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| Jeanette with Alex |
Executive Director,
Euthanasia Prevention Coalition
We received a message from Jeanette Hall who commented on the article concerning France legalizing euthanasia. Jeanette wrote:
Alex. It is 26 years (July 17, 2000) that I learned I had terminal colon cancer and wanted to follow that same course with Oregon's law and asked Dr. Kenneth Stevens to help me end my life. I pray there are many Dr. Stevens in France that will want to see their patient live. Still "Great to be Alive."Dr Kenneth Stevens is a physician in Oregon who helped Jeanette find a reason to live.
The text from the youtube video explaining the story.
The patient that I specifically recall is a patient by the name of Jeanette Hall. She was referred to me by her surgeon. She had a low rectal cancer.
So when I saw her I told her what she had, I told her we could treat it with radiation and chemotherapy and said that this is potentially treatable.
She said I don't want to go through all that. I had an Aunt who lost her hair and I don't want to lose my hair.
She went back and saw the surgeon. The surgeon told her that if she wasn't treated that she would be dead within 6 months or a year.
The Oregon law says that if life expectancy is 6 months you qualify for the law so I could have written her a prescription for the lethal medication at that time.
She came back and I talked with her again and she said: why aren't you giving me the pills? I want the pills.
I learned more about her. I learned that she had a son who was going to the police academy. I said:
Wouldn't you like to see him graduate? That really made her think that I really have something to live for.
She really struggled in her mind as to whether she was going to be treated or not treated. She finally accepted the treatment, it took a few weeks to give, it was not easy, she actually did lose her hair and her hair grew back and she was able to attend her son's graduation from the police academy.
Five years later, my wife and I were at a restaurant and she was there with a friend and she came over and she said:
Doctor Stevens, you saved my life. If I had gone to a doctor that believed in assisted suicide I would not be here. I'd be dead.
More information about Jeanettte Hall.
So when I saw her I told her what she had, I told her we could treat it with radiation and chemotherapy and said that this is potentially treatable.
She went back and saw the surgeon. The surgeon told her that if she wasn't treated that she would be dead within 6 months or a year.
The Oregon law says that if life expectancy is 6 months you qualify for the law so I could have written her a prescription for the lethal medication at that time.
She came back and I talked with her again and she said: why aren't you giving me the pills? I want the pills.
I learned more about her. I learned that she had a son who was going to the police academy. I said:
Wouldn't you like to see him graduate? That really made her think that I really have something to live for.
She really struggled in her mind as to whether she was going to be treated or not treated. She finally accepted the treatment, it took a few weeks to give, it was not easy, she actually did lose her hair and her hair grew back and she was able to attend her son's graduation from the police academy.
Five years later, my wife and I were at a restaurant and she was there with a friend and she came over and she said:
Doctor Stevens, you saved my life. If I had gone to a doctor that believed in assisted suicide I would not be here. I'd be dead.
More information about Jeanettte Hall.
- Patients recovery convinces doctor to fight assisted suicide (Read).
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