catbirdseat Posted May 27, 2004 Share Posted May 27, 2004 Three judges from the Ninth-Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a Federal Judges previous ruling upholding the Assisted Suicide law in the State of Oregon. The two judge majority ruled that the States have a right under out Federalist system to regulate the practice of medicine and that the Federal law covering illegal drugs does not apply in this case. Go take a hike, Ashcroft. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foraker Posted May 27, 2004 Share Posted May 27, 2004 I like this quote from some spokesman at the DOJ regarding terrorist warnings: "We don't do politics at the Justice Department." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ratboy Posted May 27, 2004 Share Posted May 27, 2004 Score one for state's rights. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
b-rock Posted May 27, 2004 Share Posted May 27, 2004 Gee, I thought Republicans were for states rights. Huh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Winter Posted May 27, 2004 Share Posted May 27, 2004 unless the states do something to freak out bush's warped born again morals. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
b-rock Posted May 27, 2004 Share Posted May 27, 2004 Gotcha. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gotterdamerung Posted May 27, 2004 Share Posted May 27, 2004 I thought the underlying issue had more to do with insurance companies having to pay out benefits to someone who decides to cap themselves rather than someone simply just doing it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rbw1966 Posted May 27, 2004 Share Posted May 27, 2004 The underlying issue was doctors prescribing federally-controlled prescription medication to terminally ill patients who decide to self-euthanize. The feds argued that doctors prescribing meds that would kill people violates DEA doctrine. I don't recall insurance companies entering the equation at all. HMOs would be in favor of assisted suicide because it lowers their overall health care management costs--but its unlikely they would publicize such views. Life insurance companies are also unlikely to present any arguments against assisted-suicide as virtually all policies carry exclusions for capping oneself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greg_W Posted May 27, 2004 Share Posted May 27, 2004 Three judges from the Ninth-Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a Federal Judges previous ruling upholding the Assisted Suicide law in the State of Oregon. The two judge majority ruled that the States have a right under out Federalist system to regulate the practice of medicine and that the Federal law covering illegal drugs does not apply in this case. Go take a hike, Ashcroft. THis ought to be no surprise. The Ninth Circuit COA are well-known for their wacky decisions; leading to reversal at the Supreme Court level. I wouldn't start popping corks yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jja Posted May 27, 2004 Share Posted May 27, 2004 The 9th circuit is the most reversed bench in the country, by something like a 2 to 1 ratio to it's nearest competitor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoshK Posted May 27, 2004 Share Posted May 27, 2004 Why exactly is reaffirming the state's right to allow doctor assisted suicide a "wacky" decision? Give me a break. Terminally ill patients should have the right to die with dignity should they choose. Oregon is the only state that has this right, frankly. Bush's (and most of the right wing) position that patients should have to suffer to the end is just completely idiotic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skeezix Posted May 27, 2004 Share Posted May 27, 2004 Ashcroft triggers my automatic bitch slap reflex every time I see his face. Not to be morbid, but we gentlemen have to protect our assisted suicide right, especially in light of the discussion regarding prostate cancer in the news this morning. Never mind ...don't think about that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cracked Posted May 27, 2004 Share Posted May 27, 2004 Josh, I think it's more of an issue of potential abuse, not 'suffer to the end'. I agree that in an ideal situation (person wants to end it all), assisted suicide is a good option. But the potential for abuse if pretty big. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EWolfe Posted May 27, 2004 Share Posted May 27, 2004 Remember: The "h" in "Ashcroft" is silent! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cj001f Posted May 27, 2004 Share Posted May 27, 2004 Josh, I think it's more of an issue of potential abuse, not 'suffer to the end'. I agree that in an ideal situation (person wants to end it all), assisted suicide is a good option. But the potential for abuse if pretty big. And Praytell WTF shouldn't I have the right to do whatever I damn well want with my life? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catbirdseat Posted May 27, 2004 Author Share Posted May 27, 2004 Justice's options are to take the case to the full eleven judge panel of the 9th Court of Appeals, or go to the US Supreme Court. I think that Ashcroft's political philosophy is inconsistent. He says he is for states rights, but when it comes to treading on individual liberty, this trumps any concern he may have for the former. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoshK Posted May 27, 2004 Share Posted May 27, 2004 Josh, I think it's more of an issue of potential abuse, not 'suffer to the end'. I agree that in an ideal situation (person wants to end it all), assisted suicide is a good option. But the potential for abuse if pretty big. It requires the consent of two doctors (not in the same practice, I believe??) and a confirmation of mental stability. There are safeguards. It's not like some doctor can right up a note, kill you, then claim you wanted to die. Also, it is only available for those patients who have been diagnosed with less than 6 months to live. There isn't any medical reason not to allow it, it's just bushie (and asscroft's) pandering to the religous right and their "sanctity of life" bullshit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rbw1966 Posted May 27, 2004 Share Posted May 27, 2004 The feds are more concerned with misuse of federally controlled substances. I think they see docs prescribing meds to kill oneself as a potential erosion of federal control over narcotics. Of course this is just asscrofts red herring to further the bush administrations moral agenda. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chucK Posted May 27, 2004 Share Posted May 27, 2004 Yeah sorta like his There's terrorists among us, gonna kill us, 90% sure, this summer! No special reason to say this now, no need to raise the threat level, don't really need to put the authorities on extra alert. But ... There's terrorists among us, gonna kill us, maybe we'll get you some pictures. --- repeat when Bush popularity levels fall --- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cracked Posted May 27, 2004 Share Posted May 27, 2004 Josh, I think it's more of an issue of potential abuse, not 'suffer to the end'. I agree that in an ideal situation (person wants to end it all), assisted suicide is a good option. But the potential for abuse if pretty big. It requires the consent of two doctors (not in the same practice, I believe??) and a confirmation of mental stability. There are safeguards. It's not like some doctor can right up a note, kill you, then claim you wanted to die. Also, it is only available for those patients who have been diagnosed with less than 6 months to live. There isn't any medical reason not to allow it, it's just bushie (and asscroft's) pandering to the religous right and their "sanctity of life" bullshit. Don't be stupid, it's not about 'medical reasons', it's about moral reasons. "Gee, Mom's getting kinda old. Taking care of her is a bother. I know! Let's just kill her off!" Or how about crazy doctors? There have been plenty of examples of nurses killing people off for no reason. This would make it easier. It's not black and white, as I said, I support the idea. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bunglehead Posted May 27, 2004 Share Posted May 27, 2004 Ashcroft is insane. Anybody remember that he lost the election in his home state of Missouri to a DEAD GUY? And how about when he had a robe put over the breast of the statue of Justice? CA-RAZY. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoshK Posted May 27, 2004 Share Posted May 27, 2004 You can't just elect to have your mom killed off. Only the patient can make the decision (must be found mentally competent to make the decision on their own) and, like I said, has to be diagnosed with less than 6 months to live. I see what you are saying, it's obviously the argument of the right wing, along with the sanctity of life crap, but I don't see a high likelyhood of abuse under the oregon law. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cracked Posted May 27, 2004 Share Posted May 27, 2004 it's obviously the argument of the right wing, along with the sanctity of life crap Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dru Posted May 27, 2004 Share Posted May 27, 2004 isn't there a moral disconnect between upholding the death penalty, and opposing euthanasia? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rbw1966 Posted May 27, 2004 Share Posted May 27, 2004 No. Death penalty is for those who have removed themselves from the social contract. Euthanasia is the choice of someone who obviously does not have the mental capacity to make their own reasoned choices, therefore the state must step in and prevent them from harm. In both cases the government must make those decisions for the individual. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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