Sunday, June 03, 2007

Kevorkian Musings

Jack Kevorkian, whom the media nicknamed “Dr. Death,” was released from prison on June 1st, 2007.  Kevorkian’s release has once again brought the issue of assisted suicide into the national spotlight.

Assisted suicide, the term which the media prefers to utilize rather than euthanasia, because of its galvanizing effect, is a touchy subject for many individuals.  Even so, many individuals who consider euthanasia as wrong, should consider the following, and note that the scenario which I will soon relate is actually no different than the assistance Kevorkian gave to terminal individuals who desired to end their lives.

My father has non-functioning kidneys, and has suffered from this for the past ten years.  Due to this condition, my father has to dialyze every other day in order to maintain his life.

This is a definite burden on my father, and my mother, even though my father has the ability to perform this medical procedure in the comfort of his home.  But, if my father did not dialyze every other day, he would die.

So, here is what individuals should consider when contemplating euthanasia.  My father can, at any time, choose to NOT dialyze.  If he makes this choice to not dialyze, the toxins which accumulate in his body due to his failed kidneys, will kill him.  And my father CAN, and may, make this choice at some point in the future, and he will die.  It may take up to two weeks for my father to die, if he makes the choice to end his dialysis, and it could very well be rather an unpleasant way to die.

If my father does make the choice to end his dialysis regime, is it any different than individuals like Jack Kevorkian performing euthanasia for individuals who may be terminal patients?  And, if the state legislates that individuals may not, because of the “law,” perform euthanasia, is the state also going to legislate than individuals such as my father MUST dialyze every other day of their lives, that they may not freely choose to NOT dialyze and thus end their lives?  Is the state going to coercively force my father to dialyze every other day so that he will live?  Not on my watch.

Kevorkian Released After 8 Years

UPDATE: Dr. David Yeagley posts on this subject in a piece titled Death by Choice: The Kevorkian Quandary. Also, Kyle Markley has a few words to say in a post titled Self-Ownership.

Posted by John Venlet on 06/03 at 06:12 AM
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