Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1906-03-16
COMPBLS DOCTORS TO KILL.
Bill introduced in Iowa LesisIa-
ture to End Suffering of the
h0pelessly i'll and Hurt.

4 ~-'~ ss>~st
Legalizsd compulsory murder to
end the misery of those in great
physical pain and whose disease or
injuries must prove fatal eventually,
and to prevent the rearing of chill
dren who are hideously deformed or
hopelessly idiotic, is proposed in a
bin which was introduced in the
Iowa Assembly. by Represen tatiyes
Buckingham and DIR. K. III. Gregory.
ga bill for an act requiring ply
sicians to take human life" is the
title of the proposed measure, as read
with startling effect by the head
reading clerk. 1t brought every
membersup with start. There was
an instantaneous turning of heads in
the direction of the seat of the "gen.
tleman from Adams"
"What propose Tor the relief of
hunan beings" SAID Delegate Greg
DRY, sis no more than you are now
practising in the exercise of humanity
to dumb animals. A friend Of mine
who suggested this bill to me told of
a relative who had been paraly zed for
three years, dying lingering death,
which was as certain as it was slow.
How much more humane would it be
for a physician to administer some
auaesthetic to such a patient and
painlessly end it all in few minu tes!
$50, also, with those who are being
eaten up by leprosy or cancer and
the many imbecile or hideously de-
formed Or hopelessly diseased children
that are born every day, only to be a
burden to themselves. to their family
and to the State for the remainder
of their lives. They should be killed
in infancy.
"Besides, ! would simply make
lawful that which is already practised
by the greatest physicians and sur
geons in the land. At the risk of
being convicted of murder, they often
take human life simply because they
know it is mercy to the patient
AND his relatives, Every large hos
pital is the scene of such murders al
most daily. 1t is pity that the
practice is rot more extensive. NY
bill contains every reasonable safe
guard"
According to DR.. Gregory's bill,
any person over ten years of age, if of
sound mind, must take the Initiative
in requesting that his life be taken
by artificial means. The physician
to whom he expresses such desire
shall then summon two other repu-
table physicians and the County
Coroner. The four shall hold con-
snltation to determine if 1t is possi--
BILE to save the patients life, how
long life may be prolonged aud to
what extent his suffering may be
alleviated. If they agree that death
is inevitable and that great mental
and physical pain must characterize
the remainder Of the patients life it
shall be their duty to spprlse the
nearest of kin or guardian.
If the latter agrees to their pro-
posal the proposed law requires the
three physicians and the Coroner to
administer an anaesthetic until death
ensues, then to make verified report
of their act to the secretary of the
State Board of Health. The bill
provides a heavy fine for any physi-
clan who shirks his duty under this
law. and also prescribes the usual
penalty for first. degree murder
should they abuse it. Similar proceed
ure is prescribed for killing idiots,
infants and insane, save that the next
of kin, instead of the patient himself,
must take the initiative.