From Wikipedia:
Right to life is a phrase that describes the belief that a human being has an essential right to live, particularly that a human being has the right not to be killed by another human being. The concept of a right to life is central to debates on the issues of capital punishment, euthanasia, self defense, abortion and war. The right to life is enshrined in article 3 of the United Nations' Universal Declaration of Human Rights and in article 6 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, making it a legally enforceable right in every United Nations member state:
“ Every human being has the inherent right to life. This right shall be protected by law. No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his life.
—Article 6.1 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
—Article 6.1 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
Pro-life advocates who support this concept define embryos and fetuses as human beings which have a right to life, and oppose embryonic stem cell research and abortion.
Contrary to prevailing norms, the Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany holds the principle of human dignity paramount, even above the right to life.
Now let me tell you some of my true life stories. Keep in mind that this story is not met to criticize or defame any particular entity or doctor. However, it is my belief that the same events continue today and should be prevented.
My Grandmother was a person that I loved. I recall my Grandmother fixing bread in her wood burning kitchen stove and having a large family get-together at her dinning room table with my grandfather at the head She had chicken dumplings and mince pie and after wards I went to the front porch in the very broken in lounge chair. As time progressed I attended college and occasionally dropped by and watched television with my Grand parents. Occasionally, my Grandmother would doze off and my Grandfather would yell at her in a demanding loud tone. "Etta! Etta! Wake up! I do not want to be watching television by myself." I would repeat my visits and sometimes bring my girlfriends. My Grandmother would take us to her flower garden and break her off a rose. Yes my memories of my Grandparents are fond indeed. However, time is very cruel. These good times were to end.
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My first encounter with the right to life issue happened when my Grandmother was diagnosed with cancer.
My Grandmother was having pain in the lower side area of her abdomen. She went to the hospital and had radiation treatments. In less than one month she was again having severe pains. The doctor had her admitted to the Local Hospital.
My sister Jeannine was aghast out the care my Grandmother was getting at the Local Hospital. She said that my Grandmother was lying incapacitated on the hospital bed and was unable to feed herself. The Nurse, instead of feeding her, laid a small plate of Jello on the table next to her. Grandmother was getting no nourishment. When I visited her she was complaining of being in pain due to her catheter. I pulled her cover back and noticed the catheter was full and needed emptying and it was likely a point of infection . I also noticed her lying in her own feces. I found out that the doctor in Worthington had given up hope on my Grandmother and instead of feeding her, intravenous or otherwise, he was going to let her die of starvation without any consultation of other doctors for a second opinion. I viewed it as a mercy killing! Based on his ego, he knew best and there was no other solution. He was God and was smarter than any other doctor. My other sister Elaine was at the time working at the blood laboratory in Terre Haute, Indiana and was acquainted with all the doctors in the Terre Haute Indiana. She and others categorized this one doctor in Terre Haute as being the best. I asked her if this doctor could take over my Grandmothers case. I made a trip and talked to the Terre Haute doctor personally on Monday. He said that he believed that he could help my Grandmother. I then preceded taking steps to have this doctor take over. I called my Aunts and Uncles. Since I was only a Grandchild, I had no authority to change my Grandmother's doctor. On Tuesday I called each of my six Aunts and Uncles who agreed to change doctors. On Wednesday, I called the doctor's office so that this transaction could take place. The Worthington Doctor’s secretary said that it was the doctors’ day off and that she could not disturb him regardless whether or not it was life or death.. I got no response from the doctor that day. On Thursday I contacted him and he said that the doctor taking over the case would have to call him first first. On Friday I expected the ambulance to move my Grandmother to the Terre Haute Union hospital but nothing happened. Why? I called the Worthington Doctor, who said that he talked to the other doctor who said that he was handling the case fine. I called the Terre Haute doctor and got no response. On Saturday, the doctor in Terre Haute Doctor returned my call. He said that the Worthington doctor said that my Grandmother had double phenomena and with her in this condition he cold do nothing for her. On Sunday the family was called to the Linton hospital. I would not go because I did not want the imprint of her last breath on my mind for the rest of my life. A part of me died that day.
Now I am asking for your response (including responses from church organizations) to the following questions:
· Since we are all required to die should we not have a say so as to how we want to die?
·Is starving a person and allowing him or her to die of phenomena, which is like breathing through a straw closing off gradually your air, the most humane way of dying? Is it the best solution to mercy killing?
· Would it not be better to be given a pill and go to sleep?
· Instead of depending on a doctor and his ego should not mercy killings be conducted only after conferring with multiple doctors?
· Selecting doctors are like selecting from a lottery. Would it be better to have the doctors competency in different areas rated on the Web?
· Should not doctors hospitals caring for dying patients be punished severely when they do not properly care for a dying patient?
· Would you want to die this way?
·Is not hospitals and doctors prime purpose to make people well again and not to kill them.
·Does not placing people in hospitals to die take away from the living in both expense and care?
·If you were my Grandmother in this circumstance, how would you like to die?
