The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1903-10-27
VIEWS ON EUTHAHASIA
New York Pastor Advocates
Easy Death For Incurables.
A MUNICIPAL PLAN OUTLINED.

The Rev. Merle ST. G. wright wouId
Divide city Into Districts and Have
Scientists and cIergymen Pass Up
on "Requests" to Die-Noted Physi-
clans Decry Dr. wrights Idea.
The address which attracted more at
tentlon than any other delivered at the
recent annual banquet Of the New York
State Medical association held at the
Hotel Manhattan in New York was
made by a clergyman, the Rev. DR.. |
Merle ST. c. Wright Of the Lenox Ave
nue. Unitarian church in New York.
He placed himself on record as favor
ing euthanasia, which In medical par
lance is the putting of incurables to |
death. The suggestion, which caused |
much surprise because Of its source,
was received none the less with hearty
applause, says the New York Times.
Mr.. Wright had previously suggested
that doctors ought really to teach their
patients more than they do and that
they might look upon their profession
little more from the ethical stand
point perhaps But when he touched
on the subject of euthanasia he admit
ted frankly that it was simply dream.
AS a dream, however, he had no hesi-
fancy IN advocating the doctrine. He
recalled an instance in which a mans
life had been saved after a disaster at
Spuyten Duyyil, and he said:
.They did save his life, though for
what practical purpose l cannot tell,
unless possibly for a damage suit /
appreciate the practical difficulties in
the way OF the application Of the doc
trine, but it seems to me that it is not
beyond the bounds Of possibility. OF
course 1t would be necessary. to have
the advice and approval Of men Of the
highest scientific attainment. The city
might be divided into districts, and ey-
cry application should be considered
most carefully, not merely by physi-
clans. but by some eminent clergyman
selected for the purpose. And, of
course, there should be the consent of
relatives and the consent, even the re-
quest, of the patient himself But
where all these conditions are fulfilled
and where the prolongation Of life is
simply the prolongation of hopeless
agony It seems to me that it would be
proper that such patient should quiet
~, decentIy, modestiy, be allowed to
end the suffePings 1t seems TO me that
such a course would be step forward
In civilization and a step further away
from barbarism."
one Of the speakers after Mr.. Wright
was John S. Wise, a former congress
man of Virginia, who said in part:
II cannot agree with some Of the adj
vice which some Of your profession
+ has received tonight For either law
yer or a doctor to give too much In
formation to his clients or patients
would be to give away the snap to the
men who pay him. That would be de-
stroying the goose that lays the golden
egg with d vengeance. Still less do
/ favor the advice that when patients
4 become practically useless to kill 'em,
I know Of a country where that custom
is practiced, and II the gentleman is
really serious in his advocacy Of it ]
4 will use all my influence TO secure him
the mission
II have heard of a gentleman who
spent one summer up in the arctic re-
gions and got very well acquainted
with family OF natives, which in
cIuded the father Of the household.
When he went there the next summer
be missed the old gentleman and was
informed in a matter Of fact way that
the head Of the family had killed his
father. Yes he said, he got so old
he couldn't work, ana so shot him.
'Now. if any one likes that sort Of
way guess that's just the way that
viii suit him. But for some Of US here
I'm afraid the question would arise,
Aren't we getting along pretty close te
papa's ageg'
Here are the views Of several New
York physicians on the Rev. Merle St
G. Wmght's theory:
Or. George #. shrady said that mod
ern science tended to an exactly op-
posite course.
eve are giving to the weak the latest
developments Of practice and re
search said DR. Shrady. Persons
once considered incurable are nov
amenable to successful treatment 1
is absurd to discuss the dream Of the
clergyman with seriousness. Rather
than d step farther away from the bar
barians, as he says. 1t is retrogressivs
toward the practice Of elimination
which yet holds in some savage tribes
1t is to the glory Of the medical pro
fession that case is not considered
without hope until the last vital sparl
IS extinguished.n
Dr. II. G. spitzka believed that !
would open the door to a criminal con
dition. There would be opportunity 4
& do away with diseased persons for vi
terror motives
"Who shall say that person shoul'
+ be disposed OFF, he asked.
DR.. GIN Wylie said that no doctor !
: SO infallible that he viii say diseas