Thom Hartmann: Death with Dignity vs. Death for Profit?

[thomhartmann]

Right now - a judge in New Mexico is considering a case that would make physician-assisted death legal in that state - for those suffering from extreme illnesses who have very little hope of recovery. Shouldn't Americans - who are living through unbearable pain and suffering - have the freedom to choose if and when they want to die?

The Big Picture with Thom Hartmann on RT TV & FSTV "live" 9pm and 11pm check www.thomhartmann.com/tv for local listings

[Auntie Bush]

1. I'd prefer to die with dignity anyday.. I wouldn't even deny my dog that right.

If I can make that decision for my precious dog...Why can't I do it for myself?

[DreamGypsy]

2. I am very glad to live in Oregon, a state with a Death with Dignity law

Depending on the progress of his dementia, our law might not have allowed Scott Adam's father to end his suffering. From What Is the Oregon Death with Dignity Act?

To request a prescription for lethal medications, the Death with Dignity Act requires that a patient must be:

An adult (18 years of age or older),
A resident of Oregon, [see Oregon's definition of "resident" in the Editor's Note below]
Capable (defined as able to make and communicate health care decisions), and
Diagnosed with a terminal illness that will lead to death within six months.

These conditions were stipulated to insure the procedures for obtaining life-ending drugs would not be abused.

However, I expect that as Oregon gains more experience and confidence with our Death with Dignity process, the range of situations in which this humane process can be followed will reasonably expand.

Oregon also has a POLST (Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment) process and registry to help ensure that preferences for life-sustaining treatments of patients with advanced chronic progressive illness and of victims of severe trauma accidents are always honored by all medical personnel including EMT and First Responders.

Thanks, Thom, for speaking out on this topic which is of great importance for many aspects of our lives.

[tclambert]

3. Okay, free market economics demands Death for Profit.

If you, CEO of some publicly traded corporation, refuse to murder children when it could clearly make your company an extra penny of profit, well, your stockholders can sue you for not taking action to maximize profits. Why should stockholders care about your personal morality, or old-fashioned ideas like law and order when PROFITS are at stake? Besides, Ayn Rand wouldn't want you shirk your duties to your own selfish self. Her ideal human was a freakin' serial killer!

[Eljo_Don]

4. sin

After all, if taking my live is a sin, that is a matter between me and my God. Any one else intervention in this matter is not his/her business.