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Christian Medical Association: "Don't Kill Them"
As former Governor Booth Gardner pushes ahead with what is being described as his "last campaign," voices are being raised in opposition to his legalized physician-assisted suicide bill for Washington State.
Joel Connelly at the Seattle P.I. has written a superb column on the subject. In my opinion, one of his finest moments.
However it is the Christian Medical Association that has made the most passionate and informed plea to resist the temptation to legalize physician-assisted suicide. We have posted their statement, "Ethical Principles Protect Patients--Not Personal Opinions" below. I strongly encourage you to take a moment and become informed.
Faith and Freedom is working with others to defeat this proposed legislation. Please join us in this fight for life.
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Ethical Principles Protect Patients--Not Personal Opinions
WASHINGTON, DC, Jan. 9 /Christian Newswire/ -- The Christian Medical Association (http://www.cmda.org/) voiced strong opposition to an assisted suicide bill introduced today in the Washington legislature, saying the measure puts patients at risk by supplanting longstanding, recognized ethical principles with personal opinion.
"This bill to legalize assisted suicide attempts to force the opinions of a small band of suicide advocates on society and the medical community, and to force the government into the position of sanctioning suicide," observed CMA CEO Dr. David Stevens.
"Laws teach. Think about the message this measure would send to vulnerable and depressed individuals contemplating suicide. How are we going to publicly sanction suicide and then turn around and try to stem the tide of teen suicides?
"The minority lobbying for assisted suicide may personally believe that the value of a life is measured by physical health. Yet millennia of longstanding ethical principles recognize that the value of human life extends far beyond our bodies and beyond our ability to perceive value. Longstanding recognized ethics from Hippocrates to the bible have provided vital safeguards for patients while motivating physicians to practice true compassion by providing comfort and commitment to the patient.
"It's easy for suicide lobbyists to attract a measure of public sympathy for their views by waving the flag of individual autonomy. But when the debate moves beyond sound bites to actual evidence, the public recognizes that patients' autonomy and interests are protected only when doctors remain healers and never killers.
"The Netherlands decided to remove longstanding ethical safeguards for patients, and legislators legalized assisted suicide and euthanasia. Published medical studies reveal that Dutch doctors administer lethal injections to roughly a thousand patients a year who never consent to their deaths. That's autonomy for doctors--not for patients.
"Once assisted suicide infiltrates medicine, patient protections fall and the power of doctors rises. Euthanasia is next--beginning with patients who can't swallow lethal drugs.
"Assisted suicide also removes patient protections by opening a door for self-interested parties to pressure vulnerable patients to die. Imagine the incentives for cost-conscious HMO's, government insurers, greedy heirs and tired caregivers. A patient's apparently voluntary decision may actually be coerced--yet nearly impossible to detect or prosecute.
"The answer to patients suffering at the end of life is not to kill them, but to provide aggressive and appropriate relief from pain, compassionate counsel and unconditional love."
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Gary Randall
President
Faith & Freedom
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12 Comments:
When we "legally" murder on both ends of the spectrum leaving only the young, healthy, workers doesn't this smart of Nazi Germany? Even though our medical technology has made us healthier, and able to live longer, now nanny government can no longer afford us because they spent our Social Security savings, so they will do all they can to kill us off. That folks is fact.
Thank you for bringing this article to us. It is great to read about physician-assisted suicide from a medical persuasion.
Another tempest in a teapot - as if this legislation will 'allow it to happen' or stopping it will prevent it.
Had a friend who had a progressive brain tumor with good days and bad days but only a future of full blown dementia in his future. One good day he went with us to a street fair here in Seattle on a beautiful clear sunny day. He bought a couple t-shirts he liked, even paid an annual fee a local gaming club. We had dinner and we dropped him off at home. 3 days later we hear he is dead from a 'medication problem'. Right.
My father was in the hospital with prostatic cancer tumors throughout his body and particularly his bones - he was in agony. The doctor came in and pulled me aside and said my father had told her to give me the choices: she could either try and get him through the night or 'make him comfortable'. I made the decision my father and I had discussed previously - I told her to 'make him comfortable' and he passed away that evening.
Shoot they all but gave classes on this in medical training - give the terminally ill patient refillable prescriptions for potentially fatal medications they need and then stomp your foot when you tell them 'never take x number of these at once - it would kill you'.
