A state district judge has ruled Montana residents have the right to doctor-assisted suicide.
The ruling was issued Judge Dorothy McCarter and makes Montana the third state in which doctor-assisted suicide is legal.
McCarter: "Treating physicians are frequently called upon to determine the competency of their patients for the purposes of guardianship and other legal proceedings. Whether a patient is terminally ill can also be determined by the physician as an integral component of the physician-patient relationship."
Attorney General Mike McGrath said that attorneys in his office will meet to discuss the ruling and expects the state will appeal the ruling. The attorney general's office argued that intentionally taking a life is illegal, and that the issue of assisted suicide falls under the responsibility of the Legislature, not the court.
Oregon passed its Death with Dignity Act in 1997 and Washington voters approved a similar law.
Full Article and Source:
Montana judge rules in favor of assisted suicide
See also:
Montana judge: Man has right to assisted suicide
Montana Becomes Third State to Allow Doctor-Assisted Suicide
Montana Judge Appears to Ignore State Law, Authorizes Assisted Suicide
Americans United For Life Denounces Montana Court's Assisted Suicide Decision, Urges Appeal
The ruling was issued Judge Dorothy McCarter and makes Montana the third state in which doctor-assisted suicide is legal.
McCarter: "Treating physicians are frequently called upon to determine the competency of their patients for the purposes of guardianship and other legal proceedings. Whether a patient is terminally ill can also be determined by the physician as an integral component of the physician-patient relationship."
Attorney General Mike McGrath said that attorneys in his office will meet to discuss the ruling and expects the state will appeal the ruling. The attorney general's office argued that intentionally taking a life is illegal, and that the issue of assisted suicide falls under the responsibility of the Legislature, not the court.
Oregon passed its Death with Dignity Act in 1997 and Washington voters approved a similar law.
Full Article and Source:
Montana judge rules in favor of assisted suicide
See also:
Montana judge: Man has right to assisted suicide
Montana Becomes Third State to Allow Doctor-Assisted Suicide
Montana Judge Appears to Ignore State Law, Authorizes Assisted Suicide
Americans United For Life Denounces Montana Court's Assisted Suicide Decision, Urges Appeal
Making assisted suicide a LAW is very dangerous and allows for opportunities of abuse of authority for profit. There was a case of a man married to a Psychiartist (Doctor) who became his Guardian through the courts after he became disabled. The wife, doctor/psychiatrist with the approval of the 'Team' at the facility she placed him in, ordered ECT to manage his 'behavior' in the facility. These treatments scared the 'victim' and caused memory loss (typical of ECT); he tried to get HIS family to intervene to stop against his expressed consent and wishes. He tried to get HIS family to stop the treatments. A court battle ensued and the family lost after spending $$$$$. The 'victim' died from complications of stroke. The literature on ECT is not promising and there is no evidence for long term efficacy. Why Psychiatry is bring back this treatment to manage 'behavior' of patients is ominous. Federal rules and regulations have specific guidelines for use requiring plans for treatment to minimize use; this includes pharmacological restraints as well as mechanical. It appears in patient facilities are utilizing ECT to keep its patients in control as a smoke screen treatment plan.
ReplyDeleteDoctors are people too, and are not an excluded profession from murder of spouses for convenience, for profit, etc.
I cannot express how disappointed and outraged I am that this plague is spreading.
ReplyDeleteWhat does it say about human beings?
What does it mean to vulnerable people?
Sad, sad, sad.