The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1899-10-12
HELPING TO DIE.

The newspaper mOrallSts are SLafIled
a. the proposition, advocated by
Judge Simeon Baldwin Of Connecti-
cut. which holds it to be the duty OF
the physician to cure disease and al
leviate suffering by causing the death
OF the sufferer under certain condi-
tons. The limitation upon this duty
is that the patient has an incurable
disease, and suffers constant bodily
pain. Several physicians have pub
Iicly approved of this proposition. DR..
Nehemiah Nickerson, physician OF
reputation, declares that he does not
hesitate TO put a sufferer out OF misery
by the use of ether, provided it is
case of incurable disease. In fact, the
younger physicians who have been
broadly educated, and are free from the
old traditions, do not always shrink
from terminating life, under such cir
cumstances 1t is frequently done, but
with extreme reluctance on the part
of the physician. There are many
sufferers who have compacts with their
physicians which put them under the
highest obligations, SO far as words can
create them, to alleviate suffering in
this way.
1t is said that this proposition places
a dangerous power in the hands of the
physician. His power, in any event,
is certainly dangerous because nearly
independent of legal or police control.
T.;
sense irresponsible power. This was
expressed in the old drama of Poverty
and crime"
Though patients die, the doctors paid,
Licens'd to kill, he gains a place
For what another mounts the gallows"
Though the words of the cynic be
true in some cases, the world will trust
the doctors in these matters of life
and DEATH only demanding of them
that they live up to the best ideals of
the physicians duty. Whatever may
be the morals involved, the humane
and intelligent physician will, in the
fatal alienation of suffering, be gov
erned by the law of each case When
Judge Baldwin tries to Justify this
method of alleviating suffering, he
strikes at once against the snags of
prejudice and habit. Who can now
define the power which one rightfully
has over his own life to preserve or
destroy it, or delegate the power to
others to destroy? He who shortens
his own life gradually, by neglect of
physical laws, by excuses, is suicide,
though not as rank suicide as he
who swallows poison. The good and
piOus man who over-eats every day,
shortens his own life. though he does
not do it with the bang of a pistol.
And when he dies in the prime of life,
because of an Overworked liver, he is
said to be removed by mysterious
Providence" though the doctors know
that he had been killing himself for
many years. If. then, such a person,
owing to a continual neglect of physi-
cal laws, which are the laws of life,
should suffer much agony from incur
able disease, should he not have the
power to authorize his physician to cut
the golden thread? or, should not the
physician kindly help him to finish the
job?a .
Mr.. p. l.. Weaver, of this city, pub
iished an article in the Overland
Monthly, several years ago, in which
was discussed the right of one who, in
it's broadcast sense, could no longer be
useful in the world, to call jury
OF professional men, present his case
TO them and upon their verdict of as
sent, cause himself to be removed" in
some quiet manner. The responses to
the article indicated that many educat-
ed people had seriously considered the
subject and approved of the PROPOSE
ton.
The physician always contemplates
with interest a box of apples in the
grOcer's store. "Ah,' he reflects. Par
adise-Eve-the apple-sin and dis
ease-death-the rise of the medical
professionalism it at a respectful
distance the lawyers, and the minis
ters-all dealing with doubtful Ques-
lions, but all entitled to a living out
of sin disease and death-au three pro