If this illustrates anything, it shows the need for constant vigilance. Too many people become interested in an issue because a single person captures their attention. If that person's situation changes (improves, resolves, dies), then they turn their focus to the next thing. We need to look at the hospices - are they a convenient way for our society to bring in euthanasia without triggering public attention? I mention this because of a post in Right-Wing Nut House, that referenced the Hospice Patients Alliance. One of the articles on their site:
The efforts to change how society views the disabled seem to be schizophrenic. On the one hand, we are taught that we should defer to the disabled, give them special parking spots, make our buildings wheelchair accessible, yet on the other hand, it's "OK" to discount their views if they are speaking out; it's "OK" to abort them if they are "detected" during pregnancy; and, it's "OK" to euthanize them should they become inconvenient (already practiced in the Netherlands and coming soon to a "health" clinic near you).
I've said before, this is a "sleeper issue" - the Terri Schiavo case just awakened a great many people, like myself, who had never thought deeply about the subject. I always assumed that only those who were terminal and close to death would be affected by these "gentle death" advocates. Before, if anything, those actions seemed to be regretful and used only as a last resort for those few individuals who were in constant pain and begging for a quick release.
I'll continue blogging about this issue. I probably won't be writing about it every day, as I did in the last few months, but expect to see further posts, including links to local (Ohio, particularly NE Ohio) cases and activities.
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