2011 Vol. 25, No. 3 Patients Rights Council

Jack Kevorkian: It was never about the patient’s best interest

ack Kevorkian now knows death first Kevorkian’s medical career could concern. What mattered most to J hand. On June 3, at the age of 83, he hardly be called successful. He once told Kevorkian was that he had somehow personally experienced the natural dy- a gathering at Washington, DC’s Na- struck a chord, and the attention he so ing process in his hospital room in Royal tional Press Club that “people were just craved would finally be his. Oak, Michigan, as nurses played his frightened to death of me,” and “it was Over time, however, the two major favorite music by Johann Sebastian hopeless to get a position.” [Speech newspapers began to question Bach over the intercom. His was not an given 10/27/92] In 1989, he even ap- Kevorkian’s “professionalism.” In 1997, induced death, unlike the 130 people— plied for a job as a paramedic and was seven years into his assisted-suicide by his count—whose lives were ended turned down. [ Maga- campaign, the Detroit Free Press pub- with his “help.” zine, 2/3/91] lished its two-part investigative report Kevorkian had a long history of being As an unemployed pathologist—with on the 47 known deaths at that time. obsessed with death—the deaths of no clinical experience with live patients The paper found that Kevorkian consis- others, that is. His nickname, “Dr. other than during his internship and tently ignored rules and safeguards he, Death,” dates all the way back to 1956 military service in the 1950s— himself, established for “professional” when, as a young intern, he would go Kevorkian switched his attention to assisted-suicide practice. In at least 19 around the hospital photographing the creating suicide machines that sick and cases, the paper wrote, “Kevorkian has eyes of patients as they died. Not long disabled individuals could use to end failed to consult psychiatrists, even after, he wrote a paper advocating sur- their lives under his supervision. Those when dealing with depressed people.” gical experimentation and organ har- who came to him had a broad array of In at least 5 of those cases, “the people vesting on live death-row inmates medical conditions, such as neurologi- who died had histories of depression.” (under anesthesia) since they would be cal illnesses, cancer, dementia, paraly- Moreover, Kevorkian failed “to consult executed anyway. Prisons across the sis, and mental illnesses, yet he had no with pain specialists and other medi- country either ignored or rejected out- formal training in any of those fields of cal experts, even when the need was right his ghoulish proposals. medicine. But that didn’t seem to be a (continued on page 2)

Also in this Poll reveals disabled people’s fear of Update poll commissioned by mental to “the way that dis- The assisted-suicide debate A Scope, a leading British abled people are viewed by in the UK has increased in in- Kevorkian: disability organization, found society as a whole.” *Scope tensity this year. At the same A Dark Mirror on Society that 70 percent of disabled NDPP Survey, 2-3/11] time, the government is pro- Wesley J. Smith ·············· 2 people are fearful that chang- Richard Hawkes, Scope’s posing substantial cuts to the ing the law to allow assisted chief executive, said, “Disabled aid many disabled people need No action on Vermont suicide would create pressure people are already worried to live. “Sounds a little like the prescribed-suicide bill ····· 3 on those with disabilities to about people assuming their United States,” blogged Stephen FBI probe shuts down end their lives prematurely. life isn’t worth living or seeing Drake, research analyst for the suicide kit business ······ 3 More than one in three (35%) them as a burden, and are US disability group Not Dead said legalizing the practice genuinely concerned that a Yet. In the UK, “*t+hey’re fight- What family is all about would put pressure on them change in the law could in- ing battles that may be just as Jason Negri ···················· 4 personally to die, and over crease pressure on them to imminent for us within a very half (56%) said allowing as- short time.” *NDY News & News briefs from end their life.” *Scope Press home and abroad ············ 6 sisted suicide would be detri- Release, 5/9/11] Commentary, 6/14/11] ■ Page 2 PRC Update 2011 - Vol. 25, No. 3

