The Waterbury Democrat., 1935-11-20
Bridgeport Doctor
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6hat he died. This opinion was shared by those who loved him and who ordinarily would have wished him to live.
 True the advancement of science has found means to overcome many obstacles heretofore considered hopeless, but there are times when science fails and we must be de- pendent entirely upon our own rea- soning to do what is right.
 I would not hesitate to take Q second life if knew in my heart and soul that I was doing a nerci- 9ul and humanitarian thing.
 Physicians may rebel against this thought, but in their own minds, having been confronted many times with similar circumstances, they must believe that am right.
 Case In Question
 Bridgeport, Conn.,, Nov. 20.-UP( A 79-year old physician who learned his medicine under Oliver Wendell Holmes joined an interna- tional debate on mercy slayings' to-day by confessing that he killed an incurable patient 48 years ago and would do 1t again.
 He said he thought physicians are hypocritical in public disap- proval of mercy killings" because Iae is convinced private sentiment in the profession condones them in many cases.
 The doctor who thus bellttled the public utterances of leaders of his pfofession and threw overheard the centuries old Oath of Aesculapus is Dr. M. A. Warriner, Harvard gradu- ate, resident of this community al- most half @ century, and mem- Der of the Bridgeport Medical so- ciety.
 He is small and bald, but his age shows only slightly in an erect, vigorous figure and keen eyes. He ostensibly retired five years ago, but still has many patients who prefer him to his younger col- leagues.
 T was just three years out of Harvard. and practicing in Brook field, Mass.," Dr. Warriner said, when an emergency call ct 4 O. clock one afternoon put me up against this problem everybody is discussing.
 Barber Was Victim
 "A big, strapping Frenchman. barber, accidentally had shot him. self with a shotgun. His face was torn off from chin to eyes and pel- lets of shot were lodged in his brain. If he had survived he would have been a dangerous maniac.
 After treating the man I rode away in my buggy with an old army doctor. He told me the wound was worse than anything he ever saw.
 "'What are you going to doT" hG asNed.
 ' don't know" I said.
 sT know what I'd do'," he told me. and that was all the support ! needed.
 T called back at the house at 1:S0 e. m. The man was maniacal and had to be held in bed by sev. erNl men.
 Talked With Relatives
 T talked the case over with his wife, his brother, and his brothers wife. They told me to do what I thought was right. I gave the pa- tent an extra dose of morphine. IIe was raving and later lapsed into a coma and died at { 6. m.
 T have never been troubled by conscience in the intervening 48 years and would do the same thing to-day"
 He said he never again had oc- caaion to kill again. but thought that cases of incurable cancer, mutilation in automobile accidents and congenital idiocy would justify q physician in giving the sufferers painless and quick death.
 The London physician who start cd international discussion of ''imercy slayings' by telling 0 Lon don newspaper that he had killed five patients was justified in the cer.s he described, Dr. Warriner said. k@akSlaB a A \ M V