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 ...
Suicide is not an approved health plan.
Prayers for Gov. Gardner, and people like him, so they will do the right thing, and choose LIFE, including for themselves.
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