Thursday, January 25, 2018

Delaware Assisted Suicide for people with Intellectual Disabilities.

This article was published by Wesley Smith on his blog on January 22, 2018

Delaware may be voting on assisted suicide bill HB 160 on January 25, 2018

Wesley Smith
By Wesley Smith

Assisted suicide/euthanasia advocates want a very broad and easy latitude to have death by overdose or lethal jab. 

They hide this truth behind blithe assurances of strict protections and feigned desires to limit assisted suicide to the very few as a “safety valve.” They say it will always be limited to the competent. But sometimes, they let that cat out of the bag before legalization. 

Such is the case in Delaware where the sponsor of that state’s assisted suicide legalization bill has amended the proposal to include the terminally ill ”intellectually disabled,” who by definition, will often not be able to fully comprehend the nature of what is being discussed.

First, note the definition of “intellectually disability,” standard in the field. From Amendment 2 to House Bill 160
“Intellectual disability” means a disability, that originated before the age of 18, characterized by significant limitations in both intellectual functioning and in adaptive behavior, which covers many everyday social and practical skills.” 
This means disabled people with significant intellectual impairments. They could be eligible for assisted suicide if a social worker says they understand (my emphasis): 
(b) If the patient has a documented intellectual disability, the attending physical shall refer the patient to a licensed clinical social worker who shall ensure that the patient fully understands the information provided pursuant to § 2504B(3).  
No medication to end a patient’s life in a humane and dignified manner may be prescribed unless the licensed clinical social worker has confirmed in writing to the attending physician that the patient understands the information provided pursuant to § 2504B(3).” 
These are people who can’t legally enter contracts! They can’t control where they live! They can’t make their own medical decisions! They also can’t vote, pursuant to the Delaware Constitution! 
No person adjudged mentally incompetent . . . or incapacitated under the provisions of this Constitution from voting, shall enjoy the right of an elector. DEL. CONST. art. 5, § 2. 
Yet, if they have a terminal illness, they are going to be able to commit assisted suicide if a social worker–who may be ideologically predisposed in favor–confirms that they “understand” that they are receiving a poison prescription

It doesn’t even require approval of a guardian, as would corrective surgery or treatment to cure or palliate. Good grief! 

Assisted suicide corrupts everything it touches. For those with eyes to see, let them see.

1 comment:

Susan said...

My dad was lethally medicated in a Plano, TX hospital in 2012 as part of "comfort" care. He had a DNR and the doctor instructed to withdraw everything except comfort. The family were not told this was a breathing depressant (morphine, pain medication) and they didn't want him to die. He had double pneumonia and did not want his breathing tube removed, but the r.t. ignored this information from the family. They knew the family did not "comprehend". I sued and couldn't get a jury trial for my case, being told I had to have expert reports before I could get a jury trial. This is unconstitutional and a violation of the rights of citizens to a jury trial and to life.

I believe that there should be marches in our capital and our states that are along the line of pro-life marches so this information will become known. The bible says "my people perish for lack of knowledge". We are all held responsible by God for our actions. We should get some anti-euthanasia groups together in every state to actively fight against this progression that has maneuvered into society for decades. The slow erosion of our roots and principles must be acknowledged, known, and halted before its too late. The lives of the elderly are primarily at risk with the current practice of DNR with "comfort". The family are unaware of the implications of all the paperwork and legalities of this deception. This does not effect simply isolated persons, but all of society, potentially, when this becomes part of "healthcare" policy. Our courts should be the safeguard against such evils. We must speak out.