Thought some of you might be interested in how some physicians are responding to the "Right to Die" legislation passed in Oregon.Marta Russell
> Physicians for Compassionate Care
> PO Box 6042
> Portland OR 97228
> 503-533-8154; Fax 503-533-0429
>
> Affirming an ethic that all human life is inherently valuable
>
> PRESS RELEASE--8/18/98
> PCC Responds to State Reports of Doctor-assisted Suicides
>
> The state of Oregon has released a report about the first ten cases of
> assisted
> suicide, eight of which have completed the suicide.
>
> For even one patient to be give a lethal overdose instead of being offered
> hope and treatment for depression or discouragement is a terrible thing. It
> devalues and stigmatizes everyone labeled terminally ill. All the rest of us
> enjoy the
> protection of society and of the profession of medicine against despondency
> and suicidal ideation; but this one group, those with serious, perhaps terminal
>
> illnesses, does not enjoy that same protection. For all the rest of us, our
> despondency and suicidal ideation would be responded to with the offer of hope
> and treatment. We would be treated in a way that would recognize the
> meaningfulness of our lives, not handed a lethal potion. one suicide that
> takes place within the doctor-patient relationship is too many, no less 8 or
> 10.
>
> The people of Oregon were promised more openness with the legalization of
> assisted suicide, but they have been given more secrecy. The information the
> state has collected serves no useful protective function. The information
> provided is what the doctors involved chose to report and there is no
> punishment or fine for doctors who do not report. The information collected
> provides no
> safeguards for the poor, the disabled, or minority groups in this state.
> Instead, the state of Oregon has gone so far as to develop a separate and
> secret death certificate system. All we can tell from the reports of the state
> of
> Oregon is that some individuals are having their lives devalued and
> stigmatized by the state of Oregon -- with lethal consequences.
>
> N. Gregory hamilton, MD
> President, Physicians for Compassionate Care