Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!think.com!yale!bunker!hcap!hnews!260!207!Ann.Parsons From: Ann.Parsons@f207.n260.z1.fidonet.org (Ann Parsons) Newsgroups: misc.handicap Subject: Re: Euthanasia Message-ID: <18961@bunker.isc-br.com> Date: 23 Apr 91 22:22:20 GMT Sender: wtm@bunker.isc-br.com Reply-To: Ann.Parsons@f207.n260.z1.fidonet.org Organization: FidoNet node 1:260/207 - The Recovery Room B, Rochester NY Lines: 64 Approved: wtm@bunker.hcap.fidonet.org Index Number: 15138 Hi Andy, AA> Anderson: (a continuation) As cruel or harsh as it may sound at AA> the moment, *I* believe this problem has to be one based on AA> finances and/or the lack of same. Should we be required to AA> spend our life savings to keep a person that is in perpetual AA> pain and in a coma and already 90 yrs old and bed ridden, alive AA> ?, Then have nothing to provide for ourselves? Ahem, please check Matthew 5, 6, and 7. "Consider the lilies of the field, they toil not neither do they spin, but Solomon in all his glory was not awrayed line one of these." "Think not what ye shall eat or what ye shall drink......." You see, Andy, this is what true faith means. That we trust that we will be provided for, that we will somehow have the essentials of life. AA>In some AA> instances, it seems to *Me* that to prolong life under some AA> circumstances would be the same as torture. That is why I think AA> we need to consider each case on its own merits, Yes, I am not in favor of torturing people, but there is a reason why people suffer. It's a very old idea, Andy, and it isn't much in vogue these days. But there are some who suffer for others, that they might learn compassion and love for their fellow men. AA> why a state or federal medical plan should be implimented,Then AA> the degree or quality of medical attention would be the same AA> for every patient, because the "affordability or ability to AA> pay" would be removed from the patient or his/her survivors. Yes, maybe this is the answer. You see, you are already listening. There is no need to ask the elderly to go out into the woods to die. We can provide for them with dignity. How do we know what goes on in the mind of a comatous patient? Are we so high and mighty that we can make a decision about who lives or dies? Yes, money is an issue. We need to change our priorities. War should be last on the list. High salaries for senators, ball players, company executives, should be lowered. Health care costs should be lowered. People who insist on taking doctors to court for mal-practice should have the burden of proof put upon them instead of upon the professional doctor. People should be trained to work together with their doctors to achieve the best health care possible. No, I am not advocating Marxism, merely a coming to our senses when it comes to spending money. AA>I AA> could go on and on about this, but I don't want to start AA> arguing "but w because for every time we say if somebody else AA> can come up w this, or if that........and all this time we are AA> still spen accept the inevitable sometime (I can only pray that AA> we don't of these decisions). Well, amen to that. But others are making this decision daily. They need help. No, Andy, I do not want to argue. I am just expressing my views. Take care, see you on-line. Ann P. -- Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!260!207!Ann.Parsons Internet: Ann.Parsons@f207.n260.z1.fidonet.org