http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2008/nov/08110503.html
[LifeSiteNews] 6 Nov 2008--The state of Washington voted to allow legal assisted suicide according to the Oregon model in yesterday’s ballot. Initiative 1000, the Washington “Death with Dignity Act,” which allows physicians to prescribe a fatal dose of medication to patients whom a doctor feels is likely to die within six months, passed in the state 59% to 41%.
The measure was formulated in imitation of Oregon Measure 16, which was passed in 1994. Euthanasia movement supporters donated enormous sums of money to press Washington’s Initiative 1000 forward, believing that, should it pass, the “domino effect” would soon help to legalise assisted suicide in other states.
In their appeal for funds for the Washington campaign, the euthanasia promoting group, Oregon Death with Dignity, said they had “experienced phenomenal success.” “Every piece of the campaign has fallen into place, and we are on the brink of victory on November 4,” the group said.
Campaigners against the Initiative said late in the campaign that although they had gained support, a critical lack of funding was likely to dash their hopes of protecting vulnerable patients in the state.
In the end, money appears to have won the day, as the Yes on I-1000 campaign was able to purchase key advertising spots with donations that poured in from across the country. Lawyer and author on bioethics issues Wesley J. Smith wrote that the “culture of death once again has the wind in its sails” in the US following yesterday’s vote.
Related article:
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008352565_apwaassistedsuicide2ndldwritethru.html
Wash. voters approve assisted suicide initiative - The Seattle Times
No comments:
Post a Comment