Los Angeles herald., 1905-05-20
DO DOCTORS KILL
THE |NCURABLE?
CHORUS OF DENIALS ELECTED
FROM PROFESSION
QUESTION IS MUCH DISCUSSED
Recent Statements That This Is the
Case Bring Out Opinions of
Physicians, Lawyers and
Clergymen

Do physicians kill the incurable pa
tient by giving an overdose of medicine
when, IN their judgment, the patient
has no chance of recovery and is
suffering in great agony?
And has the physician any legal or
moral right to give such an overdose
for the purpose of fastening death?
These questions are being widely dis
cussed in the east, all because a GER
tain physician in high standing, in the
course of discussion along these lines,
took the affirmative side of both ques-
tions.
And now he Is having a stormy
time of it trying to explain his atti-
tude, as his brother physicians through
out the country have risen to indig-
nantly deny his statements and accuse
him of being out of line with his pro-
fession. Lawyers and ministers, too
are taking a hand in the discussion and
give their views from a professional
standpoint.
A prominent physician in the east
said the profession has not yet arrived
at the point where it arrogates to It.
self the office of eXecutioner.
DR.. HiIPs Denial
DR.. Randolph w. Hill, ex-presi-
dent of the California state board of
health. was asked regarding the state
ment, and he said:
1T is positively untrue that such a
practice exists among reputable ply
sicians. No physician of any stand
ing will credit himself with absolute
infallibility regarding the condition of
his patient and to administer an over
dose of medicine, causing death, would
be nothing short of murder. The pro-
fession would not countenance such
action for moment. The giving of
an overdose of medicine through mis-
take would be deplored, not to mention
the deliberate act as a, common prac-
tice.'
The views of the clergy are equally
as emphatic. as shown by the state
ment of Rev. j. L. Pitner, who said
The idea is preposterous and 1 am
sure no reputable physician would dare
attempt such a thing. There is no
moral and. | believe, no legal justi-
fication for such a practice. To my
mind, the giving of an overdose of
medicine knowingly, which produces
death. is plain first degree murder,
having all the elements of deliberation
and intent. The physician who would
even consider such thing is unfit to
practice in any family.
'1e is totally devoid of all sense of
honor and morality and conscience,
and is a dangerous man in any COM
munity."
The Legal Viewpoint
The legal opinion comedies with those
o: the medical fraternity and the
clergy. Luther G. Brown. a prominent
local attorney, said last night:
my attention has been called to the
discussion of this question before and
I shall agree with the opinion of j.
Hamilton Lewis, the most eminent
criminal lawyer in the west who says
that there is no legal authority for a
physician to take unto himself the
power or right to sit in Judgment upon
the life of his patient. The courts so
farther in declaring that the accidental
giving Of an overdose of medicine, |
which produces death. is manslaughter.
What, then would be the degree of |
criminality Of the physician who should |
deliberately administer such a dose
In my opinion, it would be murder"
These opinions are corroborative of |
those heretofore published in the east
ern press, the question exciting much
interest in all the walks of life because
OF its nearness to the masses.