Sunday, March 3, 2024

24 Years ago, Jeanette Hall had terminal cancer and she wanted assisted suicide. She is happy to be alive today.

Alex Schadenberg
Executive Director, Euthanasia Prevention Coalition

With contribution from Margaret Dore.

I was speaking this weekend in Oregon and Dr Kenneth Stevens gave us an incredible gift by bring Jeanette Hall to the event.

(Picture: Alex Schadenberg, Jeanette Hall, Kenneth Stevens, and Wesley Smith)

Oregon's assisted suicide law came into effect in 1998. In 2000, Jeanette Hall had cancer and she was give six to 12 months to live. Jeanette made a settled decision to use Oregon's assisted suicide law in lieu of being treated for cancer. Her doctor, Kenneth Stevens, who opposed assisted suicide, thought that her chances with treatment were good. Over several weeks, he stalled her request for assisted suicide and finally convinced her to be treated for cancer.

Yes, Dr Stevens was against assisted suicide, but he also thought that Jeanette was a good candidate for treatment and indeed she was. She has been cancer free for 24 years. In a previous article, Jeanette stated:
I wanted to do our law and I wanted Dr. Stevens to help me. Instead, he encouraged me to not give up and ultimately I decided to fight the cancer. I had both chemotherapy and radiation. I am so happy to be alive!
Jeanette told me that at the time of her assisted suicide request, she had lost hope. Her Aunt had died by cancer, her mother had Alzheimer's and her brother had recently died by suicide. She felt that there was no reason to live.

Jeanette with her son at his graduation.
Dr Stevens helped Jeanette find meaning and purpose by asking her about her son. Her son was in the police academy and Dr Stevens assured her that with treatment she would be able to attend her son's graduation. Jeanette not only attended her son's graduation but she overcame her cancer.

We are thankful that Dr. Stevens didn't give-up on Jeanette, that he convinced her to try effective treatment and that Jeanette is alive today.

As Jeanette said to me:
"It is now 24 years later and I am happy to be alive."
This article is based on previous articles concerning Jeanette Hall:
  • If Dr Stevens had believed in assisted suicide - I would be dead (Link).
  • Oregon woman changed her mind on assisted suicide after her doctor helped her find a reason to live. (Article Link).

5 comments:

  1. Euthanasia, another promise of the world that brings only misery and everlasting death. The promise of the Gospel of Jesus brings joy, love and peace, and everlasting life.

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    Replies
    1. Thank you for this beautiful story of life!

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  2. Jordan Peterson’s Thoughts on Assisted Suicide
    https://rumble.com/v4hug93-jordan-petersons-thoughts-on-assisted-suicide.html

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  3. John-Thevanathan ThambirajahMarch 18, 2024 at 11:34 AM

    PRAISE AND GLORY UNTO OUR LORD SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST OF NAZARETH! HEI OUR LOVING JANETTE HILL, JESUS YOUR CREATOR AND SAVIOUR LOVES YOU MORE THAN ANYONE IN THIS WORLD COULD DO FOR THAT HE HAS GIVEN HIS LIFE FOR YOU ON THE CROSS! HESUS IS ALWAYS WITH YOU, HOLD FIRMLY TO HIM, HIS WORDS AND THE SPIRITUAL CHURCH! BE BORN AGAIN AS THE LOVING CHOLD OF JESUS ACC. TO GOSPEL OF JOHN 3:3 & 5 AND BE SAVED TO THE ETERNAL LIFE THAT IS JESUS HIMSELF!
    JESUS BLESS YOU AND GUIDE YOU VERY MUCH ABUNDANTLY WITH HIS UNCHANGING GRACE, MERCY, COMPASSION AND LOVE!
    Yours Sincerely
    Servant of JESUS
    John-Thevanathan

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  4. It would be great to see more medical professionals embrace the Hippocratic oat as it was originally thought. I am being told they don't even take it anymore. Some of them choose to learn how to kill instead of healing. Life should always be the first choice.

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