Kevorkian: A Dark Mirror on Society by Wesley J. Smith

he death of Jack Kevorkian by natural causes has a cer- noted above, he wanted to engage in ghoulish experiments. T tain irony, but it is not surprising. His driving motive was It. Didn’t. Matter. He was fawned over by the media (Time always obsession with death. Indeed, as he described in his invited him as an honored guest to its 75th anniversary gala, book Prescription Medicide, Kevorkian’s overriding purpose and he had carte blanche on ), enjoyed high opin- in his assisted-suicide campaign was pure quackery, e.g., to ion polls, and after his release from prison was transformed obtain a societal license to engage in what he called by sheer revisionism into an eccentric Muppet. He was even “obitiatry,” that is, the right to experiment on the brains and played by in an HBO hagiography. spinal cords of “living human bodies” being euthanized to Kevorkian was disturbingly prophetic. He called for the “pinpoint the exact onset of extinction of an unknown cogni- creation of clinics where people could go who tive mechanism that energizes life.” didn’t want to live anymore. They now exist in Switzerland So, now that he is gone, what is Kevorkian’s legacy? and were recently overwhelmingly supported by the voters He assisted the suicides of 130 or so people and lethally of Zurich in an initiative intended to stop what is called injected at least two by his own admission (his first and his “.” Belgian doctors have now explicitly tied last); as a consequence of the latter, he served nearly ten euthanasia and organ harvesting. In the U.S., mobile suicide years in prison for . But I think his more important clinics run by Network zealots continue unabated place in contemporary history was as a dark mirror that re- despite two prosecutions, as voters in two states legalized flected how powerful the avoidance of suffering has become Kevorkianism as a medical treatment. as a driving force in society, and indeed, how that excuse Time will tell whether Kevorkian will be remembered seems to justify nearly any excess. merely as a kook who captured the temporary zeitgeist of the times, or whether he was a harbinger of a society that, in Thus, while the media continually described him as the the words of Canadian journalist Andrew Coyne, “believes in “retired” doctor who helped “the terminally ill” to commit nothing *and+ can offer no argument, even against death.“ ■ suicide, at least 70 percent of his assisted suicides were not dying, and five weren’t ill at all according to their autopsies. It. Didn’t. Matter. Kevorkian advocated tying assisted suicide Wesley J. Smith, J.D., is a legal consultant for the Pa- tients Rights Council, a senior fellow at the Discovery in with organ harvesting, and even stripped the kidneys from Institute, and a consultant to the Center for the body of one of his cases, offering them at a press confer- & Culture. His article appeared in National Review ence, “first come, first served.” It. Didn’t. Matter. And as Online on 6/3/11 and is reprinted with his permission.

