The Dilemma of Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide Essays -- Euthanasia Ph

The Dilemma of Euthanasia Jack Kevorkian, serving a 10-to-25-year prison doom for second-degree murder for giving a lethal injection to Thomas Youk, was honored as a humanitarian on April 10. Kevorkian received the Gleitsman Foundations Citizen Activist Award in ceremonies at Harvard University. Foundation president Alan Gleitsman calls him a selfless believer in death with dignity who sacrificed his medical license and now his own freedom toward that cause. With Kevorkian unable to attend, the award was accepted for him by one of those who nominated him -- his victims wife, Melody Youk. Kevorkian will share the $100,000 award with Alabama attorney Bryan Stevenson, a crusader against the death penalty. Kevorkian has gigantic favored allowing execution by lethal experiments or removal of a prisoners vital organs. What is happening here? At Harvard University a famous euthanasia-doctor receives a reach of $100,000. Whats wrong with this picture? Numerous US studies have establ ished that the Americans most directly affected by the issue of physician-assisted suicide -- those who are frail, elderly and suffering from terminal illness -- are also more opposed to legalizing the practice than others are * A poll conducted for the Washington Post on March 22-26, 1996, set 50% support for legalizing physician-assisted suicide (Washington A18) Voters aged 35-44 supported legalization, 57% to 33%. But these figures reversed for voters aged 65 and older, who opposed legalization 54% to 38%. Majority opposition was also found among those with incomes under $15,000 (54%), and black Americans (70%). * An August 1993 Roper poll funded by the Hemlock Society and other euthanasia sup... ...d suicide attitudes and experiences of oncology patients, oncologists, and the public. 347 The Lancet 1805 (June 29, 1996)1809 Humphry, Derek. Whats in a word? Euthanasia Research & Guidance Organization 1993, Table 1-A. Koenig, Dr. Harold et al.. Attitudes of Elderly Pati ents and their Families Toward Physician-Assisted Suicide. 156 Archives of Internal Medicine 2240 (Oct. 28, 1996) Lee v. Oregon, 891 F.Supp. 1429 (D. Or. 1995), vacated on other grounds, 107 F.3d 1382 (9th Cir. 1997), cert. denied, 118 S. Ct. 328 (1997). Poll Shows More Would Support Law Using Gentler Language, TimeLines (Jan.-Feb. 1994)9 Washington v. Glucksberg, 117 S. Ct. 2258, 2262 n. 7 (1997. -- -- --. 117 S. Ct. at 2272, quoting United States v. Rutherford, 442 U.S. 544, 558. 1979. Washington Post, April 4, 1996.