenes. What that, in effect, means is someone, skilled in the

Alzheimer's Disease is cruel and unrelenting. It quickly destroys a person's life, stripping them of their personhood and character. In a lifetime, fortunately, it usually strikes later, although it does not always spare the young either. What makes it even more horrible, if such were possible, is that, in our present state of knowledge, there are no really useful treatments. So when some glimmer of hope eventually does come along, it is naturally of some considerable interes

Some excellent reviews about The Foxhunter book coming in January 2026.

A trailer revealing my new memoir book cover and title. You can now pre-order this book from Amazon. order on this website when the book is released on 1st NOVEMBER 2025

Dr Tony Holohan for President?

Laparoscope versus open abdominal surgery. Discharged after many weeks.

Storm Eowyn and hospital time in the whole month. Medical diagnosis.