Providing the physical means
or assistance by which a person
commits suicide. A request
for assisted suicide is typically
a cry for help. In reality
it is a call for counseling
and assistance.
Suicidal intent is typically
transient. Of those who
attempt suicide, but are
stopped, less than 4% go
on to kill themselves in
the next five years. “If
we treat their depression
and we treat their pain,
I’ve never had a patient
who wanted to die.”
Dr. William Wood, Time April
15, 1996 pg.82
The Hemlock Society (renamed Compassion and Choices) in
the United States has been
existence for 17 years and
has an estimated 25,000
members. It is committed
to legalizing 
assisted suicide
and euthanasia. They have tried to achieve their agenda by using the courts to challenge laws that prohibit assisted suicide.
Jack Kevorkian is a retired
pathologist. He never worked
with live patients - he
was obsessed with death
and dying during his entire
medical career. His nickname
from his early school days
was “Dr. Death”.
In medical school,
he could always be
found at the bedside of
a dying patient, wanting
to be present at the exact
moment of death as often
as possible. Kevorkian claims
to be involved in more than
130 deaths in his nine year
crusade for assisted suicide.
Kevorkiam was found guilty
of injecting 46 year old
Thomas Youck with lethal
injection, on March 26,
1999. He was sentenced to
10-25 years in prison. He was released in 2007.
During the trial, Kevorkian
threatened to go on a hunger
strike if found guilty.
Within the first week, he
announced that he was not
ready to die yet and would
not go on hunger strike.
His previous trials, all
on assisted suicide charges,
resulted in three acquittals
and one mistrial.
Dr. Klooster was an Alzheimer’s
patient, advanced to the
point where he was diagnosed
medically incompetant. His
life insurance was soon
to be terminated. His (second)
wife contacted Kevorkian.
His son sued for custody.
The custody battle was won
by the son. Kevorkian testified
on behalf of the fathers’
ability to determine his
future (competancy). Kevorkian
never met or spoke with
Dr. Klooster! The father
died several years later
of natural causes.
Jack Kevorkian and his
attorney, Geoffrey Feiger,
held a press conference and introduced an elderly
woman in a wheel chair.
She was in despair with
rheumatoid arthritis. The
men challenged the medical
community to come forward
and help resolve her pain.
They planned to assist in
her suicide in six months
if no one could help her.
Hundreds of doctors called
and faxed the numbers given,
but never were responded
to. Six months later, the
two men had a press c
onference
to announce that because
of no response from the
medical community, they
had successfully assisted
in her suicide.
National Catholic Office
for Persons with Disabilities,
(www.ncpd.org) is an organization
vigilant in promoting the
inclusion of Catholics with
disabilities in their parish
communities and the total
fabric of society. www.ncpd.org
Hospice
Care- A Caring Solution |
The word “hospice”
means a place to rest or
“rest and respite”.
Hospice is about life and
living, NOT death and dying.
Today hospice can be experienced
in one’s own home.
Palliative
Care treats pain
.
There is no limit to the
amount of morphine that
can be given to patient.
Morphine starts with the
lowest dose which is 5 mg.
Very large amounts can cause
hallucinations.
“Compassionate Care”
is help for the terminally
ill. during the final days,
weeks or months. The word
“compassion”
means to suffer with.
Hospice Care provides
24 hour availability.
The hospice team
includes:
