Kevorkian serves public need

The dramatic and moving scene of a person dying, gratefully and peacefully, with the help of a physician illustrates the need to legalize the practice of medical assistance in dying as part of the continuum of care at the end of life. The Hemlock Society commends Dr. Jack Kevorkian for his persistence over eight years in providing these services to a relatively small number of suffering people who seek him out because they have no other options.

The Hemlock Society has three objectives: to educate the public and professionals about end-of-life choices, including physician aid in dying as one option; to help people plan for a peaceful death; and to change the law so that medically assisted dying is a legal option for those who wish to make this choice. Kevorkian's work has brought the issue of end-of-life choice into the home of every American. But we know from independent surveys that thousands of doctors quietly help people die when they indicate that it is their repeated, desperate wish. The vast majority of Americans want to know there will be a gentle, peaceful, quick and legal way out if the suffering from afflictions like cancer, stroke and AIDS becomes too much. Very few will take advantage of such all opportunity, as we have seen after a year of such a law in Oregon. But this can no longer remain a secretive, random practice. People must be able to discuss it openly with their physicians, as they now do with hospice care and refusal of treatment.

Medically assisted dying now exists in Oregon, Switzerland and the Netherlands. The highest court in Colombia declared it not to be a crime. If not legalized it will be done secretly and anguished families will have to shop for a doctor or a method and face criminal prosecution, as was the case in The One True Thing, the movie starring Meryl Streep.

60 Minutes is to be commended for bringing dying into the living rooms of every American. This used to happen at home, children and pets would be on the dying person's bed, and it would be a natural, family-centered event. Now it occurs for most people alone, in a sterile hospital environment. Dying people should be able to have their loved ones present, say their good-byes and I-love-you's, and die peacefully and gently with the help of a doctor.