Several years ago, the governor of a western state opined that the elderly had an obligation to society to go on and get out of the way. Obviously to him, physician-assisted killing is the expression of the right to kill for the good of society as a whole. In an analogous sentiment, Earl Shelby, a proponent of eugenics, warned against "a tyranny of the dependent in which the production of able persons is consumed by the almost limitless needs of dependent beings." Whether out of a Nazi-like desire to purify society, a more utilitarian desire to balance the state budget, or to better allocate limited resources, this view pushes well beyond the level of comfort for most Americans. Perhaps this is why it is not frequently verbalized by proponents of physician-assisted killing as validation.
I get suspicious when a quote appears out of context. I had to look hard, but I found it. To you, perhaps this appears to be "skimming over" something you find important. I submit that the author doesn't care if it's a government, a private insurance company, or a Doc with a big vacation coming up.....killing a patient should not be an option. I imagine you had to search as well, since the search for something fiduciary was probably on your mind. I saw only a couple of references to funding in this article. I think you're inserting an issue here.
again, that is a different issue. Personally, I am in the group that says public monies are far less productive, but this is a secondary issue. I do not disagree that the federal government in charge of anything outside constitutionally delegated functions is a bad thing. It's still secondary.
If the physician is to begin making value judgements on life based upon dollars, the slope is only a matter of degree.
The family is the natural enemy of the state. It is the family that should decide if they have the resources to maintain life or not. But even this is not the issue. Should our physicians (or anyone) have the option of removing the burden of guilt and/or debt by removing the patient? I think not.