It is compassionate or controlling, a choice or a conspiracy.
On their respective Web sites, the campaigns for and against Initiative
1000 include point-by-point attempts to debunk the other side in the
debate over physician-assisted suicide, the contentious end-of-life
issue facing Washington voters in the general election.
Most of the arguments relate to the adequacy of safeguards in the
measure, which would allow physicians to prescribe lethal doses of
medication if requested by terminally ill patients.
But after dealing with coercion, mental illness, insurance companies,
family notification, physician oaths and other matters, both sides end
their lists by addressing religion.
To contend that giving a terminally ill patient more control over the
dying process is "playing God" -- or is "against God's will" -- is
simply a myth, says Yes on 1000, which prefers to call the initiative
"death with dignity."
The Coalition Against Assisted Suicide disputes the assertion of
supporters that the "only real opposition comes from religious groups."
Still, faith-based groups or individuals are playing a crucial role on
both sides of the battle to make Washington the second state, after
Oregon, to allow physicians to legally prescribe deadly medication --
hardly surprising, since the issue deals with literal matters of life
and death.
Read more at http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/383018_suicidefaith13.html
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4 Comments
It's not surprising that religious groups are the opposition. Religion, good religion, is a promoter of life and the high view of human dignity. It is understandable as to why church groups in America,namely those from the Judeo-Christian faith, would fight against the bill. The whole question of doctor assisted suicide is a wrenching one.
Oregon has shown that such a law over is decade old existence has not produced mass death to the terminally ill. The majority of those that choose doctor assisted death and are cleared for it, don't even use it. What studies have shown is that it is an issue of personal dignity and control over one's end of days that is really a driving force behind this measure.
It would be most interesting to hear of what faith or non faith a person who chooses assisted suicide and follows through with it and how active they were in their belief. That could shed a whole new dimension on the current debate.
Truely assisted suicide has its potential problems and it must continue to be debated, reviewed and strickly managed so that a person's final wishes are indeed honored as best as can be within the law and ethics. The argument is over dignity and how best to preserve and promote it. May both sides of the issue preserve that in their fight for or against the measure.
It's not surprising that religious groups are the opposition. Religion, good religion, is a promoter of life and the high view of human dignity. It is understandable as to why church groups in America,namely those from the Judeo-Christian faith, would fight against the bill. The whole question of doctor assisted suicide is a wrenching one.
Oregon has shown that such a law over is decade old existence has not produced mass death to the terminally ill. The majority of those that choose doctor assisted death and are cleared for it, don't even use it. What studies have shown is that it is an issue of personal dignity and control over one's end of days that is really a driving force behind this measure.
It would be most interesting to hear of what faith or non faith a person who chooses assisted suicide and follows through with it and how active they were in their belief. That could shed a whole new dimension on the current debate.
Truely assisted suicide has its potential problems and it must continue to be debated, reviewed and strickly managed so that a person's final wishes are indeed honored as best as can be within the law and ethics. The argument is over dignity and how best to preserve and promote it. May both sides of the issue preserve that in their fight for or against the measure.
just the beginning of the morals
breakdown in America. sadly this
will escalate as americans standard of living drops.
just the beginning of the morals
breakdown in America. sadly this
will escalate as americans standard of living drops.