🚀 go-pugleaf

Ian Kent <zzikent@mailbox.uq.edu.au> writes:

>On Mon, 24 Mar 1997, David Moss wrote:

>> Euthanasia banned in Australia !

>Yet another example of australias insistance in not letting people think
>for themselves!

???
We had months of campaign time in which both sides of the euthanasia
debate lobbied MPs and Senators. The fact that the anti-euthanasia
side was successful is hardly an example of people not thinking for
themselves.

>> 
>> At 1:05am local time the Australian Senate passed Kevin Andrews'
>> private members Bill, the Euthanasia Laws Bill 1996, by 38 votes to
>> 33. 
>> 
>> "Living in Australia" thanks everyone involved in the campaign against
>> patient killing in Australia.

>why dont you guys call your campaign "let us think for you...well make all
>your decisions".. 

If you had bothered to read the "Living in Australia" WWW site you would
see that there is very little editorial comment. Most of the material is
simply quotes, or hyperlinks to references which indicate euthanasia is
innapropriate. It was my intention that people _do_ think clearly about
the issue, I simply provided "food for thought". Some of the Senators found
it very appetising.

because that is what your whole organization must stand
>for, it is everybodys own choice, and if they are in immense pain then
>they have the choice to end it if they choose... 

Indeed they do. They have the right to choose to commit suicide, as they
have had since 1975. They have the right to recieve palliative care.

The only "right" that has been lost is an NT doctor's right to kill.

Id like to see what you
>do when your grandma looks into your eyes, you can see her pain, and she
>pulls you close and whispers in your ear.." Please help me, dont put me
>through this anymore" You know she will never get_well, she will be in
>pain- constant pain for the rest of her now meaningless life! 

What I do is fire the incompetent doctor who has been looking after her
and consult one who is actually aware of palliative care changes which
have occurred in the last 20 years.

I interviewed the palliative care team in my town of Queanbeyan 2 days
ago, partly to reassure myself because of the stream of hate mail I
recieved alleging I condemned people to unrelievable pain. One of the
questions I asked was "how often do you come across a patient who is
suffering unbearable, unrelievable pain."

The nurses, with over 35 years of combined PC experience, conversed briefly
and answered: 3 patients, all up, It was not physical pain in any
of the cases. (PC nurses consider emotional and spiritual pain to be
as important as physical pain)

It is
>bastards like you who take the persons right, and choice away from them...
>why dont you all just let people think and act for themseves, keep your
>nose OUT!!

Why ?
Because there are people like _you_ out there who haven't got a clue what
palliative care is, or what it can do for a patient, yet you call for
people to be killed to "end their suffering". Dr Phillip Nitshke admitted
the first 3 people to be killed under the RTI Act were not suffering from
severe pain, nor were they interested in palliative care options. And because
the architect of the RTI Act, Marshall Perron, did not even know what
palliative care was when he drafted the legislation. 

>> 
>> The battle against euthanasia in the Territories is won, but the war
>> against patient killing in the States could be about to begin.
>> 
>Honestly my dear, you ARE a fool, how can you pocess these views...please
>Im begging you to wake up and smell the coffee, Once you have have looked
>into the eyes of a dying relative, who means the world to you, you will
>realise what Im saying...But why wait till then why not just learn from my
>example... Im asking you to for once in your life to wake up and realise
>that euthanasia is not a bad thing, it is simply a right that each of us
>pocess... Dont take that away from us... Dont take our_rights from
>Australia..

The only "right" I helped take away was a Northern Territory doctor's
right to kill patients. As for fools waking up, I suggest you ring up
your local palliative care service and ask them how often they are
unable to relieve pain in a dying person. You have been badly misinformed.

>> 
>This letter is the biggest load of bullshit!! People who agree with this
>out there...Wake up!!

Don't believe me ?
If you have WWW access, and can view .avi movies (and have a fast
link) send me some e-mail and I will tell you how to view a movie of
an Australian terminal lung cancer patient who was ready to kill
himself before he discovered palliative care. The pro-euthanasia lobby
would have you believe he must still be in agony, or be drugged into a
zombie. The patient, in his own words, says otherwise.

(Oh yes, his prognosis before PC was 3 months of agony at best. After
PC was provided, 18 months of pain free living in Australia, without
deadly deliverance.)

Perhaps now you can see WHY I do it ?

David Moss,
personal opinion only.
http://geocities.com/~dmoss for Australian anti-euthanasia resources.