New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-01-21

Should euthanasa be praetised in certain cases Is
of idocy, incurable insanity and persons Dying III
agony from an ncurable disease like cancer! re
Gently this question has been brought forward py
the suggestion of Miss Anne S Han, OF Clrcilld'
Endorsed by Professor Charles Eliot norton "a
Cambridge Mass. that physicians shoulu DC IL
trusted with authority TO shorten the days OF such
of their patients afflicted with i palhlui iN
incUrable disease-patients who cannot poss4DlS -
eover and whose agonies would only be prolonged
by keeping them alive. Often, as physicians hho"
well persons afflicted with a painful disease aP
parentlv without hope of recovery, suffer an agony
lot only painful to those about them as they
writhe upon their couches. but which MAKES 'iie
sufferers long for release. Would II be TsIlI III
such cases 10 put an end to the anguish % - -
and body TO hasten the seemingly lIe'i'0 -
by the practice of euthanasa, by the use u ~
sons? The Tribune has submitted tle q"'
number of well known physicians, lawyers clsi 81
- - 1a,roer Of the city, and secured many
opinions. - .,,o e,,r
Evidently there is a strong feeling upon the sun
1ect While most of these opinions agree win "a,
regarding taking the life Of the LORD 5 aiI'O'
and are opposed TO medical MURDER DIS So I'M ~,
it, in each class. with the exception OF lAe K"
,ers there Is AT least one 10 favor euthanasla Inc
physicians however, shrink from the IDEA OIL aS-
Stunning the responsibility
Those who look favorably upon euthanasia are
Dr W Oliver Moore professor emeritus in the
New York Post GRADUATE -heu4CdA A0o'4ONi' -
Dr. Madison c. Peters, pastor OF the hap.,s'
Church of the Epiphany. and Robert Ersklhe Ely
director of the League for Political Education
Those who favor it, however, are emphatic IN de-
claring that any authority granted shouiu DE Sdte
guarded carefully One suggests that Ia" DE
passed authorizing the Governor or Mayor TO APP
point = board of well known physicians VINO c2ulu
be relied upon by the family doctor IN gwen cde
after the patient and his family had cohseh'eu' 10
decide If the Illness incur&ble. Another p'o
poses that one physician of good standlns s"'UiN
have mower to call in others of the same cilaf-
aoter and if these three agree. then the patient
should receive a sleeping draught from Wmch nc
v,ould not awake. The facts should then pe put III
writing signed by the three under oath ana iheU
with some public official desigated for the purpose
4 great many reasons are given why the aU-
tboritv should not be bestowed upon the discllles
If 4,scuIapius Each IS characteristic OF the pro-
fesson from which it comes and some silo" ina.
their authors also look at 1t from the point %
view Of some more OF the o'Iiei Fi0
sions Physicians. as we'll as the clergEmen ana
LAWYERS saw that life having a divine origin
ought only TO be terminated by Him who gave 1t.
They say euthanasia would lead 10 an SUITS u
rncdfco-legal complications, 1t would pace 10
much power In the hands of INSCRIPTIONS pay
clans who would be willing to prostitute theh
authority for the benefit of designing persons WHO
might profit by the death Of another Not even
the most skilled doctor. these declare can 9''
that a case is incurable for too many persons
who have been given up ny IhelI iiH f'O1''-i7 .
to-day walking the streets and leading useIuI
lives The Hippocratic oath Il will give no deaoiy
pnison to any one" would also be antagonlzed IN
case such authority given TO them.
The lawyers point out that by means of such
a law & cunning murderer might conceal his crims'
that the only justification for snuf1lng out the
fame of life is that of self-preservation of the in
dividual and the state. They agree with some
clergynlen that il would open the way for an IN
crease in the number Of suicides. It would tend
TO make incurables the victims of sclentlhc eN-
perfmentation, and honorable profession the
subject of constant fear and suspicion 1t would
tnfict some the terrors of the Inquisition upon
the aged infirm and incurably i'll, and it would
also burden the courts with cases involving the
exercise of the right of physicians to take the lives
Of their patients.
one lawyer would not deprive the sick Of the
benefit of the cures which may be discovered in
the future Several Of these objections are raised
by the clergymen and laymen as well Emphasis
is laid upon the loss to the world Of such exhibit
tons of heroism a that displayed by DR.. Harper
in his last days and the inspiration which society
gains from them. It would rob the world Of its
great teacher of unsefshness, for a part of the
burden of the sick would be removed from those
who well. and the lessons of the last hours of
life to those who would lose in their force.