SACRAMENTO — Physician-assisted suicide advocates — unable to pass legislation and short on cash to push a statewide ballot initiative — will announce today the creation of a consultation service to offer information to the terminally ill and even provide volunteers for those who would like someone to be present when committing suicide.
"Volunteers will neither provide nor administer the means for aid in dying," said the Rev. John Brooke, a United Church of Christ minister from Cotati and one of the organizers of the new End of Life Consultation Service. "Clients will obtain and self-administer these means. We will not break or defy the law."
But Randy Thomasson, president of the Campaign for Children and Families, part of an opposition coalition, said it sounded like the formation of "California death squads" to him.
Thomasson, pointing to laws against suicide, called for an investigation by authorities once the consultation service begins.
Representatives of the new End of Life Consultation Service say they will advise the terminally ill on how to better access pain treatment and end-of-life care. Clergy and trained volunteer counselors also will advise the terminally ill against violent suicide, instead helping identify a path to a peaceful death.
A counselor will remain present to comfort a terminally ill person taking their own life, if that person wishes, program representatives said.
California death squads
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The Curt Jester
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Known as "God's Jester" was a martyr for the faith and a man of wisdom, fun, tricks, poetry, song, and dance. Thus seemed an appropriate Patron Saint of this blog.
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The Curt Jester is a blog of wise-ass musings on the media, politics, and things "Papist." The Revealer
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and the Supreme Soviet of California continues it downward spiral to hell...
So who's president, Annie Lamott?
Gail in Cincinnati
Excuse me while I throw up a little.
"...against violent suicide, instead helping identify a path to a peaceful death."
Is there any other kind of suicide than violent? That's like counselling men against violent rape, and instead helping identify a path to a peaceful rape.
"Now, don't comfort 'em too effectively, or they'll want to live."
Lemme see, a terminally ill patient is aided by the End of Life Consultation Service. After the act the only witnesses will be a consultant and any family member who might have been present. But there will never, ever be an instance where someone was "offed" for the sake of convenience. Trust us. Nope, because the consultant and the family member both will attest to the wishes of the recently deceased.
Why am I reminded of Terri Schiavo's husband referring to a conversation with her only he and a few of his friends were privvy to? A conversation that justified starving her to death?
It's funny how coincidence works. Once abortion became legal the number of babies born with Down's Syndrome dropped faster than a mudseeking missile. Coincidence of course!
With the establishment of services like this I'm sure we'll see a drop in terminally ill, homebound patients who cramp the lifestyles and ambitions of their families. Another coincidence!
Pardon my cynical nature. God save us all!
My mother died less than two weeks ago of a cancer that kept her in bed for most of 6 months. The last week it was painful to watch her agony as she slipped into a fog of unconsciousness.
The opportunity to minister to her needs, to wet her lips and whisper in her ear how much I loved her were a great gift. Her meds were tailored to keep her comfortable, yet not to slow her breathing.
It would have been simple to say, "end her suffering," but only God should have the say in when our lives end.
Careful, Subvet, the coincidences you cite could become promotional in the hands of the wrong people, just as abortion has reduced the # of teen-aged mothers and "unwanted" babies. After awhile death advocates become shameless in their advertising.
A UCC minister was prominent in a TV interview about a day of prayer in support of the much discussed new Planned Parenthood 'clinic' in Aurora, IL. That is one scary church. Is there a lawyer who can help Christ sue to get his name back...?