Euthanasia News

 

On August 29, 2009, it was reported, that a doctor who was working at the New Orleans' Medical Center, during Hurricane Katrina admitted, he euthanized patients because of a critical shortage, of energy and supplies at the hospital. This admission, comes on the 4th anniversary of Katrina, which led to the death of more than a thousand people and the displacement of 1 million. It' also no accident, it comes at a time, when the US is debating fundamental reforms in the health care system. The specter of rationed health care, has been debated, in any health care reform bill.

 

That being said, the debate over rationing, is being held today, in the clean halls of Congress. During Katrina, panic and chaos gave rise to the notion, of rationed care.

 

Despite these revelations, the state prosecution service in Louisiana says, it will not reopen an investigation. Past history reveals, investigators poured over evidence, in July of 2006. Louisiana Dept of Justice agents, arrested the doctors and nurses, in connection with the death of four patients. The physician, Anna Pou, defended herself  on national television, saying, her role was to help patients through their pain, a position she maintains today. A New Orleans Grand Jury, declined to indict her on 2nd degree murder charges and the case has faded from view, until these new revelations.

 

In the four years since Katrina, Dr. Pou has helped right and pass three laws in Louisiana, that offer immunity to health care professionals, from most civil lawsuits - for their work in future disasters, from hurricanes, to terrorists attacks, to pandemic influenza. The law also encourages prosecutors, to await the findings of a medical panel before deciding, whether or not to prosecute medical professionals. Dr. Pou, has also been advising state and medical organizations, on disaster and legal reform. She has lectured on medicine and ethics at national conferences and addressed military medical trainees.  In her advocacy, she argues for changing the standard of medical care, in emergencies. She has said, that informed consent, is impossible during disasters, and, that doctors need to be able to evacuate the sickest or most severely injured patients last - along with those who have "Do Not Resuscitate Orders" - an approach she and her colleagues used, as conditions worsened, during Katrina. 

 

The debate goes on. Euthanasia is defined, by "intent". Is the intent of a particular drug, to kill the patient, or make them more comfortable? These are the questions, still being debated, about Katrina today. But, make no mistake about it, the debate in Congress is not about "intent". It is about rationing. It is about euthanasia.

 

 

Montana Court to Rule on Assisted Suicide Case

 

The Montana Supreme Court will hear a case, that a physician refusal, to assist him in suicide violated his rights, under Montana's constitution, on September 2nd. Lawyers on both sides of the case say, the chances are good, that assisted suicide will be upheld. If, that is the case, then Montana will become the only state in the nation, to allow assisted suicide under the state constitution.

 

Washington and Oregon allow physician assisted suicide. These laws, were approved by voters, in state-wide referendums. More to follow ...