LIFE DIGEST: Drive for death in Washington not from grassroots
- Oct 21, 2008 - 1
Contributions by supporters of a physician-assisted suicide initiative in the state of Washington are outpacing those from opponents by nearly four to one, but nearly two-thirds of those pro-referendum gifts are from advocacy organizations and representatives or a former governor and his family.
In addition, abortion rights organizations in the state have endorsed the measure. Planned Parenthood of Washington and NARAL Pro-choice Washington supported the initiative in a joint email, LifeNews.com reported Oct. 20. The National Organization for Women, also supportive of abortion rights, has endorsed the proposal as well.
If approved by voters Nov. 4, Initiative 1000 would bring Oregon-like assisted suicide to Washington. Assisted suicide became legal in Oregon in 1997, making it the only state in the country to permit the practice. Legalized assisted suicide enables doctors to prescribe lethal doses of drugs for a patient but not to administer them.
As of Oct. 10, nearly $3.3 million had been given in support of the initiative, the “Yes on 1000” committee reported, according to the International Task Force on Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide. Less than $875,000 had been donated by foes of the effort, the Coalition Against Assisted Suicide reported.
Of the $3.3 million total for the initiative, more than $2 million had been given by assisted-suicide advocates or Booth Gardner and his allies. Gardner, Washington’s governor from 1985 to 1993, has Parkinson’s Disease.
“Make no mistake, this is not a grassroots political campaign arising out of great urgency from the people,” said bioethics specialist Wesley Smith on his weblog. “Rather, it is a carefully planned political move originating from out-of-state assisted suicide advocates looking for a ripe plum to pick.
“The mantra of the assisted suicide forces is ‘Oregon plus One,’ believing that if one more state falls, the wind will again be at their backs.”
Among the gifts in support of the initiative, as reported by the International Task Force:
- $645,000 from Booth Gardner and his family;
- More than $626,000 from the Compassion & Choices of Washington Political Action Committee (PAC), a pro-assisted suicide organization;
- $300,000 from the Oregon Death With Dignity PAC;
- $200,000 from the Compassion & Choices Action Network,
- $115,000 from Compassion & Choices of Washington;
- More than $61,000 from the American Civil Liberties Union;
- $27,000 from the Booth Gardner Legacy Committee.
Young rugby player commits assisted suicide
A paralyzed, 23-year-old former rugby player has become one of the youngest Brits to die by assisted suicide in Switzerland.
Dan James, who appeared likely to have a professional rugby career before a debilitating injury, died in September after traveling to Switzerland with his parents, The Times of London reported Oct. 17.
The report on James’ death, which is being investigated by British police, said: “Deceased travelled [sic] to Switzerland with a view to ending his own life. He was admitted to a clinic where he died.”
James died in the Zurich apartment of Dignitas, an organization that promotes assisted suicide, his mother, Julie James, said in an email, according to The Times.
More than 100 Brits have gone to Switzerland to commit suicide with the aid of lethal doses of drugs, according to Dignitas. Switzerland’s permissive law makes it one of only three countries in the world to allow assisted suicide or euthanasia. The other two are The Netherlands and Belgium.
James was paralyzed from the chest down after he dislocated his spine during a 2007 practice, according to The Times.
‘Choose Life’ plates finally OK in Arizona
After more than six years of effort, Arizona pro-life advocates have gained the right to express on vehicle license plates their support for unborn children.
The U.S. Supreme Court granted the victory to abortion opponents Oct. 6 when it denied a request to review a lower court decision upholding the “Choose Life” license tags. The high court’s action left standing a Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals opinion that reversed a judge’s ruling against the specialty plates. A three-judge panel of the Ninth Circuit ruled in January the Arizona License Plate Commission’s rejection of the pro-life plates violated the Arizona Life Coalition’s free-speech rights.
“Life-affirming expression is constitutionally protected just like any other speech,” Peter Gentala, attorney for the pro-life coalition, told Focus on the Family CitizenLink.
The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission works to protect the sanctity of human life. If you would like to learn more about this issue, additional resources are available here. If your church is interested in purchasing bulletin inserts or other materials on the sanctity of human life, please visit our online bookstore and erlc.com.
Further Learning
Learn more about: Life, Abortion, End-of-Life Issues
1 comments (post your own) feed
1 On Nov 6th, 2008, at 2:32pm, Shay Barbera wrote:
Freedom of speech means anyone can put any kind of bumper sticker on their car. A state licence plate is different - goverment and government tax dollars should stay out of such controversal issues. Doesn’t anyone get the difference????