Posted on 05/10/2008 2:22:46 PM PDT by wagglebee
MOUNTLAKE TERRACE -- Former Gov. Booth Gardner no longer runs the state, but now he'd like to be in control in a different way.
He wants to be able to die on his own terms if his quality of life becomes seriously diminished, he said at a meeting of the Lynnwood Rotary Club on Thursday.
Gardner, 72, has Parkinson's disease. For the past year, he has been promoting the controversial cause of physician-assisted suicide.
"I recognize there are people here who won't like what I'm about to say, and others who will be with me implicitly," he said. "I respect your view and I'm asking you to respect mine."
He's working on the campaign to get a "death with dignity" initiative on the ballot this fall. The Yes on 1000 committee needs 224,800 signatures by July 3 to qualify for the November ballot. Now, the campaign has about 120,000, a committee campaign worker said.
The proposal is patterned after a law that's been on the books in Oregon since 1997. Oregon is the only state in the nation that permits physician-assisted suicide.
Adults must be in their final six months of life, be found mentally competent by two doctors, receive counseling on alternatives such as hospice care and be given the opportunity to change their mind.
(Excerpt) Read more at heraldnet.com ...
And that's what the culture of death is all about, they want CONTROL.
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“Former governor Gardner speaks on right to die”
Do you have a right to die? Probably, but you have NO RIGHT to make anyone assist you in it.
It’s certainly NOT a right that God has endowed us with, it is a natural part of life that is intended to take place in the time and manner of His choosing.
I don’t really blame Gardner for this, even though he’s wrong. That has to be a horrible way to die. If I were going through that or facing the prospect, I’d certainly be tempted.
There’s one facet that gets neglected in this- pain relief and medical care for the terminally ill needs to be improved. I can only imagine what future generations have to say about the methods currently used.
A tragedy in Washington state.
Palliative care is available and while it is not perfect, it is certainly the best available.
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Booth, Gererator and a garage. It’s real easy and painless.
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I suppose those opposing the so-called “right to die” would favor eternal life.
We are not to take our own lives, but if one does, it should be a personal, self inflicted act with its own consequences.
Making assistant death a law is verging on very dangerous territory.
All he has to do is travel to the next state if he wants a doctor to snuff him. I don’t see any point in trying to change the law just to avoid such a short trip.
As we have seen in Europe, the right to die has a way of becoming the obligation to die.
“Its certainly NOT a right that God has endowed us with, it is a natural part of life that is intended to take place in the time and manner of His choosing.”
As per your beliefs and mine. Tell me again how we have the right to impose our beliefs on others?
Signed,
Ugg, the Caveman
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