An extremely controversial issue that is receiving much attention is that of assisting terminally ill patients to die. Associated with the hemlock society euthanasia and the right of terminally ill patients to choose death gives control and dignity back into their hands. In 1980, when this organization first began, this concept was foreign and it took many years before it would become accepted by a growing number of individuals.
Derek Humphrey, who had assisted his terminally ill wife in her death, was the founder of this organization. The name was inspired by the fact that Socrates had weighed his options and made a choice to die by ingesting a tincture of the plant. The organization attracted a growing membership and local groups all over the nation began meeting and discussing end-of-life issues.
The organization adopted a multi-pronged approach. An important aspect of their activities was to try and change laws and to do this they became involved in the political arena. However, this proved to be a very slow process. Through the years, more and more attention was attracted to this issue. Jack Kervorkian and his machine, the Mercitron attracted attention worldwide. He eventually crossed the line and videotaped himself giving an ALS patient a lethal injection. The tape was aired on 60 minutes and he was eventually charged with second-degree murder.
Another way that more people were forced to think about the issue was through the publication of many books written by Derek Humphrey. Pamphlets, audio and video tapes were also used to educate people. A book called Final Exit made it onto the New York Times bestseller list. The first account of a physician assisting a patient with her death, was published in the New England Journal in 1991. Dr Timothy Quill described how he had given his terminally ill patient, Diane, barbiturates and told her how much she needed to take.
Although the concept of aid in dying was becoming more widely known, having laws passed to support was more difficult. Oregon was the first state to pass a Death with Dignity Law in 1994. After more than ten years, studies have shown that this law has not been used by disabled, poor or uninsured people as was feared but mostly by well-educated cancer sufferers. Five states now have laws like this in place.
The political struggle to have such laws passed resulted in further research. People looked into other ways to achieve dignified death such as the use of helium gas. The law passed in Oregon has now survived for more than ten years and studies have revealed that it has not been used by the disabled, poverty stricken or uninsured, as was originally feared. Well-educated, cancer sufferers have been the ones to make use of it.
The impact of the original organization has been significant. Over the years they held national conferences, published many books, pamphlets, audio and video tapes and advocated in many different ways for end-of-life choices. It evolved over the years, became End-of-Life Choices and today it is called Compassion and Choices.
The organization is now known as Compassion and Choices and continues to advocate towards the openness and legitimacy of aid in death. They believe the patient should have final control and that all the available options should be presented to them. Working at having further laws passed also continues as many states in America still do not have such legislation in place.
Derek Humphrey, who had assisted his terminally ill wife in her death, was the founder of this organization. The name was inspired by the fact that Socrates had weighed his options and made a choice to die by ingesting a tincture of the plant. The organization attracted a growing membership and local groups all over the nation began meeting and discussing end-of-life issues.
The organization adopted a multi-pronged approach. An important aspect of their activities was to try and change laws and to do this they became involved in the political arena. However, this proved to be a very slow process. Through the years, more and more attention was attracted to this issue. Jack Kervorkian and his machine, the Mercitron attracted attention worldwide. He eventually crossed the line and videotaped himself giving an ALS patient a lethal injection. The tape was aired on 60 minutes and he was eventually charged with second-degree murder.
Another way that more people were forced to think about the issue was through the publication of many books written by Derek Humphrey. Pamphlets, audio and video tapes were also used to educate people. A book called Final Exit made it onto the New York Times bestseller list. The first account of a physician assisting a patient with her death, was published in the New England Journal in 1991. Dr Timothy Quill described how he had given his terminally ill patient, Diane, barbiturates and told her how much she needed to take.
Although the concept of aid in dying was becoming more widely known, having laws passed to support was more difficult. Oregon was the first state to pass a Death with Dignity Law in 1994. After more than ten years, studies have shown that this law has not been used by disabled, poor or uninsured people as was feared but mostly by well-educated cancer sufferers. Five states now have laws like this in place.
The political struggle to have such laws passed resulted in further research. People looked into other ways to achieve dignified death such as the use of helium gas. The law passed in Oregon has now survived for more than ten years and studies have revealed that it has not been used by the disabled, poverty stricken or uninsured, as was originally feared. Well-educated, cancer sufferers have been the ones to make use of it.
The impact of the original organization has been significant. Over the years they held national conferences, published many books, pamphlets, audio and video tapes and advocated in many different ways for end-of-life choices. It evolved over the years, became End-of-Life Choices and today it is called Compassion and Choices.
The organization is now known as Compassion and Choices and continues to advocate towards the openness and legitimacy of aid in death. They believe the patient should have final control and that all the available options should be presented to them. Working at having further laws passed also continues as many states in America still do not have such legislation in place.
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