Poll: Is Assisted Suicide Criminal?
Monday, charges were dismissed against a Kennesaw man and three others accused of participating in an assisted suicide network.
Georgia's Supreme Court cited free speech violations as the basis for its unanimous decision Monday to strike down the state's assisted suicide law, resulting in the dismissal of criminal charges against a Kennesaw man and three others.
Thomas Goodwin of Kennesaw and Punta Gorda, FL; Clare Behr of Atlanta; and Dr. Lawrence Egbert and Nicholas Sheridan of Baltimore, MD were arrested in 2009 as part of an investigation into the Final Exit Network, an assisted suicide network that supports "the human right to a death with dignity."
The four were arrested in a sting operation by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and were accused of assisting the suicide of 58-year-old John Celmer of Cumming.
Celmer suffered from "very, very severe mouth and throat cancer," his mother, Betty Celmer, told CNN in 2009.
Justice Hugh Thompson wrote in his court opinion that the 1994 law, which criminalizes the act of publicly offering suicide assistance, "restricts speech in violation of the free speech clauses of both the United States and Georgia Constitutions." The court did not express an opinion on the legality of the act of assisted suicide, but rather, addressed the wording of the law which targets those who publicly offer suicide assistance.
"The State has failed to provide any explanation or evidence as to why a public advertisement or offer to assist in an otherwise legal activity is sufficiently problematic to justify an intrusion on protected speech rights," Thompson wrote. You can read the full opinion here.
On its website, the formerly Georgia-based Final Exit Network describes itself as "an all-volunteer organization serving members in all 50 states who are suffering from intolerable medical circumstances, are mentally competent, want to end their lives, and meet our official, written criteria."
Listed qualifying conditions include cancer, Lou Gehrig’s Disease, Alzheimer’s, Huntington’s, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, emphysema, congestive heart failure, stroke, AIDS, and other "lesser-known but serious, frequently lengthy ailments."
What do you think of the court's ruling? Is assisted suicide criminal? Participate in our poll, and share your opinion in our comments.
Margaret
8:13 pm on Thursday, February 9, 2012
Assisted suicide is a recipe for elder abuse. See www.choiceillusion.org
Will Johnston
11:28 am on Friday, February 10, 2012
I have seen many family situations where older people are being abused, especially if they have money or real estate. Assisted suicide just gives one more tool to the abusers. Go to www.epcbc.ca
Diane Coleman
12:10 pm on Friday, February 10, 2012
I have one of the "qualifying conditions" for getting suicide assistance from Final Exit Network. So I guess I'd better not let myself get depressed or ever bring up the idea of ending it all, because I wouldn't get the same suicide prevention as a nondisabled woman. With FEN's so-called "help," I'd be dead with no second chance, unlike most people who attempt suicide and - without FEN's "services" - fail and move on.
Kate
8:57 pm on Friday, February 10, 2012
"Listed qualifying conditions include cancer, Lou Gehrig’s Disease, Alzheimer’s, Huntington’s, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, emphysema, congestive heart failure, stroke, AIDS, and other 'lesser-known but serious, frequently lengthy ailments.'" Well, that just about covers it, I'd say. Can anyone give me an example of an "ailment" that WOULDN'T qualify?
AnneMarie Florizone
2:20 am on Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Anne Marie from Saskatchewan , Canada
When my turn comes to the pearly gates I hope that I won't have been charged with the MURDER for PROFIT book of life; Could anyone be justified for PUTTING DOWN a small baby; a crippled, infirm person or an elderly one, so vulnerable. WHERE IS THE HUMANITY IN ABUSE TO THE VULNERABLE IN OUR SOCIETY?? I'll get on my knees to prevent all the abortions and assisted suicides.