The Death with Dignity Law Goes into Effect in the State of Washington
Did the people in Georgia actively help Celmer? Well I guess we'll let the court figure all that out but in the state of Washington the courts won't have to battle it out.
Under the "Death with Dignity" law that goes into place on Thursday in the state of Washington people who are terminally ill with less than six months to live will be able to ask their doctors to prescribe a medication that will kill them. Will all doctors quickly hand out the prescriptions? I doubt it just as all doctors won't perform legal abortions. In fact I think there are similarities.
These two choices involve the law and choice. In the case of the abortion it is the choice of the mother, of course, and in the case of assisted suicide it is the choice of the patient. In both cases people and doctors may say as I've heard many times "I'm pro-choice but I wouldn't have an abortion." I say fine, that's great and I'm glad you aren't taking the choice away from me."
Whistling the same tune I am for the legalization of assisted suicide. You don't have to do it but allow me to choose my time to die. Not long ago I remember hearing about a pharmacist who wouldn't fill a prescription for the day after pill. For that matter some may not or would prefer not to hand out prescribed birth control pills. This opens a whole can of worms because these professionals are taking away our legal rights.
In Washington doctors are not required to write a lethal prescription. In fact in Washington some hospitals are saying no way to the law which means that doctors would not be able to assist in a suicide in that hospital.
My mom has told me she want me to end her life rather than having her in a vegetative state. I tell her it isn't legal but when it comes down to it what would I do? I guess I can now move to Washington.
Washington's group, Compassion & Choices, which is the largest assist in death group in the state will have some patients being referred to them to talk about how they came to their decision. This group is putting together a list of doctors and pharmacies that will go along with the law. Again it sounds like the abortion choice where women are forced to talk and wait and talk and wait and talk and wait until abortion time.
In Washington you have to be at least 18, be competent and a state resident. The patient has to make two requests verbally, 15 days apart and write a request that is witnessed by two people. Two doctors must attest that the person has less than six months to live. If I had six months to live I think I'd rather be spending my time sky diving!
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Published by jobythebay
traveler, fitness guru, parent educator. View profile
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5 Comments
Post a CommentNicely Written :)
very good discussion...
It's a delicate subject.
what an interesting concept -- and just think it wasn't that long ago an elderly doctor went to jail for helping people do this. I can't even get my birth control refilled early -- but you can get this.
The time delay is too make sure that you don't change your mind...or are you too stupid to figure out that once you are dead, then that is it? We live in a society that says that its ok to kill unborn babies because they are inconvenient. Now we move on to the elderly, disabled, and the terminally ill. Do us all a favor and get a gun if you are that damn weak. Dying with dignity is accepting whatever death is chosen for you...not popping pills so that your relatives, who didn't really want to take care of you, can feel better about themselves.