Euthanasia The euthanasia debates of the mid nineties produced a cavalcade of reports, "true life" stories and TV specials. Much of the controversy centered around Dr. Jack Kevorkian, who helped many terminally ill patients end their lives. Many municipalities, most notably Seattle, have loosened euthanasia laws. Now that he has been released, Dr. Kevorkian continues to speak out for liberalized euthanasia rights while new studies on the subject are debated.
Shrink rap - In 1990 the U.S. Supreme Court decided Cruzan v. Director (497 U.S. 261). Nancy Cruzan was in a persistent vegetative state and her parents asked the hospital to remove the parental nutrition and fluids that she was receiving. The hospital refused to do so without a court order. Cruzan didn't have a living will, although Missouri had a statute providing for this. She had previously made statements to housemates that she would not want to live under these circumstances. The trial court ruled that the treatment could be removed, but the state supreme court reversed this because they felt that Cruzan's statements to housemates did not rise to the... 
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Not Dead Yet - Well, big "news" broke yesterday with the announcement of the publication of a study that claims to put an end to any idea of "abuses" under assisted suicide and euthanasia laws in Oregon and the Netherlands, respectively. The lead author is Margaret Battin, who is a long-time advocate of legalization of assisted suicide and euthanasia, and is on the advisory board of Death With Dignity National Center. Her advocacy history is mentioned in some articles but not in others. Interestingly, the objectivity of Battin and her colleagues goes unquestioned in the mainstream news reports. I have a hard time imagining the publication of an article with...
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10.20.07
| 01:50 AM - |
What's the Premise of Criminalization ?
Anonymous - Honestly, I really don't see what is wrong with assisted suicide. Firstly, how could suicide be illegal? That makes zero sense. It's my life, my body, and I should be able to end it if i choose to. In fact, I don't even know the argument for criminalizing suicide. In the same "vain," if someone wants to end his life and needs help, what damage / harm is done?
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