"Christian Physicians" urge Supreme Ct. to stop assisted suicide

[Bluebear]

P.R. Newswire from the "Christian Medical & Dental Associations: Changing hearts in healthcare!"


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The nation's largest faith-based association of physicians today said that in deciding to hear a challenge to the nation's only assisted suicide law, the Supreme Court has an opportunity to protect patients, preserve physicians' role as healers, and send a life-honoring message to the culture.

The court will review whether the federal Controlled Substances Act should only be used for legitimate medical purposes or, as in Oregon, as a lethal prescription for suicidal patients.

David Stevens, M.D., Executive Director of the 17,000-member Christian Medical Association, said, "The Court has an opportunity to insure that patients receive truly compassionate care and pain relief by limiting physicians' use of narcotics for healing--not death." ...

"What message do we want to send about suicide to our young people, the disabled community, our aging parents and grandparents? Do we really want the government condoning and promoting suicide? Do we want to reinforce the fear that the infirm are no more than a burden on the healthy? We need to send a message that even in our darkest hours, life is still worth living, that loved ones will come alongside to help, and that doctors will treat pain effectively and compassionately--not with a lethal prescription."

http://www.cmdahome.org/index.cgi?BISKIT=3137201953&CONTEXT=art&art=2961

[DBoon]

1. I'd actually support this

In a country where health care is so expensive and with such poor coverage, I'd be afraid that having people "suicided" would be an easy way for the heirs to avoid draining the estate.

You won't see people going for assisted suicide to alleviate the pain and anguish of terminal illness - they would be pressured by realitives to avoid the cost of terminal care.

[Bluebear]

3. Boy if I got Lou Gehrig's

If there was no hope and I knew my muscles would not longer let me breath... :(

[Dookus]

4. If the heirs do it

that's murder, not suicide.

People should have sovereignty over their own bodies. Our bodies do not belong to the government.

[DBoon]

12. The heirs will pressure the already weakened person.

A terminally ill person can really only make this decision in an environment when the cost of ongoing treatment is not a major factor. Free choice means a choice free from undo financial pressure.

Given this is not the case in the US, I have a very funny feeling this would be abused. It would not be murder in the narrow legal sense, just a weakened and vulnerable person pushed into a spot where they believe they have to do this.

[Dookus]

14. so because you can imagine such a scenario....

the right to self-determination should be outlawed? I disagree.

[MissB]

16. You do know that we have assisted suicide in Oregon, right?

And that there are numerous checks to ensure that the patient is doing it on their own free will. Without looking it up, I think the patient has to get at least two mental health evaluations before being written the prescription. It may even be three.

Family pressure doesn't work.

Last year, the local newspaper (Oregonian) did an in-depth series on the impacts of the assisted suicide law. It was fascinating- not all who went through the numerous hoops actually used the prescription. For some, just having that control was all they needed to make it to the end. So far, none of the cases have shown anything other than free choice.

[mondo joe]

18. If someone allows themselves to be pressured that is their choice too

And please note, your imagined abuse of the system scenario is just that: an abuse.

Do you propose that all people be denied a right simply because an abuse can be imagined?

[Warren DeMontague]

26. I'll take your hypothetical scare scenario--

which has not played out in any of the places PAS has been legalized--

over the real potential eventuality of a long, drawn out bout with some cripplingly painful terminal illness, combined with doctors so afraid of an out-of-control DEA that adequate pain medication is impossible to obtain.

I'd take my chances with the impatient heirs, personally.

[FreedomAngel82]

19. Exactly

Free will and all that nice stuff.

[Warren DeMontague]

27. No, our bodies belong to GOD.

Haven't you been paying attention to anything?

;-)

But seriously... I thought I was the only person who advocated such radical notions of self-determination around here.

[BBradley]

8. So a mentally capable adult shouldn't have the right to decide

if they would like to end their life? If I'm so disabled that I can't even commit suicide without assistance, then my doctor should be immune from prosecution if he assists me.

Maybe it shouldn't be as simple as going to a Futurama style suicide booth, but a person who is deemed mentally aware enough to know the choice they are making should be able to make that decision.

Again: Who's life is it? The individual's, or the Government's?

