Kevin Colby: News, culture, political blog

There is a story out of Georgia about a group that has assisted in about 200 suicides since 2004. Now this is something that I strongly believe in and that is your right to die if you are terminally ill and or experiencing immense pain that cannot be cured.  But I do feel that it should be done under a doctors supervision.

Members of an assisted suicide ring say they’ve done nothing wrong and seem eager for a court battle over criminal charges they helped a Georgia man kill himself, while their supporters are using the case as a rallying cry for more debate about end-of-life issues.

Four members of the Final Exit Network were arrested Wednesday on charges they violated Georgia’s assisted suicide laws by helping 58-year-old John Celmer use helium and an exit bag — a plastic hood with tubing attached — to suffocate himself.

I completely support the idea of euthanasia. I feel that if someone has gone through every possible medical treatment and their condition has not improved or will not improve, they should have the option to end their life in dignity. Just think about this for a second. People that are suffering from Cancer, AIDS, or any terminal illness are costing their families major heartache by watching them slowly suffer and on top of that the large amount of medical bills that are pouring in. It is a very emotionally traumatic event in a persons and their families lives. I also feel that you should be able to designate a Power of Attorney in a “Designation of Health Care Surrogate” so that if you become incapable of making the decision, the person who you left responsible can make the decision for you.

As of 2008, some forms of euthanasia are legal in Belgium, Luxemburg, The Netherlands, Switzerland, the U.S. state Oregon, and Thailand. Oregon is the only U.S. state that allows some form of euthanasia. In 2005 the Bush Administration tried to challenge this Act, but lost to the Supreme Court. Good! You need to keep your filthy religious hands out of a persons choice “W”!

The Oregon Death with Dignity Act allows a capable adult Oregon resident who has been diagnosed by a physician with a terminal illness that will kill them within six months may request in writing, from his or her physician, a prescription for a lethal dose of medication for the purpose of ending the patient’s life. The request must be confirmed by two witnesses, one of whom cannot be related to the patient, be entitled to any portion of the patient’s estate, be the patient’s physician, or be employed by a health care facility caring for the patient. After the request is made, another physician must examine the patient’s medical records and confirm the diagnosis. The patient must be determined to not suffer from a mental condition impairing judgment. If the request is authorized, the patient must wait at least fifteen days and make a second oral request before the prescription may be written. The patient has a right to rescind the request at any time.

The law protects doctors from liability for providing a lethal prescription for a terminally ill, competent adult in compliance with the statute restrictions. Participation by physicians is voluntary. The law also specifies a patient’s decision to end his or her life shall not “have an effect upon a life, health, or accident insurance or annuity policy.”

The law in the Netherlands allows the medical review board to suspend prosecution of doctors who performed euthanasia when each of the following conditions is fulfilled:

* the patient’s suffering is unbearable with no prospect of improvement
* the patient’s request for euthanasia must be voluntary and persist over time (the request cannot be granted when under the influence of others, psychological illness or drugs)
* the patient must be fully aware of his/her condition, prospects and options
* there must be consultation with at least one other independent doctor who needs to confirm the conditions mentioned above
* the death must be carried out in a medically appropriate fashion by the doctor or patient, in which case the doctor must be present
* the patient is at least 12 years old (patients between 12 and 16 years of age require the consent of their parents)

Click here for more information on the Oregon euthanasia law.
Click here for more information on the Netherlands euthanasia law.