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From: Keith.Jones@f3.n157.z1.fidonet.org (Keith Jones)
Newsgroups: misc.handicap
Subject: Re: it's my life
Message-ID: <16224@handicap.news>
Date: 18 Jun 91 16:36:28 GMT
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[This is from the Spinal Injury Conference]

->       I like your reply.  It is thoughtful and exxploring.  I
   I am glad. I put a lot of thought into it. Probably more than I have
put into anything since my college papers over two years ago. I am a bit
rusty,
->       People will go to great lengths to ensure a quick death
-> to an injured and suffering animal.  If animals have rights, then why
-> not humans?  This question can only be answered after great

   They shoot horses don't they?
->       A friend, a quad drug abuser, recently entered the
-> hospital in critical condition.  The attending doctor asked if he
-> wanted to live.  My friend says he had the choice and choose
-> life.  It brought him into touch with the reality that he was
-> killing himself and the doctor was willing to let it happen if that
-> was what he wanted.

  I am not sure what I would choose myself when the chips were really
down. Then again I don't have to worry about that. At least not today.
->       I think things are changing quitely and some doctors are
-> willing to be supportive in letting a critically ill person die
-> peacefully.  I don't see many getting actively involved in
-> euthansia or assisted suicide.  My general feeling is that if
-> someone really looked they would find a doctor to quietly supply the
-> means for a comfortable death.

   My gut feeling is that in the not too distant future we will see a
legalization of euthansia provided the Roe v. Wade decision is not
overturned (which could quite possibly happen). I believe that as the
baby boomers reach old age and medical technology increases life
expectancy, more and more people will begin to question quality of life
considerations. I think the American public will demand it. The only
ones with anything to lose are the doctors and nursing home owners (many
times one and the same). And we know the AMA is a very powerful lobby.
Time will tell.

                            -Keith-

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