Doctors and health care providers have been making sure their patient's needs in this regard were met for, well, forever. Being open about it just means the person can actually discuss it with the health care providers and their fears might be allayed and it could very well happen less not more and avoid the failures that happen when people try to do it themselves.
Just another case where you and yours want to micromanage someone else's choices rather than your own. Same old melody just a different key.
I know I'm generalizing here - but so called "progressive" thought seems to revolve around four counter cultural agendas. Kill big business through taxes, Kill the young through abortion, Kill the old or terminally sick through twisted medical suicide and call it "compassion", and Kill traditional morality by endorsing "alternative lifestyles." All the way around it seems that progressive thought is destructive to a civilized society because of it's self-centered nature. Maybe that's what makes it so acceptable in the mainstream media. If you tell people what they want to hear - how can they reject it or hate it. I feel like a citizen in Nero's court when I watch network TV. They spread their crazy and self centered philosophy, and yet we give them our endorsement through ratings. It's time to stop drinking the same water as Nero. I know we shall overcome, thank you Gary and team for not drinking the cool-aid.
Thank you Gary. I forward your blogs to over one hundred friends and family every time you put one out. Hope others are doing the same. God bless you. Keep up the good work.
O.V. I am a medical doctor. What would you have me do with my Hippocratic oath?
You took the Hippocratic oath? You swore to "Apollo Physician and Asclepius and Hygeia and Panaceia and all the gods and goddesses..."
Hmmmm.
And you can do whatever you want with your oath, which ever one you did take. No one is require to aid a patient in this regard against personal beliefs.
Many people take a modern oath that includes "Never to do deliberate harm to anyone for anyone else's interest" which doesn't preclude patient-initiated euthanasia.
But then I was raised that death is part of life, and essential part. Worrying about dying is like worrying about breathing - totally pointless. As I've always put it "its the last thing on my list of 'things to do'. And if I someday decide there's nothing else on the list then who are you to say I can't?
It's fascinating that you stick to your doom and gloom predictions in the face of real experience.
Washington is moving in this direction based on the positive experience they've observed in Oregon.
Oregon hasn't seen the dire consequences you warn of from assisted suicide. No more that Massachussetts has seen the demise of traditional marriage.
Contrary to the emotional sound bites, assisted suicide is a carefully designed program that provides end of life relief in extraordinary circumstances and doesn't promote general suicide.
If I should be unfortunate enought to contract a painful, terminal condition - I want every option available. It should be a private decision between myself and my doctor.
12:26PM...
Did you take the whole hippocratice oath? Did you swear to "Asclepius and Hygeia and Panaceia and all the gods and goddesses"?
Seems to me that would put you on shaky ground with one of the 10 commandments. wow, tough dilema.
Noticed Gergoire is not backing this , also she is promoting restraint with spending .
Must be an election year .
OV said
"Just another case where you and yours want to micromanage someone else's choices rather than your own. Same old melody just a different key"
Not at all , you miss the important aspect of having the state partners in the act . What have Medicare pay for it Oshtur ? . That means its not just between the patient and his pharmacist , or doctor , or spouse , that means we are all partners in this decision . Big big difference .
Oh a couple forgotten things:
The actual proposed criteria Of interest is how few in Oregon do this, AND how about 1/3rd of those who do get set up to be able to don't follow through. Just having the option is all many people need.
And I will point out the state is already paying for assisted suicide anyway as my two examples illustrated.
"Tempest in a teapot issue - either way it makes no substantive difference."
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Meaning the state , we , assist another person in that decision .
Interesting pro life folks were ridicules by many pro abortion advocates for saying abortion will lead to the state killing people out of the womb . Just as pro Marriage people say now changing the laws in marriage will lead to multi partner , bi marriage , etc . All of a sudden its not a choice when communities , schools and neigborhoods become affected with the use of tax payer dollars .
Thanks Gary , I guess a few Thousand years of Western Civilization should at least get a blog note . Kind of surprised your so concerned about Gary Oshtur ,Another tempest in a teapot appears to be your concern of supporting thousands of years of a culture you find to have problems with , as if people are not normally concerned about change . The dems have complete control . What do you say to them ?
What are you waiting for , all your other issues to get done first , and the answer would be yes . And they agree with you ,
I think ?
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