Christian Physicians: Sup. Court has given doctors the "power to KILL!"

[Bluebear]

PRESS RELEASE
Supreme Court Ruling a Move Toward Ethical Mayhem: CMA Doctors
Dr. David Stevens: "The ethical foundation of medicine is crumbling under the Court's jackhammer."


Washington, DC--January 17, 2006--The nation's largest faith-based association of physicians today deplored the Supreme Court's ruling squelching the federal government's right to regulate controlled substances in Oregon, saying the Court's decision "moves the practice of medicine one step closer to ethical mayhem."

The ruling, which allows practitioners in Oregon to prescribe lethal drugs to patients for suicide, "severely undermines the rightful and crucial ability of the federal government to govern the use of lethal and dangerous drugs," said Dr. David Stevens, Executive Director of the 17,000-member Christian Medical Association.

"With narcotics free to be used for purposes that have no medical benefit whatsoever, the 'do no harm' requirement of medicine—a long-standing protection for patients—is lost. This lethal violation of medical ethics erases a prohibition that has protected patients since the time of Hippocrates. Before Hippocrates, patients couldn't know for sure if their doctor would heal them or kill them. This decision moves the practice of medicine one step closer to ethical mayhem.

"The ethical foundation of medicine is crumbling under the Court's jackhammer.

"Doctors are no longer required to only prescribe sedatives to comfort and heal; now they can prescribe them to kill. Assisted suicide does not give more power to the patient. It gives more power to the doctor—to be judge, jury and assistant executioner.

"As Oregon has already shown, the so-called safeguards don't work. With the patient dead and the doctor not talking, who knows what really happened?

""Killing is not a legitimate medical purpose. Legalized assisted suicide gives doctors the right to help kill, and in our money-driven healthcare system, that's dangerous. The cheapest form of medical care is always a handful of lethal drugs."

Associate Executive Director Gene Rudd, MD added, "The Controlled Substances Act was designed to prevent using drugs for non-medical purposes in every state--not every state except Oregon. When a state or a doctor uses such drugs not to heal or to relieve pain, but simply to kill, that is not a medical purpose. Killing doesn't require medical training or compassion."

"What we need is not more power for doctors who use drugs to kill their patients, but more power for doctors who use drugs to heal and comfort their patients. Over time, the face of healthcare will change dramatically if doctors are granted the power to kill. It is a change we will regret."

To schedule an interview please contact Margie Shealy at [phone] or e-mail at [e-mail].

http://www.cmda.org/index.cgi?BISKIT=1446300140&CONTEXT=art&art=3198

[WarNoMore]

1. Maybe while they're at it

they can approach the problems of faulty studies by the drug companies that have caused death, or the huge number of deaths per year due to medical errors.

[BlueCaliDem]

14. Or maybe even stop voting...

...Republican that seem to want a HUGE life-costing war everytime they're in office!

Since nearly ALL of those chickenhawks never saw a day in uniform, and if they did, they were desk-jockeys, but definitely never engaging in any boots-on-the-ground combat (as the Yellow Elephant "young Repukes" have even showed what pansies they are), it appears it's easier for them to instigate wars just as long as they don't have to see any of the nasty results of DEATH raining on innocent, defenseless people.

Wars kill MORE people than all the physicians in the history ever had, and the so-called "christians" voting for repukes all the time in the illusion that repukes would ever overturn Roe (their No.1 wedge issue and cash/vote sacred cow) are a bunch of stupid ignoramusses.

[stevedeshazer]

2. This argument is complete bullshit

The doctors do not "kill people."

Oh, and in the last ten years since this has been in effect, not ONE doctor has "killed" a patient.

These freaks know damn good and well that Dr. Death doesn't show up in his killing van to euthanize old people.

The doctor writes a prescription, after two doctors have determined that the person in question is of sound mind and has six months or less to live. The patient makes the decision.

Period.

I wish these nuts would take their morals and shove them up their own asses and leave us Oregonians alone.

[MissB]

4. What Steve said.

[Ian David]

5. If they were talking about gay marriage, they'd say, "let the people vote.

You see, "the people" only have the right to tell minority groups what the majority wants them to do.

"The people" don't have the right to decide what they as individuals have the right to do, because people might disagree with them.

Those people will say or do anything to impose their will on others, won't they?

[GrumpyGreg]

8. I wish we had the right to die in Massachusetts. You are very

lucky.

Whether I would ever use the option I don't know but I would like to have a choice.

I had to put a beloved old pet down a few weeks ago and he went out painlessly and it was very peaceful. He was very ill .

[stevedeshazer]

9. Having the choice is the key

Sorry to hear about your pet. My beloved old dog Charlie is almost 13, and I'll have to face that choice some day.

Ironic that we Americans won't let our pets suffer, but have little reservation about letting our parent and grandparents suffer in some crappy nursing home for years.

[Ian David]

3. "The Futile Care Law," aka "W's Law"

Futile care law
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

On March 15, 2005, six year old infant Sun Hudson was the first person to be forced to die under The Futile Care Law signed by then Texas Governor George W. Bush. <1>

In December 2005, Tirhas Habtegiris, a young woman and legal immigrant from Africa, was concious and responsive when removed from a respirator and forced to die, against her wishes and against the wishes of her family. Hospital staff refused to wait until her mother could arrive to say goodbye.

Under "W's Law," Texas hospitals and physicians have the right to withdraw life support on a patient who they declare terminally ill, if that patient can not afford to pay within 10 days.<2>

More:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Futile_care_law

[Erika]

10. Yes, W signed into law a death plan for the poor & terminally ill

In Texas, if you can't afford to pay the hospital, the hospital has the right to kill you. You can stay alive if you have insurance and money. W cares about big business, he has no interest, knowledge, or curiosity about those who are poor or who actually work for a living. He couldn't even imagine the scenario.

[kevinbgoode]

6. What? Oh....I get it now.

I thought the "christian" physicians are the ones who don't like treating gay people, thus putting them in a position to be aiding in the death of someone themselves.

It has come to the point where, when I have to locate a new doctor, I have to ask if they are an evangelical christian because I would be highly offended at being treated by someone who treated my entire personhood as sexual.

[DELUSIONAL]

7. I suppose he is also against the death penalty?

He's just returned from protesting the (medical) execution of that elderly guy in California.

<sarcasm off>

[txindy]

11. Two words.

Drama. Queens.

[upi402]

13. drama queens...LOL -thanks! Also;

attention ho's

:bounce:
"lookit me!"

[txindy]

16. Definitely attention hos. Oh, yeah.

They crawled out of the ground for another 2 seconds of fame.

[upi402]

12. Power to kill, like any garden variety criminal court judge and jury

There is much duality me thinks

[Erika]

15. Where are the Christians willing to fund the poor until

they have a natural death? W gave Texas hospitals the right to kill these people.