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Linda Carter is completely unrelated to Free Republic. But if I am going to have to post donation begs until the Freepathon is over, I'm going to occasionally post something I want! And there is only one way you can stop me! |
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Posted on 01/11/2004 7:30:12 AM PST by Theodore R.
Bill would approve of suicide Terminally ill patients could seek relief
By Juliette Rule rep9@wyomingnews.com Published in the Wyoming Tribune-Eagle
CHEYENNE - Legislators will be asked to discuss a death-with-dignity bill drafted by Sen. Keith Goodenough in the upcoming legislative session.
Discussion of a bill takes a two-thirds vote during a budget session, and given that, Goodenough, D-Casper, said he doesn't expect the bill to go far.
"I'm appealing to the leanings of traditional Libertarian attitudes in Wyoming," he said. "The government should stay out of my life as much as possible, especially with such a personal issue."
The bill, drafted in honor of Goodenough's friend, retired Casper lawyer Jim Fagan, provides criteria for those who wish to end their lives.
Under Senate File 7, patients must:
• be terminally ill and have been told by two physicians they have less than six months to live, and
• talk with a mental health professional.
Those measures force a person to be certain of their decision while protecting the physician who prescribes the medication used to end a life, Goodenough said.
Having a law in place would eliminate the fear some may have that family members could use death with dignity as a way to encourage wealthy relatives to end their lives, he added.
Fagan, 76, ended his life in February after months of suffering from emphysema, a lung disease that made him breathless and restricted his freedom. That health concern was coupled with leg and hip problems, a side effect from his years as an athlete, Goodenough said.
He ate applesauce laced with a combination of prescription drugs and took a shot of vodka, Deputy Natrona County Coroner Gary Hazen said, noting there was "more to it, that wasn't his cause of death or the actual mechanism."
"Anyone who wants to know how Jim Fagan died, all they have to do is read the book; he followed it to the letter," he said.
That book is "Final Exit" by Derek Humphry.
To Hazen's knowledge, he is the only coroner in the state who has investigated a physician-assisted suicide.
"Jim Fagan was a fine man, but to have one bill over one death to give doctors latitude to do that certainly bears some researching," he said.
It isn't an idea that will find support from Sen. Delaine Roberts, R-Etna.
Five or six years ago, he drafted the state's first legislation against physician-assisted suicide with the support of several religious groups.
"It went before the judiciary committee, and they wouldn't even hear it," he said. "They claimed it was complicated, and they didn't have time to hear it, so it didn't even get out of committee."
That leaves him wondering how far Goodenough will get with his bill this year.
"My best guess is that it's not going to be well-received, but I can't make a prediction," Roberts said. "I certainly don't agree that a person has the right to take their own life."
That opposition is no surprise to Goodenough, who said "religious conservatives don't believe we have the right to control our own destinies."
State opposition would likely be followed by a federal fight as seen in Oregon, where physician-assisted suicide long has been a hotbed of debate.
"We in Wyoming are supposed to be willing to stand up to the federal government," Goodenough said. "We talk about it, but we never do it. I think this would be a good fight to pick."
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Linda Carter is completely unrelated to Free Republic. But if I am going to have to post donation begs until the Freepathon is over, I'm going to occasionally post something I want! And there is only one way you can stop me! |
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"There's a big difference between winking at an exceptional case and legally empowering doctors to kill people. Pretty much everyone can understand this distinction, except for lawyers and a few other zealots."
Jonah has the salient point, here.
It is impossible to legislate suicide out of existence, but it IS possible to protect our medical professionals from participating in it and violating their Hypocratic Oath.
To codify both euthanasia and abortion will turn our medical profession into something that nobody wants. I can see it now, "Now which one of these patients are we to operate on and which one are we supposed to kill?"
Five years hard labor for elbows on the table seems fair to me.
People choosing to exit their own lives is not the province of the State. The State has jurisdiction when others force someone to exit their life. The key word here is FORCE.
When did you give the State OWNERSHIP of your life?
But you wish the state to formally recognize euthanasia as a legal act (similar to abortion).
I'm saying that I prefer the "hidden law" approach. But that's not good enough for you. If it's OK for even one person to do it, then it must be legal for everyone.
It is because of people like you that we have the "zero tolerance" laws that we do. To you, there is no room for reasoned judgement -- it's all or nothing. That's the meaning of the word "zealot" in Jonah Goldberg's article.
Let me guess. You're also in favor of legalizing all drugs, pornography, prostitution, and gambling. Right?
If Murder and Suicide are the same thing why are there two different words?
Could it be that they mean different things, perhaps?
Murder is taking another life.
Your own life can not be another life to you.
You cant murder your self.
If you want the law involved in this matter, you are giving the State ownership of your life.
Yeah, that's why I love his writing. Fun, isn't it?
But he make an excellent point, nonetheless. Prior to the lawyers and the zealots, we didn't need all the laws. This behavior was governed by a moral people acting rationally and responsibly.
Says a lot about our current society, doesn't it?
We are running kinda parallel here. By saying suicide is not a province of the law I am keeping it a private matter. I believe the intent of the law was to get it out of the public realm. This is where Dr. K. messed up peoples right to exit with grace.
Let me guess. You're also in favor of legalizing all drugs, pornography, prostitution, and gambling. Right?
Right on!
Where in the Constitution did the people give up the right to treat their own health? That is what the "War on Drugs" is. Treat your self with out permission of a "government agent" and go to jail.
Did not the 10th amendment secure all rights not specifically given to the government to the people?
Tell me where the Founding Fathers SPECIFICALLY gave up their right to treat their health in the constitution.
If you can not, you really can not support the war on drugs...
Porn and Hookers? No use for them, but you are free to choose for yourself.
No, it didn't. It secured all powers not specifically given to the government to the states or to the people. Since the federal government has been given the power to regulate drugs, the 10th amendment does not apply.
Obviously, it is your opinion that the government does not have this power. You are entitled to your own opinion.
But not your own facts. The courts have ruled the Controlled Substances Act constitutional.
And since when is shooting heroin "treating one's health"?
I happen to disagree with that selfish, self-centered, juvenile, individualistic, and hedonistic philosophy.
The original laws against suicide, were enacted so that the state could come in and confiscate all the property of the person who killed himself. It was a good/easy way to increase government revenues, much like our drug laws today where the government can take your home, car, and everything else you own if they find drugs. They know they are not going to stop people from taking drugs, but they also know that they will make a lot more money with such laws.
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