posted July 07, 2004 07:57 PM              

How do you feel about Euthanasia or 'Mercy Killing' of people? In a clinical setting, that is. Not creepy stuff, like a dad 'euthanising' his 12 year old daughter, who suffers from Cerbreal Palsy, or anything like that (this actually happened in Saskatchewn, Canada recently, btw), but clinically administered by professionals at the request of the patient.

-Strongly Agree
-Mildly Agree
-Don't Care
-Mildly Opposed
-Strongly Opposed

And you can tell us why, if you care to.

posted July 07, 2004 08:41 PM            

Dr. Jack Kevorkian is doing prision time for just that. A very very sad situtation in my onion. These people wanted to die with dignity, a right in my book. It`s a personal choice and if a Dr. is as compassionate as Dr. Jack, so what skin is it off the laws nose? Yes, I`m for assisted suicide if it`s the persons desire

By Derek Humphry
Updated 27 March 2003
On 13 April l999 retired pathologist Dr. Jack Kevorkian was sentenced in Michigan, USA, to two terms of imprisonment for helping a man suffering from A L S to die. For the 2nd degree murder of Thomas Youk he received a sentence of 10-25 years and for using a 'controlled substance' (lethal drug) he was given 3-7 years jail, the sentences to run concurrently.

A month earlier a jury had convicted him on both counts. The 70-year-old doctor, who is currently (April 20) in prison, has said he will appeal to higher courts.

The case achieved enormous notoriety, not only for Dr.Kevorkian's publicly acknowledging that he had already helped at least 130 other people to die by assisted suicide, but Mr.Youk's death in September l998 was by direct injection (voluntary euthanasia). When the law enforcement authorities in Michigan did not move to charge Kevorkian with killing Mr.Youk, he took a tape of the incident to CBS Television, which aired it in the widely watched news program '60 Minutes'. On the program Kevorkian challenged prosecutors to act: three days later Kevorkian was charged with the offences.

The legal case against Kevorkian was, of course, watertight because his video clearly demonstrated the process of injection. There was no question but that he was guilty in the eyes of the law. The law does not accept that a person can ask to be killed - as Tom Youk clearly did. It is still 'murder' legally. So, in an attempt to persuade the jury that his action had not been 'murder' but a justifiable act of mercy, Kevorkian defended himself. He sought 'jury nullification' on the grounds of humanity— something a lawyer may not do.

Kevorkian was further hampered by the judge's ruling that he could not call the wife and brother of Tom Youk to confirm Tom's suffering and that the lethal injection was agreed by all three. (This aspect of the trial is likely to be one of the grounds for appeal.)

On three previous occasions when charged with 'assisted suicide' the juries refused to convict Kevorkian against the weight of evidence. But that did not happen this time. Soon after he started publicly helping people to die in l990, Kevorkian was stripped of his licenses to practice medicine in both Michigan and California.

As of August 2002 (serving a 10-25 year sentence for 2nd degree murder) Dr. Kevorkian has been moved again within the prison system. He has NO email address nor incoming telephone number.

Dr. Jack Kevorkian
Prisoner #284797
Thumb Correctional Facility
3225 John Conley Drive
Lapeer, Michigan 48446
USA
Michigan State Corrections web page: Jack Kevorkian
Although it has had some reservations about a few cases in which Dr. Kevorkian has aided in a suicide, the Euthanasia Research & Guidance Organization (ERGO) has fundamentally supported Kevorkian. The Hemlock Society USA has also given broad support to him.
Derek Humphry, ERGO president, who founded the Hemlock Society in l980, said about the conviction:

"The severity of the sentence on Kevorkian will drive the practice of voluntary euthanasia and assisted suicide even further underground. It will not stop it. Kevorkian is by no means the only doctor who helps people die - just the one who does so and also openly campaigns for societal acceptance of the practice.
"Kevorkian's martyrdom - self-imposed as it is -- will speed up the day when voluntary euthanasia for the dying is removed from the legal classification of 'murder' and recognized as a justifiable act of compassion."

Read a list of the first 120 people whom Dr.Kevorkian helped to die.

http://www.finalexit.org/dr.k.html

posted July 07, 2004 10:05 PM              

It seems in this society, we show more compassion for our beloved pets than we do our beloved family members.

posted July 08, 2004 12:01 AM              

Hmmm... I'm going to have to give this some more thought.

I do still believe it should be the person's choice. I mean really, the hospital will honor a DNR order. How is this different? A person should be able to choose whether or not they would prefer to be euthanized... but the Karmic implicatons??? Hmmm... this my effect they way I feel about it for myself. Much like abortion... I could never have one myself, but far be it for me to tell another woman what to do with her business.

I just don't know what I think anymore!!!

posted July 08, 2004 12:01 AM              

I agree 100% with you on this one....I watched my wonderful father die an agonizing death from cancer. He was not given morphine for his pain until just about the last minute "because we didn't request it."

*sigh* None of us knew we were supposed to... we naturally thought the hospital staff would despense it when the time was right...but they didn't....he was being given much milder pain killers! Finally when WE could no longer stand to see his ungodly suffering, we asked why he couldn't have morphine...and they said, oh he can...we thought you were never going to ask for it!

My sister, in extreme distress, and crying, said,"If I had a gun I'd do it right now!" and I'm thinking yes pets have it better...they can be put to sleep...*sigh*

It was a terrible ordeal...

My father died not too long after they started the morphine drip...

He's in a happy place now, and my mom joined him last November....she also had cancer.

Unlike my dad, she wanted to be home when she passed and we had hospice come in...they were very nice and pain management went well...My mom was very ill, no doubt about it, but did not have to suffer the agony my father did, and I'm grateful for that.

I loved them both very much and really miss them....

Anyway Lioneye, to answer your question; Yes STRONGLY AGREE that clinically administered by professionals at the request of the patient, it is alright!

posted July 08, 2004 12:10 AM              

We went through a similar experience with my hubby's Papa (still calls 'em Nana and Papa to this day... isn't that cute?!). He had throat cancer that rapidly spread to his brain. I can still hear him wince in pain when I think about that aweful time. Morphine didn't even touch his pain.

It is so troubling to watch someone you love so dearly die such a painful death.

posted July 08, 2004 12:37 AM              

I feel the same way about this as I do about abortion. It's your karma. I wouldn't have an abortion, personally, but that's because I wouldn't want to live with the guilt afterwards. I know myself. But I don't take moral offence to other women who have had, or would have abortions. I certainly believe that this option should be readily available to all women. As well as the option of family planning, and words of wisdom as required.