[Auntie Mame]

How far we truly have drifted, to where killing the physically and mentally disabled is not only accepted, but essentially done out in the open. Even more disturbing is how, as in the case of Judge George Greer who ordered Terri's death, we now hand out awards for "courage" to people who prey on the disabled.

Well put.

[wagglebee]

Ping!

[BykrBayb]

How far we truly have drifted, to where killing the physically and mentally disabled is not only accepted, but essentially done out in the open. Even more disturbing is how, as in the case of Judge George Greer who ordered Terri's death, we now hand out awards for "courage" to people who prey on the disabled.

We're not like the Nazis. We don't do this in secret. And the Nazis had something we don't. Laws that made it perfectly legal. The judge who ordered Terri Schiavo's execution flouted many laws in pursuit of Terri's extermination. He even broke the law campaigning for the bench that he abuses. Check out his campaign ad, where he illegally uses government employees and resources.

Greer's illegal campaign ad

[BykrBayb]

In 1999, 10.4% of the severely cognitively impaired residents of the United States were starved and dehydrated to death.

In 2000, 11.0% of the severely cognitively impaired residents of the United States were starved and dehydrated to death.

In 2001, 11.4% of the severely cognitively impaired residents of the United States were starved and dehydrated to death.

I haven't found data yet for other years, but I think it's a fair guess that the killings continue to climb.

This doesn't represent a percentage of patients who died (which would be bad enough). It doesn't mean that 11.4% of the patients who died were starved and dehydrated. It means 11.4% of all the people living in the U.S.A. with severe cognitive impairments were killed this way. And it doesn't include the ones who were killed using other methods, such as denial of antibiotics for simple infections, removal of breathing assistance, etc.

The standard used for determining severe cognitive impairment for the purpose of this study is a score of 5 or less on the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE). Patients in a coma or PVS cannot possibly score 1, much less 5. You've probably seen people in the grocery store with a score of 5 or less. So these killings include a wide range of brain damaged people. I wonder how many thousands of people are living with a score of 5 or less. And for every 1,000 people living with a score of 5 or less in the year 2001, 114 of them were starved and dehydrated to death that year.

All I have before me are the percentages. I'd like to see the corresponding numbers. Or would I?

Following is the breakdown by state for 2001. Notice that Rhode Island tops the list, with just over a third of that population exterminated this way. That might have something to do with the fact that RI has appointed the pro-euthanasia group Choice in Dying the official State agency in charge of informing the public about “end-of-life choices.” They supply forms for “living wills” and “assist” the public in filling out those forms. This is what happens when you put the fox in charge of the henhouse.

Believe it or not, Florida and Texas are both below the national average. Every state is on the list. Georgia is at the bottom of the list, exterminating only 1.30% this way.

RI - 33.80%
OR - 32.50%
MI - 28.30%
MT - 28.00%
WI - 27.20%
CA - 23.40%
UT - 23.40%
AZ - 20.90%
PA - 17.40%
MN - 17.20%
AK - 17.10%
CT - 15.40%
WY - 14.90%
MD - 14.60%
NM - 14.20%
SD - 14.10%
WA - 13.20%
OH - 12.90%
ID - 12.30%
IA - 12.10%
MO - 11.90%
National Average - 11.4%
VT - 11.20%
HI - 11.10%
DE - 10.80%
ND - 10.80%
MA - 9.90%
IN - 9.70%
ME - 9.20%
NH - 8.70%
NY - 8.50%
NE - 7.70%
CO - 7.20%
AL - 7.10%
TX - 7.10%
IL - 6.70%
WV - 6.70%
KY - 6.60%
SC - 6.50%
TN - 6.30%
FL - 6.20%
NV - 6.20%
AR - 5.70%
NC - 5.20%
KS - 4.80%
NJ - 4.80%
OK - 4.10%
LA - 3.70%
VA - 3.60%
DC - 3.10%
MS - 3.00%
GA - 1.30%

Facts On Dying ~ This study was funded by The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, who adamantly opposes the rights of vulnerable people to continue living. So if any trolls show up, complaining that the data is skewed in favor of life, check the facts and get back to me.

[Pinkbell]

How far we have drifted! Now we are determining it is “compassionate” to deny people care or even kill them. This is one of the fears with possible nationalized health care. The state decides whose life is worth living based on money. This could be an unborn child with disabilities killed or a born person who the state determines will die soon. Just because a person might not live with a disease or disability or even due to age, it doesn’t mean that their life isn’t worth saving, and they shouldn’t be denied such things as air, food, water, medicine, and treatments like chemo or dialysis. Perhaps they personally don’t want certain treatments like a respirator or have a DNR, but that is theirs and their family’s choice, not the states.

[floriduh voter]

“Never put an innocent or honest person to death. I will not allow anyone guilty of this to go free.” Exodus 23:7

[metmom]

I believe it was a Dutch journalist who recently said, "It's taken only one generation to transform a war crime into an act of compassion."

Who would have thought?