The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1899-09-12
MAN HAS A RIGHT TO DIE.
Canton Physicians, as Rule, Think
He Should Be Allowed to Live
AS LONG AS is POSSIBLE.
Question whether to Relieve Suffering by
Causing Death MoOted One and
Physicians Have Been Giving
1t some Consldera-
tIOn.

1t some ConsIdera-
tIon.
The article under the caption, MANS
Right to Die" published on the
editorial page Of Thursday evenings
News-Dsmocrat, excited considerable
comment especially among the men,
bers Of the medical profession of the
city. 1t was not an old theme with
the fraternity generally. The ideas ad-
vanced, or rather elaborated upon, by
Judge Baldwin, of the Connecticut
supreme court, are not new ones. The
age Of progress is at its height. The
fact becomes more patent daily that
"The World do Move" and it is not sur
prising that great minds are struggling
with the question of the alleviation Of
pain and distress of those suffering
from disease whose only termination is
death. Judge Baldwin voiced the senti-
ment of many bright minds when he
said before the American Social Science
association that man Has The Right to
Die, when i'll with fatal disease, with
out interference from nurses and doc
tors" He boldly questioned the prac-
tice of the physician who used his art
to prolong the life of one mortally i'll,
the stricken one and his relatives that
he be allowed to die as quickly as pos
sibe when it became assured that his
chances of regaining health were hope
less. Judge Baldwins pronounced views
on the subject have stirred up the medi-
cal profession throughout the country.
For the purpose of obtaining the views
of the physicians of Canton a News
Democrat reporter called upon them.
There is a startling similarity in their
responses which follow
DR.. A. c. Brant: II certainly do not
agree with the ideas Of Judge Bald
win. l read the article with interest
but it's impression was anything but
favorable. 1t is the duty Of the physi-
clan to relieve pain anI prolong life
so long as there IS a particle of hope
for the patient, Life IS sweet to the rich
and poor alike and II is the physician
mission to do all in his power 10 prolohs
that life by all the means at his dlspos-
al. And then there are those who are
watching at the bedside of the sufferer
Few indeed are there who would expect
the physician to kill their sick friend or
relative, or permit him to die without
making an effort to extend his earthly
career, My experience has been that
the loved one is wanted on this sphere
until the last moment while there Is
hope, and, long after all hope is gone.
The physician would at times prefer not
to be required to be present so often,
when he feels that his efforts are of no
avail, but the friends want MIN to the
last moment. The physician then is
only a consolation, but the friends and
relatives feel that they have done all
that can be done. There are, of course,
times when powerful opiates are ad-
ministered to relieve agoniZing pain.
1t Is our duty to do all in our power to
save and at the same time alleviate the
sufferings and prolong the life OF the
patient"
DR.. Z. d. Brant: II believe that all
that can be done to prolong patients $
life should be done. There are times
when it would seem that it were more
merciful to end a patients sufferings
but it is my motto to fight 10 the bitter
end with all weapons known to science.
ANY other view seems to me to be the
offspring Of a desire to gain notoriety
or is only an exhibition Of lack of
knowledge of the sick room and nature S
law which is self-preservation."
DR.. Katherine Burns: There is moth
ing else to do for the dangerously Ill
but to fight the disease; relieve suffer
ing without further endangering the
patient and remain staunch against
death to the end"
DR.. A. b. Walker: "'God moves In
mysterious ways his wonders to per-
form; He plants His footsteps on the
sea and rides upon the storm Now,
believe in a Divine Ruler and believt
He sometimes causes mortals to suffer
for a purpose known only to Him
Therefore l most assuredly do not be
lieve the physician should take upor
himself the things suggested by Judg'
Baldwin. There are times, undoubt
edly, when the sufferer should be easeC
of his pain by the use of opiates ever
when the circumstances indicate 1T
necessity-to the extent that power o
thought is almost obliterated or to tn
extent that the use of the drug become
a habit. But only in extreme and help
less cases should such measures b
taken. The idea suggested by Judg
Baldwin is unreasonable. His view
are exaggerated. The assertion that
physician should do other than reliev
suffering and prolong life is not onl
novel but ridiculous. The relative
should always be taken into considera
tion. 1t has been my experience and
covers a period of 26 years, that thos
who hold the sufferer dear, want hiT
until the last struggle Is over, and so
will be, believe, so long as the cart
is peopled by those who are governe
by the Golden Rule"
DR.. A. L. Rizer: "The subject is to
deep and has entirely too many phase
to cover the question in sentence.
of course, believe that everythin
possible should be done to relieve
patients sufferings and when we kno'
for certain that there is no hope tn
sufferer might be eased by death. Br