Here’s an interesting one, there’s legislation proposed in South Dakota that would expand the definition of “justifiable homicide” to include actions in defence of a fetus: “Homicide is justifiable if committed by any person whilst resisting an attempt to murder such person, or to harm the unborn child of such person in a manner and...
I’m reading an excellent book at the moment: The End of Faith – Religion, Terror and the Future of Reason” by Sam Harris. I read a section today wherein he discusses “victimless crimes” – such as drug use in particular. He makes the point that just as you cannot have a debt without a...
There are some things that just boggle my mind. This is one of them: a Queensland couple face possible gaol sentences for an abortion. I was stunned when I found out that abortion is still illegal in Australia. It’s ok if you’re a doctor though: The case revealed a loophole in Queensland’s criminal code which...
Psychiatry’s Peculiar Place I was struck today (not for the first time) by the peculiar place psychiatry has, in comparison to the other medical specialties. As psychiatrists we are one of only two groups in society who can detain people and restrict their basic freedoms. We can only do so in very closely-defined circumstances, but...
