Euthanasia

Euthanasia

Dear Editor:

Dr. Harold Shipman of England has been convicted of murdering 15 of his middle-aged and elderly patients with lethal doses of heroin. Police theorize he may have dispatch 150 victims in all. For his crime, the doctor got life in prison. In England they believe execution of murderers is cruel and inhumane.

The thing that strikes me about this case is that there is a strong movement in this country and Europe to make it legal for doctors to administer lethal injections to patients who are suffering serious disabilities. Holland now allows this practice. Oregon has legalized it. The problem is, some of those doctors who are eager to help put poor, unfortunate souls out of their misery, feel that they also have the right to make the decision for their patients should they fail to make it for themselves. This brings us right to the case of Dr. Shipman. Can we expect to see the backers and supporters of Dr. Jack Korvorkian rallying to the defense of Shipman?

Before Hippocrates, doctors routinely included killing in their practice. Until our generation, doctors swore not to administer any deadly drugs. Now they only swear to do nothing illegal. Beneath the thin veneer of civilization lies the coarse and cruel barbarism of humanity. Those who attempt to tear down the laws protecting the weak and helpless put all of us at risk of these neo-barbarians.

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