[jjm2111]

I'm a pro-life as they come, but we've gotten into a lot of problems as a country by trying to take the shorter road. I don't like Euthanasia at all, but I can't find any provision in the constituion forbidding it. If the people of Oregon feel it important for someone to end their life, then the feds should drop it. Conservatives can't have their cake and eat it too.

[nightdriver]

"I don't like Euthanasia at all, but I can't find any provision in the constituion forbidding it.

It's not so much a Constitutional issue so much as an ethical one.

Why degrade the medical profession by pressuring them to violate their Hypocratic Oath?

If a person wants to die, there are a lot of ways he can do it himself. He doesn't need a doctor to murder him.

[verity]

Objectively stated. Well done.

[Gargantua]

"... that all men are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, and that among them are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness..."

Hmmm... I don't see suicide on that list. What I do see is a clear and unambiguous reference to God the Creator, who tells us that taking a life... ANY life... is a sin.

Next?

[H.Akston]

Thank you. The supreme law of the land says that Ashcroft was wrong. No matter what we "like", we must adhere to the Constitution.

"...no civilized society can long exist, with an active power in its bosom that is stronger than the law. " - James Fenimore Cooper

[thirst4truth]

I'm a pro-life as they come, but we've gotten into a lot of problems as a country by trying to take the shorter road. I don't like Euthanasia at all, but I can't find any provision in the constituion forbidding it. If the people of Oregon feel it important for someone to end their life, then the feds should drop it. Conservatives can't have their cake and eat it too.

I agree and I live in Oregon. I voted against this law but the majority of voters won. Then Ashcroft stuck his big nose into the voters wishes!! I have been mad at Ashcroft for years. You think right after he took office, he could have worked on real law breaking, like the Clintons. Its a state rights issue, just like abortion should be!!!!

People that are terminal have been given overdoses of morphine in hospice for years, I know it happened to my mom 5 years ago in California. The doctor told me she can have as much morphine as she wants, drip in an IV and then orally as she requests. He promised her she would not be in pain. Three weeks later she died, most likely of a morphine overdose.

[traviskicks]

I don't like Euthanasia at all, but I can't find any provision in the constituion forbidding it.
---

Well said. It requires great poise not to be taken up by the emotion of one's own opinion. It would be great if more people would respect Liberty and tolerate the personal abhorations it often brings.

[Allosaurs_r_us]

I'm a pro-life as they come, but we've gotten into a lot of problems as a country by trying to take the shorter road. I don't like Euthanasia at all, but I can't find any provision in the constitution forbidding it. If the people of Oregon feel it important for someone to end their life, then the feds should drop it. Conservatives can't have their cake and eat it too.

 

No where in the Constitution does it guarantee the right to death. The Bill of Rights however does stop the states from enacting certain laws. This is somewhat of a double edged sword. While we allow capitol punishment, we want to stop individuals from being their own executioners. I don't see this as a federal issue unless doctors and pharmacists are objecting to being forced to write, and fill these prescriptions. How is the case worded that they have put in front of the court?

 

How does a doctor take the Hypocritical Oath (The Oath, to which nearly all medical-school graduates solemnly swear, forbids both euthanasia and abortion) and write a prescription he knows will end his patients life? In my experience with terminal cases, and I have had the displeasure of being involved with several, the patient already had enough pain killers in their possession to the job without getting a doctor to specifically write them another to make sure of the outcome. As some one else here has stated, "just do it yourself". Why would you need help? How do you write a statute that cannot consider this "murder"? After all you are "killing" the person, no ifs ands or buts. What else can you call it?

 

One thing bothers me though, doesn't Oregon have a law against suicide? Will they not lock you up if you try this on your own without being in their onion terminal? I understand they think they have "plugged" all of the holes but the fact remains many people have been diagnosed with less than 6 months to live and are still around 2 years later. The only entity that can possibly know the outcome is the Good Lord himself. Well there you have it! Separation of Church and State would dictate Oregon or any other state is crossing the line by second guessing the Almighty with government aren't they?