The law is actually called the Death with Dignity Act. I've read this before, but since so much discussion around the topic has shown a great lack of research as to what the law states, I'll post some of the specifics.
The law is pretty clear. It's not Euthanasia, but suicide. The doctor only prescribes the lethal dose, and it's up to the patient to use it. The law does not allow the doctor to apply the lethal dosage.
Q: Must a physician be present at the time the medications are taken?Even further on this, the patient can withdraw and must be offered the opportunity to rescind the request.
A: The law does not require the presence of a physician when a patient takes lethal medication. A physician may be present if a patient wishes it, as long as the physician does not administer the medication him/herself.
Q: Can a patient rescind a request for physician-assisted suicide?There is also prohibition of anyone requesting the assistance from anyone but the patient.A: Yes, a patient can rescind a request at any time and in any manner. The attending physician will also offer the patient an opportunity to rescind his/her request at the end of the 15-day waiting period following the initial request to participate.
Q: Can a patient's family members request physician-assisted suicide on behalf of the patient (for example, in cases where the patient is comatose)?There is also the opinion question to the Dept of Human Services:
A: No. The law requires that the patient ask to participate voluntarily on his or her own behalf.
Q: What is the Department of Human Services' opinion of physician-assisted suicide? Does it encourage people to hasten their deaths? Should this law have been passed? What are the pros and cons of physician-assisted suicide?The law is responsibly enacted and is the desire of the majority of citizens of that state. It doesn't allow euthanasia for any reason. This must be clearly the patients desire. There is no slippery slope and no pandora's box. Can there be abuse? No doubt. As much as killing the person with their own hand gun. The difference would be that there is documentation, by a responsible individual, stating that the patient wishes to end their life.
A: The Death with Dignity Act was a citizen's initiative, enacted because a majority of voting Oregonians believed that persons afflicted with certain terminal illnesses should have the legal right to hasten death. The role of the Department of Human Services is to collect and analyze data annually on physician-assisted suicide participation in Oregon. These data are important to parties on both sides of the issue. Our position is a neutral one, and we offer no subjective opinions about these questions.
You don't have to like it. I don't like lots of things others do. But I'm willing to allow people the control of their destiny irrespective of my personal views.
8 comments:
Great article, but let me add a more tangible argument about why physicians CANNOT assist patients in their quests to die. It's called the Hippocratic Oath - linked from my last article.
Essentially, it is an oath by doctors to do no harm to people and to help them. Specifically, there is this line: "I will give no deadly medicine to anyone if asked, nor suggest any such counsel."
I personally do not object to, and can sympathize with, terminally ill patients who would like to die with dignity. I just can't see how this can be done legally.
You still don't comprehend the fact that while we do have free will, we should adhere to the word of God. This "controlling our own destiny" is no excuse for defying the word of God and the Bible says that those of us who don't stop those being led away to slaughter will suffer the same punishment, as if we're the ones in the act.
We can't sit back and let them kill themselves just because it's not our choice. The Bible applies to all mankind, whether you're smart enough to believe that or ignorant enough to resist it.
Proverbs 24:11
Rescue those being led away to death, hold back those staggering toward slaughter. If you say "But we knew nothing of this," does not He who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who guards your life know it? Will he not repay each person according to what he has done?
John 16:33: "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world."
2 Corinthians 12:9: "And He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is perfected in weakness.’"
Philippians 4:11,13,19: "... for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am...I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.... And my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus."
Psalm 34:19: "Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all."
Rather than throwing these people away and letting them play God, we should spend more time sharing the Word with them and letting them know they can do all things through Christ, who strengthens them.
Shutting God out of your life and playing His role, being self centered and ignorant to the Word secures a spot in the lake of fire. An eternal, Godless hell.
Isaiah 53:5
"But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed."
1 Corinthians 3:16,17:
"Do you not know that you are a temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If any man destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him, for the temple of God is holy and that is what you are."
And as for you "free will" excuse:
I Peter 2:16
Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil.
Timmer:
The hypocratic oath that you quote is the ancient one. It isn't in use today, and most schools that apply the oath use some version, But parts, especially those you mention are generally not included. Take a look at the article in wikipedia for some context.
I think that the modern issue with the giving of "deadly drugs" is that many of the drugs used for difficult diseases, especially cancer, actually do harm to the body, with the intent of eliminating the problem. Chemotherapy commonly damages the bone marrow and other portions of the body that are neccessary to live. They tread close to permanent damage in some cases.
Rethugican Vet:
Free will is a concept held by many societies as well as Christianity. But note that the USA has no governmentally prescribed religion. The government is applied to all people irrespective of religious belief. I know you can't stand that, but it is true. Destiny is left to the individual, and having affects on that is certainly allowed between the individual and his family. But it is not a place for the government.
No one is dragging anyone to the slaughter. Read the blog entry. I know there aren't any quotes from scripture, but it provides the facts allowed by the law. I don't agree that we can't allow people to kill themselves if that is there own desire within the context of the law.
Personally, I haven't shut God out of my life. My relationship with God is very personal and private. I don't make blind judgements on other people's beliefs because they disagree with me on what/who God is. I leave that to the fanatical christians like you. But keep leaving the knee jerk comments, It helps my blog stats.
It's just lovely that you are so strongly imbued with scripture, but quotes from the bible are not proof of anything, since the bible is no the law of the USA or any of its states. You wish to follow those beliefs is just fine, but I won't blindly follow words that are just as likely written by man and interpreted by man as they are the true words of God.
And yes that is my free will.
Yes, adding "thug" in the middle of a Christian's name makes you 100% smarter. You're an ignorant child who I won't deal with.
As for your free will excuse, once again, it's posted above your frivolous comment.
Narcofit,
What you don't comprehend is the fact that the Bible is the law of man. I don't care if the Bible isn't utilized in laws in the US. We'll pay for that as a nation. The Bible applies to man and as Christians we should apply the law of mankind to the law of the nation. I've quoted "blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord" but you seem to overlook that and convince yourself that it's ok to let our fellow man defy God and kill themselves. You also don't comprehend that Christianity is the only way we'll live in eternal peace. Therefore, your argument that Christianity isn't the prescribed religion of America is totally irrelevant. I don't care about made up religions and it's irrelevant that people are gullible enough to believe other religions. These people are seeking a law that paves the way for their slaughter. You don't comprehend that.
Narcofit, no name calling here.
"Bible is the law of man." A law that isn't recognized by the majority of man is not law. But since you don't care in "made up" religions you show that great level of compassion that the world has come to expect from christianity.
Oh I have to ask, by adding thug to Republican you seem insulted by an alteration of a christian's name. Is that your christian name? I've never met a christian named republican.
And If I'm so ignorant a child that you won't deal with, why do you keep posting comments? Isn't it obvious by now that you aren't even making a dent here?
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