Jocelyn Downie

"We’re done waiting for Dems to find their spine. We can’t afford a weak & cowardly Democratic Party while the authoritarians invade our cities, terrorize our communities, & threaten our democracy. We get the party we demand, & we intend to demand a Democratic Party that fights.” — @indivisible.org

James Watson, dead at 97, was a scientific legend and a pariah among his peers James Watson, the co-discoverer of the structure of DNA who died Thursday at 97, was a scientific legend and a pariah among his peers.

A Sharon Begley byline, almost 5 years after her death.

Upon hearing the news James Watson had died, a STAT reporter said in our Slack, "I wish I could read what Sharon would have written."

Incredible news: Sharon in fact did pre-write a Watson obit. And it is masterful and excoriating.
🧪🧬🧫

An update on my column: Parliamentary committee drops most contentious parts of its demand for data on research funding. It now wants aggregated, not disaggregated data. www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/arti...

On Oct 1 the Standing Committee on Science and Research passed an egregious motion calling for the disclosure of disaggregated data for research applications to federal granting council from 2020-2025. On Oct 20 they amended the timeframe to 2000-2025.
@picardonhealth.bsky.social

Could a device implanted in my brain cure my depression? I was ready to find out Over the past 14 years, I’ve often fantasized about some scan revealing the locus of my mood disorder. Now, we were as close as we’d likely ever get

www.theglobeandmail.com/gift/363c579...

@mehlerpaperny.bsky.social provides a window into DBS for depression - informative, poignant, funny, and insightful (as in her book Hello I Want to Die Please Fix Me - read if you haven't already done so). Could a device implanted in my brain cure my depression? I was ready to find out

MAiD in Kingston: One woman’s fight to control her death Mary Katherine Armstrong and her former husband Harvey used to talk about saving a poison pill for when either of them might need it.

MAiD in Kingston: One woman’s fight to control her death
open.substack.com/pub/thekings...

Yet another helpful explainer from @maidincanada.bsky.social

Appreciated this ray of sunshine in these dark days.

Great job opportunity!

The American Conservative Gets It (Mostly) Right Something to be thankful for...

It’s not every day you can be thankful for how a conservative outlet covers MAiD, but credit where it’s due.

We don’t agree with everything in The American Conservative’s article but they handled it seriously and without the usual sensationalism.
maidincanada.substack.com/p/the-americ...

MAiD in Ontario had years of rapid growth. Here’s what the new numbers show Some analysts argue that a stabilizing growth rate counters the claims that medically assisted deaths are increasing too rapidly.

A thoughtful *fact-based* explanation of the Canadian numbers (and the fully-anticipated plateau in the rate of increase in uptake) www.thestar.com/news/canada/...

The sky is not falling, we aren’t going off a cliff, we aren’t on a slippery slope,…

“The next time someone claims the numbers are exploding without end, remember what the data actually shows: Canada’s MAiD program is reaching a steady, predictable plateau.”

Solidarity from law profs down highway 2. That this reprehensible and dangerous action by U of A was apparently triggered by conservative media is appalling. The “protection” rationale trotted out by U of A (see also: forceful takedown of campus protests) is baseless and must be challenged.

I hope (so long as their families agree) that people will hammer home these two public cases during the next AMAD committee every chance they get.

Those who voted for delaying restoring our rights are responsible for their lack of a dignified death.

How legalizing medically assisted death changed the possibilities for millions On April 1, 2002, assisted dying became legal in the Netherlands, igniting global ethical debates around the principles of autonomy, dignity, and the definition of suffering

Thoughtful (and truthful) reflections from Dr. Stefanie Green on assisted dying in Canada. A welcome respite from the incendiary (and false) narratives flooding media.

No Way to Die | Films | CBC Gem These two people have struggled with mental illness their entire lives. Now, they're fighting for their right to die via Canada’s MAID program.

Instead of reading misinformation-filled media, watch this thoughtful, powerful, accurate depiction of assisted dying for persons with mental disorders as sole condition. Most important - listen to the voices of those affected. No Way to Die gem.cbc.ca/no-way-to-die

Plus she says “minors” inviting readers to think all minors when only discussion in Canada has been about “mature minors” (well established group with decision- making authority over other life and death decisions already).

2% comes from a government document that if you read at all carefully is very clearly NOT stating what Atlantic piece says. Has been stated by Raikin in the past so maybe she got the misinformation from there. Never the prediction of Health Canada or anyone knowledgeable about MAiD in Canada.

The Atlantic is Killing Its Reputation Expert Opinions Overlooked, Facts Ignored: A Closer Look at The Atlantic's MAiD Story

“The Atlantic is killing its reputation: Expert Opinions Overlooked, Facts Ignored: A Closer Look at The Atlantic’s MAiD Story” maidincanada.substack.com/p/the-atlant...

Paul Magennis and Kim Carlson continue to do great work responding to irresponsible journalism spreading myths, mis-, and disinformation about MAiD in Canada.

A Clichéd Work of Staggering Mediocrity | Claire Elyse Brosseau | Substack Currently suing the feds for violating the Charter of Rights & Freedoms. Excerpts from The Second-To-Last Final Exit and my I Don't Rememoir. Click to read A Clichéd Work of Staggering Mediocrity, by ...

A Clichéd Work of Staggering Mediocrity
idontrememoir.substack.com?utm_source=n...

Why all the dramatic headlines about Canada’s MAiD system being a disaster? This careful review of data concludes: “After all, ‘Dying Canadians driven by complex, unbearable suffering’ doesn’t get the same clicks as ‘They chose death because they were lonely.’”

Previously unpublished data shows that people are not choosing MAiD simply because they are lonely. Late last year, headlines claimed that hundreds of Canadians chose Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) simply because they were lonely. It was a claim designed to shock—and it worked, sparking outrage ...

Previously unpublished data shows that people are not choosing MAiD simply because they are lonely.
maidincanada.substack.com/p/previously...

A Cancer Patient Chose Assisted Death. That Wasn’t the Last Hard Choice.

Another piece by Stephanie Nolen that tells a story of assisted dying with facts, insight, and compassion. www.nytimes.com/2025/08/03/h...

Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport releases new strategic plan. See what’s head for Canada’s sport integrity agency… cces.ca/news/cces-an...

Health advocates shocked as Carney Liberals back away from pharmacare program Health advocates say they’re shocked to hear the federal government may not sign more pharmacare funding deals, which would leave coverage uneven across the country.

www.ctvnews.ca/montreal/art...

One has to wonder if stories like these are why Trump is acting so weird and unhinged (even by his standards) around the Epstein stuff.

The Anti-MAiD Facebook Post That Might Cost Someone Their Life When anti-MAiD misinformation goes too far. And using scary pictures and language is fun! We see why they do it so much!

Another accurate, thoughtful, responsible response to more irresponsible and indefensible misinformation about MAiD in Canada maidincanada.substack.com/p/the-anti-m...

It’s now a well established strategy - falsely paint MAiD in Canada as a dumpster fire instead of engaging with reliable evidence and rigorous legal and ethical analysis. Good to see the strategy fail (so far).