Jack Kevorkian, continued from page 1 clearly indicated.” Another Kevorkian the Free Press, “Raskind told Kevorkian Badger, whose diagnosis of multiple rule—that there must be a 24-hour wait- that Adkins was not competent to make sclerosis was found by Oakland ing period between patients’ final death a life-and-death decision. Kevorkian County’s medical examiner to be requests and their deaths—was also gave her a lethal injection anyway, writ- mistaken; Frank Long, who had a 30- often ignored. According to the investi- ing later that his opinion was based year history of treatment for mental gation, “At least 19 patients died less solely on conversations with Adkins’ illness; Judith Curren, who had im- than 24 hours after meeting Kevorkian husband. *“Suicide Machine, Part 1,” properly been given anti-depression for the first time.” [Emphasis added.] Detroit Free Press, 3/3/97] medication by her own husband; and Roosevelt Dawson, a 21-year-old One of the investigation’s most re- After Kevorkian’s death, the Detroit quadriplegic who was dead in South- vealing findings had to do with Janet News ran an editorial echoing some of field within a few hours of his release Adkins, who had been chosen by the Free Press’s earlier findings and de- from a hospital in Grand Rapids. Kevorkian to be his first “patient.” He bunking Kevorkian’s persistent claims Their deaths indicate he failed to selected her “without ever speaking to that he carefully screened and coun- double-check the medical histories her, only with her husband.” Kevorkian seled patients before ever agreeing to of those who came to him, or simply also spoke with her doctor, Dr. Murray help them die: disregarded them. [Detroit News Raskind, who had been treating Adkins That is simply not true. Those whose Editorial, 6/4/11] in Seattle for Alzheimer’s. According to suicides he assisted included Rebecca (continued on page 3) 2011 - Vol. 25, No. 3 PRC Update Page 3 No action on Vermont FBI probe shuts down suicide kit business prescribed-suicide bill hen a Eugene, Oregon, newspa- ual Final Exit by , co- espite all their polling and other W per ran a lengthy article on the founder of the (now D research—all pointing to a slam- tragic suicide of 29-year-old Nick called Compassion & Choices) and a dunk victory in Vermont—and despite Klonoski, a Eugene native, things be- developer of the helium suicide their huge war chest—amounting to hun- gan to happen. People were outraged method. According to Humphry, Hy- dreds of thousands of dollars—national that this popular college graduate with dorn sells more than 100 kits a month and local doctor-prescribed suicide advo- incredible potential, who had periodic to clients around the world. [Register- cates were unable to advance their Ore- chronic fatigue with bouts of depres- Guard, 3/20/11; ABC News, 5/2/11] gon-style bill during the first of Vermont’s sion, was able to order and receive a News of Klonoski’s suicide 2011-2012 legislative sessions. Neither “helium hood kit” by mail, a kit made prompted a full FBI investigation and a the House bill (H.274) nor the Senate bill expressly to cause death. Klonoski’s raid on Hydorn’s home. Agents seized (S.103) was even heard in a committee. brother, Zach, put it this way: “They her computer, all her records, all com- There was absolutely no movement of made money off my brother. They pleted suicide kits (even those sent to any kind, thanks to a coalition of the gave him the tools to take his own life the post office awaiting delivery), all state’s disability community, the Vermont without knowing him, without know- material used to make them, and even Alliance for Ethical Healthcare, and others ing anything about him. For $60, they her sewing machine. Using her list of opposed to assisted suicide. blew his life apart.” clients that have already received kits, Prescribed-death advocates, however, The helium hood kit was manufac- police in the clients’ local areas are are gearing up for the second session next tured by the GLADD Group, a two- sending officers to check personally on year. Democratic Governor Peter Shumlin person California business run by 91- their wellbeing. Hyborn, who claims no has renewed his pledge to get the bill year-old Sharlotte Hydorn. The $60 kit wrongdoing, is effectively out-of- passed and signed into law, and propo- consists of a large plastic bag—custom business, for now. [AP, 5/26/11; NBC nents still have a sizable war chest to sewn by Hydorn to fit tightly around News, 6/27/11] mount an effective campaign. But 2012 is the suicidal person’s neck—and vinyl Oregon lawmakers also responded an election year, and, given the strong tubing that connects the bag to a he- by passing a bill banning the sale of opposition coalition, proponents will lium canister, which the person has to suicide kits and authorizing the arrest likely find their lobbying efforts even buy on his or her own. Also included of offenders operating in other states. more difficult than they were this year. ■ are instructions from the suicide man- [OR Public Broadcasting, 6/17/11] ■

