CLEF Discussion #1 - Bush, Death, and Economic Euthanasia

[skater314159]

I am trying to start a CLEF (Consistent Life Ethic Forum) here in Catholicism and Orthodoxy. I want to encourage members of this forum to discuss how Consistent Life Ethic issues (there are many more issues than just *abortion*) affect modern American believers.

Rules:
1) No bashing.
2) Be respectful of one another's viewpoints. We can agree to disagree.
3) Use of citations from Evangelium Vitae, The Catechism, Canon Law, Church Fathers, Bible, Church Writings, Medical Texts, Journal Articles, etc. are encouraged.
4) Let's try to have fun... this does not need to be intense or turn into a shouting match.
5) Be cool.


The law that George W. Bush signed as Govenor of Texas that allows for the euthanasia of patients by Doctors acting under "economic considerations". That is right: GEORGE BUSH ADVOCATES EUTHANASIA AND THE CULTURE OF DEATH. http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2005/12/14/151930/63

(For those of you who think that this doesn't affect you because you live outside of Texas, you have "good insurance", or are wealthy, understand this: so far the cases that have been affected by this law have involved patients who were unable to continue/maintain medical treatment due to monetary concerns. The problem is that there have been cases where patients who were conscious and responsive were taken off of ventilators by doctors and medical staff against patient and family wishes and forced to die. This is a violation of medical ethics and the right of individuals to have equal standing in society despite financial value. Currently this only affects those who "are beyond medical hope" or "unable to bear the financial responsibility of treatment"... but these laws are making it possible for Doctors and Insurance Companies to play God.

Another disturbing consequence of George Bush's law is that physicians and hospitals are given immune from civil or legal actions being taken against them under the law as long as it can be shown that they acted "reasonably". Do you trust lawyers, politicans and medical staff to act more justly and rightly than the Lord?



1 Samuel 2:6

"The LORD brings death and makes alive;
he brings down to the grave and raises up.

[theredpen]

1. Don't worry, the Republican will pass a bill to protect each person

Just like Terry Schiavo! And Bush will fly back from vacation to sign each law! What makes you think they'd do differently, other than the fact that Bush signed this euthanasia bill into law?

[DemBones DemBones]

2. What makes me think differently? The little baby boy who was

taken off life support without his mother's consent and despite her pleas for his life. They were black and little attention was paid to his death. That was in Texas, around the time Terri Schiavo was killed.

The Bush family has historically supported eugenics and this bill certainly fits the profile.

[skater314159]

3. You mean Bush supports eugenics for the poor and "brown people", eh? n/t

[DemBones DemBones]

4. Yes, I fear it is so. DId I mention this baby died in Texas?

:kick:

[CBHagman]

5. Given the admininistration stance on health insurance...

...I'm actually not too surprised to hear about the economic angle of this story. The Bush administration has a remarkably harsh attitude towards health insurance and has on more than one occasion opined that employer-provided health insurance (i.e., where the employee pays premiums and co-payments)is too generous and encourages overuse of the system. One of the Bush economic team -- I can't recall if it was Edward Lazear, Allan Hubbard, or one of Bush's secretaries of the Treasury -- compared such a system to giving away free groceries and encouraging consumption of luxury items. I couldn't make this stuff up, and yet the press barely seemed to notice, let alone comment. Indeed, Jim VandeHei, formerly of The Washington Post, wrote several articles linking George W. Bush to the legacy of Pope John Paul II and the concept of a culture of life.

As far as I can tell, reverence for the market always trumps consideration of human need.