right to die

The Northern Territory and ACT are the last remaining jurisdictions in Australia without voluntary assisted dying laws.

On July 16, Gabriella Walsh carried out a decision months in the making; a process involving her loved ones and medical providers. She drank a fatal dose of medication prescribed under California’s so-called death-with-dignity law, which allows some terminally ill patients to request drugs to end their lives.

Today, we tell the story of Walsh, and hear her talk about why she decided to end her life on her own terms. Read the full transcript here.

Host: Gustavo Arellano

Guests: L.A. Times reporter Marisa Gerber, and L.A. Times photographer Dania Maxwell

More reading:

One last trip: Gabriella Walsh’s decision to die — and celebrate life — on her own terms

Death-with-dignity movement springs back to life in California

California lawmakers vote to speed up state process for terminally ill to end their lives

Death! How comfortable are you thinking about it? Talking about? What rights should be afforded to you when it's your time to "meet your maker?"  Jack Kevorkian thought you,  under certain conditions, should be able to have a physician help you peacefully release yourself from a life of unbearable, incurable pain. Do you agree? Or do you think everyone needs to soldier on, no matter what they're suffering from, until the bitter end? There are a lot of people on each side of the right to die debate. We explore both sides, and also look into the history of how we humans have faced death, in addition to the history of Dr. Death - Jack Kevorkian. No one did more in the 20th century to get America thinking and talking about death. Should living in the land of the free include having the freedom to terminate your time on Earth in a way of your choosing that could include having your doctor give you one last, very final injection?  I learned a lot this week. Hope you do to! 

The Bad Magic Charity of the month is New Orleans Community Fridges  will be this months recipient of the Bad Magic Donation! We donated $13,900 to them and $1,500 to our new scholarship fund. Such a cool charity, providing free food and drink to those who are food insecure. Visit nolacommunityfridges.org for more info!

TICKETS FOR HOT WET BAD MAGIC SUMMER CAMP!  Go to www.badmagicmerch.com

Watch the Suck on YouTube: https://youtu.be/NRpfn-i3-oU

Merch: https://www.badmagicmerch.com

Discord! https://discord.gg/tqzH89v

Want to join the Cult of the Curious private Facebook Group? Go directly to Facebook and search for "Cult of the Curious" in order to locate whatever happens to be our most current page :)

For all merch related questions/problems: store@badmagicproductions.com (copy and paste)

Please rate and subscribe on iTunes and elsewhere and follow the suck on social media!! @timesuckpodcast on IG and http://www.facebook.com/timesuckpodcast

Wanna become a Space Lizard?  Click here: https://www.patreon.com/timesuckpodcast

Sign up through Patreon and for $5 a month you get to listen to the Secret Suck, which will drop Thursdays at Noon, PST. You'll also get 20% off of all regular Timesuck merch PLUS access to exclusive Space Lizard merch. You get to vote on two Monday topics each month via the app. And you get the download link for my new comedy album, Feel the Heat. Check the Patreon posts to find out how to download the new album and take advantage of other benefits.