The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-09-24


clxx OUUsCIAL PAPER.
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oaA18a1. sUuDAY, sEPT. -.
smouID DoCrons nAsTrsH DEATMs
Ths question whether . physician 10
5usttnsa IN seltsvtnG = suffering patient
from a incusahls disease by hasten
ing leath hes been started again- The
discuesinn was revived By peeas rad
haeoes ths American Social Hatsncs A.
ISOLATION q oasaangs py no - - au-
Ghostey than Judos simeon n Baldwin.
pressaant q .the American Bar Asso-
G1asiaA Hs tosk tha position that =
man has . night e claim the Aasist-
ancs os his physician In siddinG himself
Of this mortal colr' when II had been
AscrssA that his diseass was incurabIs.
Almost q the same time = weii-known
physician IA connecficut has made pub
Tic annDuncomeut ee his belisf In the
right e ., doctor to Inn . patient when
his medical sxpsetencs and his knowi-
DDS OF the ailment satisfy him that
there u no chance Of ultimate recovery.
While these seem 70 agree. there IL .
distinction which IL important Tho
lawyer maintains the right Of the pa
tient to claim the means Of relief at
the hands Of the physician. The ply
stefan maintains the right OF his pro-
fsssion to pat an end to suffering Of
bis own Accord.
The patient b % completely ~ the
mercy Of the licensed practitioners that
no code Of ethics could probably pro-
vent the exercise Of such an authority
Y the physieiaa aleat -dtsposed to sxer-
else Il. No pruvision OF the code II
more sacrsdiy observed than this Al
though the Connecticut doctor makes
tho startling statement that he has
been exercistng the right to relieve
from incurable suffering for many
years. Il - very doubtful n his exam
pie 10 more than very rarely followed.
He says he has produced death by
chloroform In many cases Of ''incurable
patients during his practice. The use
Of auesthetics In the last stages Of dis
ease u not only recognized but COM
mended. The object % that In to free
the sufferer from pain. but not to hasten
dissolution. There IL no more risk In
permitting the physician To use his
judgment In such case than there IL
In permitting him TO diagnose . case
and prescribe remedy. II man be
suffering. he has the choice Of continu-
ing to suffer or Of taking the chances
with q sktllfel or an unsk,ilfui physi-
clan. A medical man IL only mortal,
subject 20 the !nfrmtties. faults. errors,
Of his fellow man. ard his judgment 10
likely 10 be ~ good upon the ineurabn-
ity of . disease AZ upon the means by
which recovery may be made possible.
Yet. unshillfui as a surgeon may be
In an operation or mistaken N . phyAi-
clan may be In hts prescription. II there
Is q strong conviction tina, life must be
prolonged I'll, nature s,vas out. the pa
TENT may feel reasonably confident OF
the best efforts OF the doctor II, on
the contrary. the code should be re-
Taxed. and the physician feel tha. he
was committing no professional ofyens-.
his moral view OF the suhjec. might be-
come contracted. and his perception OF
the probabilities Of recovery Quilted. II
woale probably be az mach u matter
OF temperament as Of eassasn oasaa
has very eieveriy presented a physician
whose pursuit al knowledge had 50
elun,es his sensias.iiies thar he had a.
little eoaruno,ien ahoa, experimenting
even to death upon a human being n
he had upon the rcor brates who form
ed the subjects OF his physiological re-
search.
There asv occasions when ths phvsi.
clan must In tia tenderness - his
heart be tempted 70 ease the Path 60 tire
ratien: 10 the grays Taere are scenes
apcn death beds which wreach TIE ten.
donx os the affeetsars ard transform
what ass..a re tie ,ensl. r-.x.rx away
OF life into the horrors os a eharnsi
house. Between she shrinking from an
interference with the sacTeaness 90 hu-
man life and the desire 30 siievtase mis-
cry. the Conscientious adviser trust
often stand n ssoaht T. hls owa con-
science must - lsfs the decision
Admitting these exceptional cases. II
Is hest that tae esssfe be apheii In
railroad aeeidenss. /, IL ne, ss unusual
shing Ter peor wretch caught amor &
the thinkers. crushed an. tortured. ros-
sihiy s,ewsy roasting 20 death. - ae-
p~sl 20 eyssanA~rs 30 - shot and rus