Jack Kevorkian, continued from page 2 Since his death, Kevorkian has been to PRC legal consultant Wesley J. Smith, “beneficial medical acts” in a 1986 eulogized as a “hero,” a “freedom reveal Kevorkian’s “grotesquely utilitar- article published in the journal Medi- fighter,” and a “compassionate vision- ian” goals. *tothesource.org, 6/8/11+ In cine and Law. He envisioned a process ary.” He has also been called a his book, Prescription: Medicide, by which “subjects” (including infants, “murderer,” a “quack,” and—as the Kevorkian wrote: children, and the mentally incompe- American Medical Association called I feel it is only decent and fair to tent) would be used for experiments him in 1995—a “reckless instrument of explain my ultimate aim… It is not “of any kind or complexity.” If the sub- death.” *Bloomberg, 6/3/11; NY Times, simply to help suffering or doomed jects survived the experiments, he 6/3/11; Detroit Free Press, 6/10/11; persons kill themselves—that is wrote, “death may be induced” by Philly Magazine, 6/13/11] merely the first step, an early dis- “removal of organs for transplanta- How people viewed Kevorkian usu- tasteful professional obligation that tion” or by “a lethal dose of a new or ally depended on whether they were nobody in his or her right mind untested drug to be administered by willing to scratch the surface of his im- would savor… What I find most sat- an official executioner.” *Medicine and age, honed over the years by his law- isfying is the prospect of making Law (1986), pp. 194-195] yers, mindless reporters looking for possible the performance of invalu- Kevorkian never publicly retracted sensational stories, and Hollywood able experiments or other beneficial any of his published writings. ■ screen writers. (The HBO movie “You medical acts under conditions that

Don’t Know Jack,” probably should have this first unpleasant step can help carried the disclaimer, “And you still establish…. *Prescription: Medicide Editor’s note: For more facts about the won’t know Jack after seeing this.”) (1991), p. 214] real Jack Kevorkian, visit: The best way to get to know Jack is Kevorkian had described those http://www.patientsrightscouncil.org/ through his writings, which, according “invaluable experiments” and site/jack-kevorkian Page 4 PRC Update 2011 - Vol. 25, No. 3

WhatWhat familyfamily isis allall aboutabout

by Jason Negri

ime to brush your teeth!” that they will be providing assis- It was apparent that Herman was “T Sue Doherty called. But tance to their parents as they age. not being properly cleaned, and he knowing that Marie would need her developed bedsores. The home was “They initially moved in with us in help, Sue sighed and made her way understaffed and could not ade- the mid-90’s,” recalls Suzanne. “My to the bathroom to begin the bed- quately care for the residents. One father had Alzheimer’s, and it time ritual. “First, we use the toilet. night when Sue and her mother started to become too much for my Next, let’s wear this nightgown— were visiting Herman, she counted mother to care for him and for her- isn’t it pretty? Now we wash our only three nurses on site, trying to self. She began mixing up their hands and face,” she said, panto- care for over sixty resident patients. medications, and it became appar- miming a scrubbing motion. “I’ll put ent that they needed some help.” Alzheimer’s gradually deprived the toothpaste on the brush if you Having her parents living in the Herman of his ability to swallow, so want to brush your own teeth. house with them made it more con- Sue asked about inserting a feeding Okay, let me check. Good job!” Sue venient for Sue to give them the tube so that her father could con- smiled encouragingly, gave Marie a care they needed, of course. She tinue to eat and drink. A nurse at kiss, and shepherded her off to bed. worried less about them when they the facility told her that a doctor It’s a familiar scene to anyone were right there under her watchful would come around “in two weeks” who has small children. Except the eye. But the live-in arrangement to assess Herman’s need for a feed- last time Sue did this for one of her was also demanding, and it took its ing tube. Despite Sue’s pleading and own daughters was some thirty toll. There were nights when Sue demands, the nurse coldly refused years ago. Marie is Sue’s mother. would collapse onto her bed, ex- to do any more. Sue mentioned the hausted, and wonder, “What would situation to a doctor friend, who When the youngest of their four it be like to just have myself to take visited Herman and put in the feed- daughters had finally left the nest, care of?” ing tube himself. Mike and Sue Doherty were looking forward to having some time for The demands increased when Herman lived for eight weeks with themselves, maybe traveling a bit, Herman developed pneumonia and the feeding tube, and Sue and her and doting on grandchildren. But was hospitalized. At that time, Mike mother visited him every day. Then, life took a different turn for them, and Sue realized that he needed one day, they returned from lunch as it has for so many others, when twenty-four-hour supervision, so to find that Herman had died in his they took in Sue’s nonagenarian they explored local nursing homes sleep. “In some ways, because he parents, Herman and Marie Liedel. and transferred Herman to one had struggled for so long, his death straight from the hospital. There was a relief,” Sue admits. I didn’t cry They were not alone. According were few options, and being unfa- for him at that time, but the tears to a 2008 poll by USA Today/ABC miliar with “the system,” and under came later, when I missed him.” News/Gallup, over forty-one per- time constraints to find a facility, cent of American baby boomers are Mike and Sue chose a nursing home Sue and Mike knew that Marie providing some care for their eld- that seemed fine and was conven- would eventually have to go into a erly parents, and eight percent say ient for them to visit. However, Sue nursing home as well. Now armed that their parents live with them in soon became dissatisfied with the with the knowledge they had their home. And many more expect treatment her father was receiving. gained from their experiences with 2011 - Vol. 25, No. 3 PRC Update Page 5

