I went on some sites that oppose euthanasia this afternoon. I think I oppose euthanasia but I support assisted suicide. These people do not make the distinction. I was looking for a chance to contact the Purdys and was hoping they had a website. They are not natural campaigners and I think the attention is unwelcome for them- oh how I would hate to have deal with the press and the law! All I found were people celebrating the result I abhorred. That is OK. I would hate there not to be debate on this issue and I do agree that there is a eugenicist element in some areas of medical science but... these aint nice people!
Some jumped up- no less angry language- a man from a Canadian anti euthanasia organisation suggested that Mr Purdy was pushing his wife to suicide. Well I am so sick that any one would dare to...
these people claim to moved by compassion. I think some of them have abandoned compassion in favour of dogma. The fanaticism of the Canadian pro-lifer was a shock to me. These issues are too painful and personal to be shouted about. We owe each other care.
.bmp)
Chronic pain Vs Acute pain
2 weeks ago
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4 comments:
Interesting take... but maybe we can talk a little about your perspectives. I am squarely in the anti camp, but am always open to reasoned debate with the other side.
I Direct the Institute for the Study of Disabiliy & Bioethics. You might be interested in my blog, Disability Matters, at http://disabilitymatters.blogspot.com/
Regards, Mark
In reply to Virginia Beach (Dr Mark)
I am sorry I really do not have time to conduct a debate of any quality. I (like yourself good Doctor) am deeply suspicious of many who campaign for euthanasia but my position is set by needs of my partner. She wants the option so all I want to do is leave it on the table and hope it is never used. Without an option I fear that Herrad would take desperate action to prevent herself going into the last stages long before they may arise.
So I do accept that I am acting in self interest- I need Herrad alive for my quality of life.
I have a proposition for cutting the number of chronic sick and disabled people who wish to die - all the money used to kill people should be spent on supporting the living. I am right there with the right to life stuff- give every US MS patient free drugs. Scrap the Trident submarines for the money- If you were to remove the fear of poverty out the fight to survive with MS you cut suicides. If every space was accessible and every one had the living aids and support workers they need we cut the numbers of suicides. How about a functioning healthcare system for the American people (after all Castro did that for Cuba!)The young men and women sent abroad to do harm to others could stay at home and do good."Swords to plough sheers" Who was it that said that... dont ask me I'm an atheist!
I do not think we would have a very productive debate- I saw on your blog you are campaigning first and listening comes a long way down so I will limit myself to commentary in my own space. I am limited in time and energy and wish to use what I have for my own agendas.
Richie, thanks. I think you make some good points, especially about the incredible difficulties we face when these issues are no longer in the abstract, but much more immediately in our lives day to day.
I wish only the best for you and Herrad as you face your challenges together.
The issues around funding adequate health care are complicated, to be sure. My main concern here is that if we go the route of places like Europe & the UK, there's a good chance that the options you suggest will be less, not more available, as bureaucracies inevitably take over decision-making, because the client must serve the bureaucracy, not the other way around, which is the way I think it should be.
Regards, Mark
With experience of private health bureaucracies and state bureaucracies the big difference is the cash- in the UK I get treated first, here I get an ID check and my insurance status is checked fist. Both try to fob you off with the minimum of treatment. If I had more money I could get better private treatment- but I am a care giver not a bread winner so I (we) get the bog standard packet. Our insurance company gets tax money so as to be able to take any asker- they must take the chronic sick and disabled.
I think I am doing better than my American counter part because I suspect I would find it very hard to get health insurance in a free market.
My argument is not for a replication of other peoples screw ups I just think there has to be a better way for Americans to sort it out. To withdraw the benefits of medical science to millions of Americans because they are poor is surely not ethical! Americans are a great people and deserve a better deal!
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