[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

Neither can Steven Hawking. (severe muscular dystrophy). This man cannot care for himself at all, yet won a Nobel Prize

AND he posseses one of the most brilliant minds of all time. But given the opportunity, the ACLU would have been pleased to see him mercifully euthanized years before he wrote his first book, A Brief History of Time, an absolutely awesome body of work. Excellent example, Julie!

[sweetliberty]

"Neither can Steven Hawking. (severe muscular dystrophy). This man cannot care for himself at all, yet won a Nobel Prize"

I believe that our own Jim Robinson suffers from MD, if I'm not mistaken. I don't think any of us have any question about the value of his life. But if the courts are allowed to continue to define "quality of life," he could very well be a candidate for the euthanasia hit list, as could many FReepers, I'm sure, in the forseeable future.