Herman, they searched and found from the IV were backing up, and something or someone unseen, St. Anne’s—half an hour away and her veins were collapsing. then looked around the room, smil- expensive, but with a wonderful ing and laughing. A nurse said she Before her stroke, Marie’s Alz- and caring staff. They put Marie on was in transition—moving to the heimer’s had become very bad. the two-year waiting list to get in, next life. She had seen it before in Strangely enough, after the stroke, and continued caring for her in other patients. “This most awe- she became more lucid for a time. their home. some experience,” as Sue describes Sue asked her if she wanted to go, it, lasted for fifteen minutes. Shortly after, Sue herself was in if it was time. Her mom nodded; need of back surgery, so she lined she knew she was dying. Sue told Sue wasn’t at her bedside when up her daughters to come and help Marie passed. She had stepped out take care of their grandmother for of the room for a moment, but she the month she’d be recovering. had felt a sense that her mother Then, the day before Sue’s surgery, Over forty-one “wasn’t there” anymore. “I started St. Anne’s called and said they had to cry,” she recalls, “but then I an opening. They brought Marie for percent of American asked myself, ‘Why am I crying? a trial night while Sue recovered baby boomers Mom has achieved her goal. No from her surgery. She loved it, and more worries, concerns or pain. never asked about coming back. are providing some She made it; released from this life. After almost three years, in Au- care for their This is the happiest day of her gust of 2010, Marie had a stroke life.’” Sue told the staff not to be that left her unable to talk or swal- elderly parents, and sad, and never cried for her mom low. She went to a hospital, where eight percent say that again. doctors hesitated about putting in Today, almost a year later, Sue a feeding tube for her. Mike and their parents thinks back to the years she spent Sue talked to the hospital ethicist, live with them taking care of her parents. If she who said that Marie’s condition has regrets, they’re only over her had so deteriorated that she was in in their home. own failures. “You never think you the “dying process,” and her body did enough for them; you always wouldn’t absorb the nutrients. Put- second-guess yourself,” she admits. ting in a feeding tube would actu- her that she was loved, adding, “Sometimes I wasn’t as patient ally be a burden to her, they ex- “We will miss you, but it’s okay for with mom as I should have plained. She was getting hydration you to go.” The relief on her mom’s through her IV, so Sue agreed to been.”But despite the difficulties, face, Sue said, was beautiful. She forego the feeding tube. having her parents in her home returned to St. Anne’s and received was “a blessing” to her, and an ex- This decision caused problems hospice care there until the end. ample to her own children. She saw with one of Sue’s sisters, who She was asked every day if she was it as a privilege and also as thought that they had condemned hungry or thirsty and always said “payback” in a sense, for their rais- their mom to death by not de- no. Her mouth was swabbed as ing her for eighteen years. “You manding the feeding tube. But Sue needed, she received Communion don’t abandon your parents when knew that she had made the right every day, and she received visits they need you,” Sue explained. decision, that when the dying proc- from her children and grandchil- “That’s what family is all about.” ■ ess begins and the body is unable dren. After a time she began to to absorb nutrition, inserting a sleep a lot, and was no longer able feeding tube is actually counterpro- to speak, but she did sit up and ductive. give Sue a last long hug of thanks. Jason Negri, J.D., is the Indeed, Sue’s body kept shutting On September 2, Marie came out assistant director of the down and soon, even the fluids of a deep sleep, looked ahead at Patients Rights Council. Page 6 PRC Update 2011 - Vol. 25, No. 3

NewsNews briefsbriefs fromfrom homehome && abroadabroad ......

