The Hawaiian gazette., 1899-10-20
''AElP|Ne TO DE-
While There is Life There
is Hope.
"oooolcus" says ., 10 the Duty OF q
Physician TO Pvo,ons Life
In Al Casss.
Honolulu. Oct. 16, 1899

Honolulu. Oct. 16, 1899.
Editor Pacific Commercial Adverti-
ser.-Dear Sir: In your issue Of Octo-
her IL 10 an editorial, Helping to DIE"
would like to say few words on this
subject. Although I happen to be one
OF the younger physicians. and edu-
Gated In school noted for the
breadth of its education, l cannot say
am free from the old traditions and
prejudices." II such is indicated by a
reluctance to taking human life.
There may be cases where sufferers
form compacts with their physicians
to the effect, that II their disease be-
come unbearable he will take their
life" But what would compact
made with such one be worth? A
physician who makes such compact
has clearly lost all recollection Of the
oath administered to him before his
university granted him his diplomas.
II he can be made to break his first
compact, I don't see how much reliance
can be placed upon his keeping the
second. Furthermore, SO long as the
medical profession is made up of hu-
man beings. with all their frailties and
liability to err, would strongly dep
recate this new-fangled proposition
that strikes at once against the snags
and prejudices of habit"
To say that such course does so
strike, is giving voice to something
that has very fine sound, but 1t is bet
ter to have habit with snags and
prejudices than one that lays its pos
SCISSOR open to the suspicion of crimi-
nal actions.
You say: who can now define the
power which one rightfully has over
his own he. to preserve or destroy 1t,
or delegate the power to others to de-
stroy." II seems to me that after read
ing your editorial one would not feel
1t would be difiicult task to find one,
at least. in our community, and cOnse-
Quently ! would ask: Are not the sup
porters of your argument taking unto
themselves the very power they scorn
the old-fashioned individuals for pos
sessing?
But whatever may be said from the
theoretical point of view. there still
remains the practical side. which IL
naturally by far the more serious one
and the question in practice devolves
upon the physician to decide. Might
| ask what are the exact condition.
that would justify a physician In tax
ing life? when there Is no hope.
seems to be the apparent answer
But when Is that? Any physician
knows the truth of the old saying
while there Is life there Is hope" o
else are we to take 1t when the patien
is suffering extreme pain and there 4
apparently no hope of his living? TIL
most common cause of such condi
ton is undoubtedly cancer, and woult
a physician be justified in taking lf,
under such circumstances, when 1
cure for cancer Is on the verge of dis
covery? 1t Is rare that such pain car
not be alleviated.
Are we to take ii when a person |,
dying by inches from consumption
when cases are on record of cure re
sulting from collapse of the lung du,
to perforation Of the pleura?
Are We to take 1t when person Il
crippled for life. because they will b,
IA burden, to themselves and others
when it is common enough to find sucl
cripples develop a mental capacity be
yond the ordinary?
Should we take the life of imbecilsl
or idiots, when craniectOmy has re
ings?
When are we to take it? Not unit
mortal man acquires the gift of seeing
into the future. and he has not yet at,
tanned that attribute-at least, have
not heard Of 1t.
The cases that cannot be allevlatet
by the judicious use OF proper remedies
are SO very few and far between thai
II is better to let ten such cases bear
their burden than to take the life o.
one who, for all we know, might have
recovered.
Then again, are We to do 1t on oul
own initiative or II the patient ask.
us. All medical men have had expe
riences In which the patient has
begged Of them something to enc
their life." and yet many such hav,
recovered.
No, indeed, Mr.. Editor. do not saddl,
the medical profession with any NOR,
care and worry than 1t bears right now
They are sufficient without this add
tional burden. The medical fraternit,
are not at all anxious that the old say
ing. licensed to kill" should becom,
fact and not metaphor.
Thanking you for your space, am
MEDlCuS, JR.
Note. The question raised by Judg,
Baldwin regarding the right OF tn
nh