[depakid]

23. You obviously have no idea how the Oregon law works

and have never seen the reports that are required by law to be filed with DHS every year.

You might want to have a read of some of the material before advancing what on the surface seems like a reasonable fear, but what in fact is used as propoganda by the opponents of death with dignity.

http://www.ohd.hr.state.or.us/chs/pas/pas.cfm

While I recognize that you have good intentions, that's no substitute for accurate information-

Especially where people like Lillian Sullivan are concerned.

[BBradley]

2. Ridiculous.

Here's a general rule, if you can't even kill yourself without assistance, and you've weighed the options and decided that suicide is the course you want to take, then you should be able to have your doctor end your life without fear of prosecution.

This isn't even about euthanasia. This is a simple question that they're asking the courts: Does a life belong to the individual, or to the Government/society?

[maveric]

5. So they can keep suffering people alive and bill them & insurance co.'s

for all they can squeeze out of them?
Can you see a pattern here?

[Anakin Skywalker]

11. Yes. I Suspect that is the Rethugs' plan.

Keep them alive and in pain so the doctors can keep on billing. It fits into the pattern of discrediting trial lawyers so ob/gyns can be once again free to practice their "love with women".

[Bluebear]

30. And now with new bankruptcy laws there will be no medical exemption

Diabolical.

[Erika]

6. Is this yet another far right wing fanatical group?

The medical community has ALWAYS discreetly allowed patients to die without pain by administering pain killing drugs to the extent needed to keep the patient from suffering.

[Warpy]

7. Ugh, fundies are so afraid to die

that they want the rest of us to wring every last bit of misery out of lives that have grown burdensome to us through pain and disability, with no hope of recovery. In the process, they get to wring every last penny out of any property we have accumulated in our lifetimes.

Christian, my ass.

What they've found in Oregon is that people who have had the means supplied to them rarely use them, but report a great deal of peace of mind knowing they'll have a way out if it gets too hard.

Instead of wailing about "might" and "maybe," these heartless sacks of shit need to look at what IS. Only then can they begin to evaluate the whole thing with anything approaching Christian compassion.

[Erika]

9. I've always wondered about the right wing fear of death

to the point they go histrionic and will not let humans die in dignity, peace, and without pain.

[FreedomAngel82]

20. But I thought

they wanted the rapture? :shrug:

[Anakin Skywalker]

10. Christian Physicians? I Wouldn't

visit one. They might not give me painkillers and all that good sh*t. Oh wait! Then how did Rushie get his? Am I wrong? I am contradicting myself here! What a mess! I really need some of that sh*t! :)

[shraby]

13. It's either Sweden or Norway that has had

physician assisted suicide for a number of years now. There are safeguards in place to prevent family pressure, etc. The person who applies has to undergo psychiatric evaluation, counseling and a waiting period to make sure they know what they are doing. The procedure is relatively rarely used, but is available, same as in Oregon.

[anitar1]

17. I Live in Oregon

and have followed this since it became law. It is true that there have been fewwer assisted deaths than expected. I think I am correct in saying around 170 people over a 6 or 7 year period. Many prepare for it , but decide not to do it.I am glad we have the option. Althoough I cannot say for sure if I would do it--would depend on the disease.

[VOX]

28. Exactly! "Take two verses of scripture and don't call me in the morning."

No thanks! :grr:

[Bluebear]

29. They have a search engine on their site

So you can find/avoid a "Christian" physician in your area!

[anitar1]

15. And Behind The Scenes

How dare they try to cut into our profits. Of course assisted suicide is not a popular subject with the Xtian medical people. Xtians feel people should suffer a bit more to pay for their sins.

[sans qualia]

21. Despicable

Way to prolong the suffering of the dying, you hateful pigs. I can't even begin to imagine how they try to justify this.

[Lilith Velkor]

22. Lilith Velkor urges Christian Physicians to Commit Suicide

There, that looks better. Whoops, did I type that out loud?

(I am so going to Hell.) :evilgrin:

[Warren DeMontague]

24. Lilith Velkor!

Holy shit, someone else with taste in literature.

Nice.

:hippie:

[Warren DeMontague]

25. Of course, with the way the right is expanding the death penalty...

isn't this just encouraging terminally ill people to run out and commit capital crimes?