 Gallup’s 2011 Values and Beliefs poll found that the most with “countless cases of neglect, infected sores, sexual divisive moral issue in America today is doctor-assisted abuse, malnourishment and deaths.” Now that the Florida suicide. The poll, conducted May 5-8, 2011, surveyed Legislature is proposing “deep cuts” in Medicaid funding 1,018 adults nationwide. When asked about the moral for nursing home patients, on top of federal Medicare cuts acceptability of doctor-assisted suicide, respondents 45% for the nursing homes, those “hellhole” warehouses are said it is acceptable and 48% said it is morally wrong. The likely to return, especially for dementia patients. “I’m not number of people who think the practice is morally ac- arguing that we pour unlimited funds into nursing home,” ceptable has fallen from a high of 53% in 2004 to a low he opined. “Our plundering of the next generation has to of 45% in 2011. [Gallup.com, 5/31/11] stop somewhere.” *“Law should allow choice of death over dementia,” Orlando Sentinel, 4/25/11 ]  Another poll—conducted in May by the Suffolk Univer- sity Political Research Center in Boston—is believed to The rationale underpinning Thomas’ commentary—as be the first time a nationwide survey has linked health well as the responses to the Suffolk University polling care costs for seniors with end-of-life choices. Since rising question—was predicted by Derek Humphry (Final Exit health care costs and proposed cuts in Medicare are cur- author and Hemlock Society co-founder) and Mary Clem- rently being hotly debated, the survey asked, “To help ent in their book, Freedom to Die: save health care costs, do you believe mentally-able sen- Similar to other social issues, the right-to-die movement iors should be able to end their own lives?” Of the 1,070 has not arisen separate and distinct from other concur- respondents, 375 (35%) said YES, 566 (53%) said NO, and rent developments of our time. In attempting to answer 129 (12%) said they were undecided. [Question 43, Suf- the question Why Now?, one must look at the realities folk University National Survey, 5/10-17/11] of the increasing cost of health care in an aging society, Researchers were surprised by the results. “The wording because in the final analysis, economics, not the quest for broadened individual liberties or increased auton- of the question directly links the economic piece to end- omy, will drive assisted suicide to the plateau of accept- of-life, so I thought there would be various slices of no’s able practice. As technology advances, as medical costs that outweighed the yes’s,” remarked David Paleologos, skyrocket out of control, as chronic diseases predomi- director of the university’s Political Research Center and a nate, as the projected rate of the eighty-five-and-older pollster for more than 25 years. “For me, it was an amaz- population accelerates, as managed care seeks to cut ing finding that over a third said that this should be an costs and as Medicare is predicted to go bankrupt by option for mentally-able seniors,” he added. Other previ- 2007, the pressures of cost containment provide impe- ous end-of-life choices polls have not singled out seniors tus, whether openly acknowledged or not, for the prac- as a group for a death option and always contained ques- ticalities of an assisted death. [Freedom to Die: People, tions that clearly linked the “” to terminal ill- Politics, and the Right-to-die Movement, 2000, p. 339 nesses, not costs. [Boston Globe, 6/6/11] (paperback); emphasis added.]

