[Woodmonkey]

Originally Posted by SherryGrace

Physician assisted suicide is as old as the very first physician.

Malpractice law suits, insurance dictating your choice of family doctor, more and more hospitals vs small town doctor's offices are some of the reasons that physician assisted suicide has slowed down...if not all but stopped.

Back in the day, when a single doctor delivered generations of the same family, as well as most of the people in town, period...assisted suicide was a part of the job. Mercy killings, as well. It was a part of the doctor's job to treat the "whole" person and the "whole" family. The family doctor was considered a dear friend and healer...a confidante...there was more between a person and their doctor than just a copay and insurance check. Doctors did what was best for their patients and their families.

Many death certificates were fudged...to avoid family scandals and such. Many new borns were whisked away with falsified birth certificates...to protect young mothers, or again, to avoid scandals (incest, etc.).

So. I believe in physician assisted suicide. Yes yes...it has to have its rules. Before, doctors let their good judgement set the rules. We now acknowledge that there is a good deal of people in this world, with degrees of all kinds, that do not possess good judgement.

Anyone else?

Oh yeah...should it be governed by state or federal? Beats me.

This case is about whether or not the federal government can interfere with the states' perogatives. I don't believe in it, but think the federal government should stay out of this. It is a state issue, IMO.