New UK Push for Euthanasia--First “Comatose” Me, then Dehydrate Me

LifeSiteNews ^ | 2/16/07 | Gudrun Schultz

[wagglebee]

LONDON, United Kingdom, February 16, 2007 (LifeSiteNews.com) - A 30-year old woman who tried to commit suicide last year but found it “too undignified” is now taking her doctors to court for refusing to agree to her demand for euthanasia.

Diagnosed with a terminal disease that doctors estimate leaves her with less than a year to live, Taylor is demanding that her doctors give her enough morphine to put her into a comatose state, and then withhold food and water from her until she dies from starvation and dehydration, The Scotsman reported Feb.13.

Her doctors have refused, saying the procedure would constitute euthanasia.

It is not illegal to administer sufficient medication to control pain, even if the necessary drug levels may inadvertently cause the death of the patient. As well, it is now legally permissible for an individual to sign a “living will” rejecting artificial food or water in the case of severe incapacitation, as Taylor has done. In Taylor’s case, however, the doctors have said that the two actions requested by the disabled woman constitute euthanasia, since the intention of the actions taken together would be to cause her death.

In July 2006 Taylor tried to commit suicide by starving herself to death but found it too painful. After 19 days she decided the process of death by starvation was less dignified than living with the pain and disability of her condition, according to The Scotsman report, and began to take food.

Taylor has launched a lawsuit claiming the doctors are violating her human rights by refusing to help her commit suicide. Her lawyers have applied for a court order that would force the physicians to accede to her demands or help her find another physician willing to carry out the lethal procedure.

Taylor’s lawyers will argue that the doctors’ refusal violates a section of the European Convention on Human Rights that bans “inhuman or degrading treatment.”

The disabled woman was born with the heart and lung condition Eisenmenger’s syndrome, as well as a spinal defect known as Klippel-Feil syndrome. She is allergic to many pain medications, making it difficult for her doctors to control her pain levels.

“I’m not depressed--I am a happy person,” Taylor said. “But my illness is now at the point where I don’t want to deal with it any more. My consultant has told me he does not expect me to live for another year. In that time I will deteriorate and that deterioration will become quite undignified. I want to avoid that.”

Doctors in the UK were warned in November that they could face prison sentences if they refused to follow patients’ demands for cessation of medical treatment, food and water, even if it would result in the patient’s death.

Lord Falconer, the Lord Chancellor of England, made the statement while unveiling new guidelines for doctors under the Mental Capacity Act that comes into effect this spring.

“If you are satisfied that an advance decision exists which is valid and applicable, then not to abide by it could lead to a legal claim for damages or a criminal prosecution for assault,” the guidelines state.

Alex Schadenberg, executive director of Canada’s Euthanasia Prevention Coalition, warned at the time that the Act was a preliminary step in the introduction of “euthanasia by omission.” Schadenberg told LifeSiteNews.com that the Act allowed for the intentional killing of patients who would not otherwise be dying by withholding food and fluids.

An initial hearing of Taylor’s case took place yesterday at London’s High Court.

See related LifeSiteNews coverage:

UK Doctors Face Jail if They Refuse to Euthanize Patients
http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2006/nov/06112102.html

UK Euthanasia Bill Defeated In House of Lords
http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2006/may/06051509.html

[wagglebee]

Taylor’s lawyers will argue that the doctors’ refusal violates a section of the European Convention on Human Rights that bans “inhuman or degrading treatment.”

No, starving and dehydrating her to death is “inhuman or degrading treatment.”

[wagglebee]

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[Vigilanteman]

Disgusting. She doesn't want to off herself, but wants the doctors to do it for her.

[workerbee]

If someone truly wishes to end his or her own life, there are many ways to succeed alone. Why is it more "dignified" to make someone else do the deed?

[MPJackal]

Just plain selfish. She can't do it herself so she wants to FORCE someone else to do it. Her pain will be over, but the person that is forced to kill her will have to live with that the rest of their lives. How nice. And now the Socialist in government also want to force doctors to kill patients.

This on the heels of the government wanting to with hold medical treatment if you are fat or smoke or if you are..................a Jew. How far down the road do you have to travel to recognize evil.

[StormEye]

If someone provided her with a revolver
would she pull the trigger on herself? --- Nah.

[Chickensoup]

Another drama queen .


There a quiet ways to suicide for people who really want it.

[OldPossum]

In July 2006 Taylor tried to commit suicide by starving herself to death but found it too painful.

As I understand it, shotguns are still legal in the U.K. Why not acquire one, buy one shell, and off herself? Simple as can be. Leaves a mess, but coroners are used to cleaning up messes.

P.S. She describes herself as a "happy person." Yep, sounds like a real bundle of joy.

[T'wit]

>> In July 2006 Taylor tried to commit suicide by starving herself to death but found it too painful

THE WOMAN IS LYING! Starving to death is painless. It's euphoric. It's a blissful dying experience. Dehydrating to death is practically orgasmic. Michael Schiavo said so, and if you don't believe him, just ask George Felos.

[Pinkbell]

So true, Michael Schiavo should know.

What ever happened to this once good Hippocratic Oath?

"I swear by Apollo, Æsculapius, Hygieia, and Panacea, and I take to witness all the gods, all the goddesses, to keep according to my ability and my judgement, the following Oath.

To consider dear to me as my parents him who taught me this art; to live in common with him and if necessary to share my goods with him; To look upon his children as my own brothers, to teach them this art if they so desire without fee or written promise; to impart to my sons and the sons of the master who taught me and the disciples who have enrolled themselves and have agreed to the rules of the profession, but to these alone the precepts and the instruction.

I will prescribe regimens for the good of my patients according to my ability and my judgment and never do harm to anyone.

To please no one will I prescribe a deadly drug nor give advice which may cause his death.

Nor will I give a woman a pessary to procure abortion.

But I will preserve the purity of my life and my arts.

I will not cut for stone, even for patients in whom the disease is manifest; I will leave this operation to be performed by practitioners, specialists in this art.

In every house where I come I will enter only for the good of my patients, keeping myself far from all intentional ill-doing and all seduction and especially from the pleasures of love with women or with men, be they free or slaves.

All that may come to my knowledge in the exercise of my profession or in daily commerce with men, which ought not to be spread abroad, I will keep secret and will never reveal.

If I keep this oath faithfully, may I enjoy my life and practice my art, respected by all men and in all times; but if I swerve from it or violate it, may the reverse be my lot."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hippocratic_Oath

[wagglebee]

It's so euphoric that armed guards need to be posted lest a schoolchild come along with a bottle of water to spoil the euphoria.

[8mmMauser]

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8mm