Category: Euthanasia

by Michael Gillan Peckitt July 6, 2025 Number of comments0
Assisted Dying Disability Elderly Euthanasia Japan

About half of people who died from cancer in Japan discussed last days with doctors

About half of people who died of cancer in Japan in 2021 are seen to have consulted with doctors about where they wanted to spend the end of their lives, the National Cancer Center said in a report released Thursday. About 60% of cancer patients were able to spend their last days at places where they wished to be, the report showed. Both figures increased from the previous survey conducted in 2017 to 2018. The survey was conducted with 27,000 bereaved families of patients who died of cancer or heart disease in 2021. Valid responses came from 10,900 people.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt June 16, 2025 Number of comments0
ALS Assisted Dying Euthanasia Japan Podcast Yuri Hayashi

Top court rejects appeal by doctor over euthanasia of ALS patient [Podcast Episode]

Japan’s top court rejected an appeal on Thursday 12th June by a doctor convicted of consensually killing a woman, Yuri Hayashi, 51, who had amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a rare neurological disease also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, in 2019 in Kyoto, western Japan, finalizing his 18-year prison sentence. The Supreme Court’s Second Petty Bench rejected arguments that found Yoshikazu Okubo, 47, guilty of aiding another’s suicide would violate the constitutional right to self-determination.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt June 12, 2025 Number of comments0
ALS Assisted Dying Euthanasia Japan Yuri Hayashi

Japan’s Top court rejects appeal by doctor over euthanasia of ALS patient

Japan’s top court has rejected an appeal by a doctor convicted of consensually killing a woman, Yuri Hayashi, 51, who had amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a rare neurological disease also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, in 2019 in Kyoto, western Japan, finalizing his 18-year prison sentence. The Supreme Court’s Second Petty Bench rejected arguments that found Yoshikazu Okubo, 47, guilty of aiding another’s suicide would violate the constitutional right to self-determination.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt November 25, 2024 Number of comments0
ALS Assisted Dying Disability Euthanasia Japan Yuri Hayashi

Doctor’s 18 Year-Term for Consensual Killing of ALS Patient Upheld

The Osaka High Court on Monday upheld a lower court ruling that sentenced a doctor, Yoshikazu Okubo, aged 46, to 18 years in prison for the consensual killing of a woman, Yuri Hayashi, 51, who had amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a rare neurological disease also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, in 2019 in western Japan.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt March 6, 2024 Number of comments0
Assisted Dying Disability Euthanasia Japan Podcast Yuri Hayashi

Disability News Japan Podcast: Kyoto Court Sentences Doctor To 18 Years In Prison For Killing Yuri Hayashi, ALS Patient

The trial of Yoshikazu Okubo (45), who was charged with commission murder and murder for killing a patient with the incurable disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) by administering drugs at her request concluded on March 5th.

According to the ruling, in November 2019, Okubo conspired with former doctor Naoki Yamamoto (46) to administer drugs to a female ALS patient, Yuri Hayashi (51) at her home in Kyoto City, causing her to suffer from acute symptoms. She died from drug poisoning.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt March 5, 2024 1
ALS Assisted Dying Disability Euthanasia Japan

Kyoto District Court Sentences Physician to 18 Years in Prison for Killing Patient with ALS 

The trial of Yoshikazu Okubo (45), who was charged with commission murder and murder for killing a patient with the incurable disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) by administering drugs at her request has concluded.

The Kyoto District Court handed down the verdict on March 5th. Presiding Judge Hiroshi Kawakami rejected the defense’s claim of innocence and sentenced him to 18 years in prison (23 years in prison was originally sought), stating that “social appropriateness cannot be recognized at all.” He read out the reasons for the judgment and then delivered the main sentence.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt September 12, 2023 Number of comments0
Crime Disability Elderly Euthanasia Japan Podcast

Disability News Japan Podcast: Obsession to care for disabled wife by himself led man to kill her

It was a chilling act, and one with an unusual motive. The death of the 79-year-old woman was not a mercy killing. The husband bore no ill-feelings toward her, nor did he feel overburdened by caring for her for about 40 years. Instead, he stubbornly felt that he, and he alone, should be the one tending to the needs of his beloved partner, even when he became too weak to do the job.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt September 11, 2023 1
Assisted Dying Crime Disability Euthanasia Japan

Obsession to care for disabled wife by himself led man to kill her

It was a chilling act, and one with an unusual motive.
The death of the 79-year-old woman was not a mercy killing. The husband bore no ill-feelings toward her, nor did he feel overburdened by caring for her for about 40 years.
Instead, he stubbornly felt that he, and he alone, should be the one tending to the needs of his beloved partner, even when he became too weak to do the job.