Death with Dignity: An Inquiry Into Related Public Issues : Hearings Before the Special Committee on Aging, United States Senate, Ninety-second Congress, Second Session, Washington, D.C. |
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accept alive Antioch College BAIRD become BEECHER believe bill brain called cancer CAPRON Clark Committee on Aging concern Death and Dying death with dignity decision definition of death dialysis discussion disease doctor dying patient elderly electroencephalogram Elisabeth Kubler-Ross ethical euthanasia extraordinary means facilities fact fear feel Florida FOYE FRANK CHURCH give going happen hearings HEINE hope hopeless hospital human individual institutions issue kind KRANT legislation living machine Marantology Medicaid medical school Medicare medicine nursing homes organs ORIOL pain person physician Pope Pius XII practice problem prolong question relatives Reverend DOBIHAL right to die Ross SACKETT Senator CHURCH Senator FONG Senator PERCY society Special Committee staff statement talk terminally ill terminally ill patients testimony Thank thing tion treatment U.S. SENATE witnesses
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Page 57 - It is incumbent on the physician to take all reasonable ordinary means of restoring the spontaneous vital functions and consciousness, and to employ such extraordinary means as are available to him to this end. It is not obligatory, however, to continue to use extraordinary means indefinitely in hopeless cases. "But normally one is held to use only ordinary means — according to circumstances of persons, places, times, and cultures — that is to say, means that do not involve any grave burden for...
Page 142 - If at such a time the situation should arise in which there is no reasonable expectation of my recovery from extreme physical or mental disability. I direct that I be allowed to die and not be kept alive by medications, artificial means or "heroic measures
Page 142 - I can no longer take part in decisions for my own future, let this statement stand as the testament of my wishes: If there is no reasonable expectation of my recovery from physical or mental disability, I, request that I be allowed to die and not be kept alive by artificial means or heroic measures. Death is as much a reality as birth, growth, maturity and old age — it is the one certainty. I do not fear death as much as I fear the indignity of deterioration, dependence and hopeless pain.
Page 58 - A new definition of death, when there are those who have a vested interest in it, could lead to public questioning and doubt and an unfortunate blurring of the line between death and euthanasia. The unconscious patient with overwhelming brain damage can be maintained only by extraordinary means. When it becomes evident that the brain is dead, there is an obligation, I believe, to discontinue extraordinary support; but one must remember that, in this situation, the termination of extraordinary care,...
Page 96 - He may cry for rest, peace, and dignity, but he will get infusions, transfusions, a heart machine, or tracheotomy if necessary. He may want one single person to stop for one single minute so that he can ask one single question — but he will get a dozen people around the clock, all busily preoccupied with his heart rate, pulse, electrocardiogram or pulmonary functions, his...
Page 150 - The problems that arise in the modern practice of resuscitation can therefore be formulated in three questions : First, does one have the right, or is one even under the obligation, to use modern artificial-respiration equipment in all cases, even those which, in the doctor's judgment, are completely hopeless? Second, does one have the right, or is one under obligation, to remove the artificial-respiration apparatus when, after several days, the state of deep unconsciousness does not improve if,...
Page 3 - He may wish to fight it all but it is going to be a useless fight since all this is done in the fight for his life, and if they can save his life they can consider the person afterwards. Those who consider the person first may lose precious time to save his life! At least this seems to be the rationale or justification behind all this — or is it?
Page 134 - One of the most significant changes in the mortality experience of this country since 1900 has been the decline in the major communicable diseases as leading causes of death...
Page 142 - I hope, feel morally bound to follow its mandate. I recognize that it places a heavy burden of responsibility upon you, and it is with the intention of sharing that responsibility and of mitigating any feelings of guilt that this statement is made.
Page 34 - ... kinship can be located within thirty (30) days, then the decision to terminate medical procedures solely to sustain the life processes may be ordered by three (3) licensed physicians and attested to by a written statement. ' SECTION 4. A physician who relies on a document authorized by section 1 to refuse medical treatment or who makes a determination of terminal illness or injury shall be presumed to be acting in good faith and, unless negligent, shall be immune from civil or criminal liability...