It should be noted that the Suffolk University polling  A recently published Time Magazine article echoed Tho- question did not stipulate that seniors had to be physi- mas’ call for dementia patients’ right to die. Referring to cally ill or suffering in anyway, just that they be “mentally recent research advances that would make it possible to able .” detect the beginning of Alzheimer’s disease before the on- set of any symptoms, Erik Parens and Josephine Johnston  The Orlando Sentinel recently published a commentary (both research scholars at the Hastings Center) wrote that by one of its columnists, Mike Thomas. “We need a physi- early detection would help patients and their families “plan cian-assisted suicide law in Florida,” Thomas wrote. “Only for the future”—a future that “could include patients plan- we should go beyond the laws approved by voters in ning their own deaths.” Washington and Oregon.” What Thomas meant by “go beyond” was that Florida, with its large senior population, We cannot ignore competent people who say they should not only legalize doctor-prescribed suicide for the would rather die than no longer recognize their children terminally ill, but for those with Alzheimer’s disease and or the partner with whom they built a life. Nor should other forms of dementia as well. In the past, according to we dismiss those who say that they can’t themselves Thomas, Florida’s nursing homes—where the state’s de- afford to pay for years of nursing home care, don’t want mentia patients usually end up—were simply warehouses their children saddled with that expense, or would 2011 - Vol. 25, No. 3 PRC Update Page 7

rather that the money be used for their grandchildren’s people are putting themselves forward for death so early education…. Fear should not keep us from trying to suggests that there has been quite a bit of pressure put imagine whether we can honor the truly informed re- on them,” observed Phyllis Bowman of the British group quests of people who believe that the way of dying that . [Daily Mail, 6/29/11] A national poll, con- fits best with their understanding of a good life, is to ducted by the hospitals of Utrecht, Groningen, and Rot- leave before Alzheimer’s fully takes hold. *Time Maga- terdam Universities, found that 1 in 3 Dutch doctors are zine, 6/8/11] willing to terminate the lives of early-stage dementia patients. [Radio Netherlands Worldwide, 6/26/11]  An article, published in the Seattle Weekly’s “Health and Welfare” section, explicitly instructed readers on how to  According to a report, published in the journal Applied make and use their own “helium-hood” suicide kit. (See Cardiopulmonary Pathophysiology, doctors in Belgium page 3 for more on the kit.) The article also reported that are harvesting organs from euthanized patients, organs the Oregon House of Representatives had passed a bill that doctors say are superior in quality to those ob- outlawing those kits. Then the author, Curtis Cartier, wrote tained from brain-dead patients or those who have suf- this: “Oregonians with an unshakable desire to end their fered cardiac arrest. Approximately 25 percent of Bel- lives are therefore encouraged to seek out more traditional gian lung donors and 3 percent of heart donors have methods of suicide.” *“How to Kill Yourself With a Suicide died by lethal injection. Doctors are quick to say that all Kit,” Seattle Weekly, 6/13/11] the euthanasia and organ procurement procedures were performed in a hospital with the patient’s consent Editor’s comment: Has legalized assisted-suicide in both and on the day requested by the patient. Donor patients Oregon and Washington so altered the thinking there that a who have debilitating neurological or muscular condi- newspaper feels justified in openly teaching people how to tions, like multiple sclerosis, have organs suitable for kill themselves and encouraging Oregonians to use “more transplantation. Cancer patients do not. [Pabst Publish- traditional methods of suicide” in lieu of a mail-order kit? ers Press Release, 6/10/11; Mercator.net, 6/13/11; Daily Many would call this and the calls for induced deaths for Mail, 6/14/11] dementia patients (see p. 6) classic examples of the slippery slope. “Given that half of all euthanasia cases in Belgium are involuntary, it must be only a matter of time before the  Dementia patients are clearly an endangered species in organs are taken from patients who are euthanized with- the Netherlands. In 2010, 21 early-stage dementia pa- out their consent,” warned Dr. Peter Saunders, head of tients were reported euthanized by lethal injection, up , a British coalition of diverse groups and from 3 such deaths reported in 2006. Over the last year, individuals opposed to euthanasia. “Doctors there are public hearings have been held to instruct seniors—even now doing things that most doctors in other countries those who are healthy—about their “right” to die, particu- would find absolutely horrific.” *Telegraph, 6/14/11] larly as it applies to a future dementia diagnoses. “That (continued on page 8)

The legacy you leave could save lives…

id you know that one of the most effective ways you  Gift assets that you no longer need or want—perhaps D can support the work of the Patients Rights Council is a vacation home, land, or a life insurance policy. through a planned gift? Get creative—for example, by selling property to the Many tax-advantaged financial tools can be used to sup- PRC at a charitable discount, deeding your home to the port the PRC and its fight against euthanasia and doctor- PRC while you continue to live there, or even by making a prescribed suicide. At the same time, these tools can bring gift that pays you income for the rest of your life. certain advantages to both you and your family. For instance, If you believe in our mission and want to support us you could: with a planned gift, please contact:  Make a tax-free gift from your IRA. Jason Negri, Assistant Director Gift appreciated securities to the PRC, which could  Patients Rights Council cost you less than the tax deduction you would receive. P.O. Box 760  Make the PRC a beneficiary of your will, revocable Steubenville, OH 43952 trust, or retirement plan—costing you nothing during Phone: 800-958-5678 your lifetime. [email protected]

Page 8 PRC Update 2011 - Vol. 25, No. 3

News briefs from home and abroad, continued from page 7 The Patients Rights Council (formerly the International Task Force on Euthanasia &  Nowhere has the issue of assisted sui- tas. His death was not shown. It was Assisted Suicide) is a human rights group cide been more hotly debated than in later revealed by his brother that formed in 1987 to promote and defend the right of all patients to be treated with Great Britain—thanks to continued something went wrong, and it took respect, dignity and compassion and to work flame-stoking by the BBC and the ad- over 90 minutes for Colgan to die—a with individuals and organizations to resist vocacy group (DID). fact that the BBC and Pratchett ne- attitudes, programs and policies which threaten the lives of those who are medically Since 2008, the BBC has aired five pro- glected to mention. [Times, 6/13/11; vulnerable. To those ends, the PRC compiles grams, all in favor of legalizing assisted Daily Mail, 6/14/11 & 6/26/11] well-documented and up-to-date informa- suicide. The most controversial was tion on a whole range of end-of-life issues, including health care advance directives, broadcast on June 13, after weeks of At the same time the BBC and DID futile care policies, health care reform, and all the hype and fanfare the BBC and are pushing assisted suicide, the doctor-prescribed death. DID could muster. The program, scandalous state of elder care in the The Update is available to the general UK is coming to light. The care pro- public; suggested minimum donation is “Choosing to Die,” hosted by science $25.00 [U.S.] a year. Add $3.00 for foreign fiction writer Sir Terry Pratchett, vided by the National Health Service postage. showed the actual death of millionaire (NHS) in some areas is so bad that doctors are having to write prescrip- Executive Director: Rita Marker, J.D. Peter Smedley, 71, at the suicide clinic Assistant Director: Jason Negri, J.D Dignitas in Switzerland. Smedley, who tions for drinking water so that eld- Consultant: Wesley J. Smith, J.D. had ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease), was erly patients don’t die of thirst in the Editor: Kathi Hamlon still in an early stage of the disease. He hospital. A recent report by the Care was accompanied by his resigned wife Quality Commission indicates that Patients Rights Council P.O. Box 760 and cheered on by Pratchett, who has over 800 die of dehydration every Steubenville, OH 43952 USA early-stage Alzheimer’s and is a gener- year and another 300 die of malnutri- 800-958-5678 or 740-282-3810 ous patron of DID. Earlier in the show, tion. In some hospitals, staff rou- www.patientsrightscouncil.org Pratchett interviewed Andrew Colgan, tinely ignore elderly patients’ calls for Copyright © 2011 Patients Rights Council

42, who had MS and also died at Digni- help. [Daily Mail, 5/27/11] ■

Requested Service Return

Material Dated

65 No. Permit

U.S.A. U.S.A. U.S.A.

43952

43952 OH Steubenville, 43952 OH Steubenville, 43952 OH Steubenville,

OH Steubenville,

760 Box P.O 760 Box P.O 760 Box P.O Paid Postage U.S.

Organization Council Rights Patients Council Rights Patients Council Rights Patients

Nonprofit