BRANDY JONES
Editor
No man is above
the law
THe hot topic of assisted suicide has emerged with Dr. Jack
Kevorkian at its focal point again. The debate focuses around
whether we have the right to take our own lives and whether doctors
should assist in their patients' death. More than 36 states have
banned assisted-suicide — the act of helping a person take his own
life.
Now the" good doctor".
Kevorkian has gone a step further,
to euthanasia - the act of actually
carrying out a mercy killing on
television (on the 60 Minutes program). He was recently
convicted and sentenced to 25 to life for murdering 52-year-old
Thomas Youk who was suffering from Lou Gehrig’s disease.
He has been in the limelight concerning assisted-suicide related
cases since the early 90’s, and over the course of this period he has
been an active participant in more than 130 assisted-suicides.
Though he has been sentenced, for the first time, he probably won’t
serve over a week because America is still split on the issue of
physician assisted-suicide.
Assisted-suicide is illegal immoral and indecent. I can’t
fathom how this one man keeps getting away with breaking the law.
No physician, let alone any person, has the right to determine
whether someone lives or dies. The laws established are to maintain
order and decency. To allow Kevorkian to take someone’s life
away, opens up the arena for other citizens to have no regard for the
law. It brings to mind the slippery slope theory: When the society
condones one controversial act, it leaves other illegal acts open to
interpretation.
It is imperative that Americans take a firm stand against
issue of assisted-suicide; otherwise, Kevorkian won’t stop until he
makes a mockery of the American justice system.
The opinion expressed in this column is that of the author and does
not necessarily reflect the opinion of the entire Bennett Banner staff.
STUDENT OPINION POLL:
'M Bennett Banner
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BRANDY JONES Editor
KB4YA A. SAMUELS Features Editor
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What is your opinion about assisted
suicide ?
Photos by Leah Whaley-Holmes, Banner Photographer
I
MARCELLA LIVINGSTON
CLASS: SENIOR
MAJOR: BUS. ADMIN.
HOME STATE:
They say we are separated by
church and state; therefore, as
far as my Christian belief goes,
Kevorkian is wrong to use
euthanasia. As far as state, my
mother told me if she would ever
be put on a respirator....unplug
it.
ANGELA BALTIMORE
CLASS: SOPHOMORE
MAJOR: PSYCHOLOGY
HOME STATE: ARKANSAS
I think only God can take a
Ufe.
CHANNON SMITH
CLASS: SOPHOMORE
MAJOR: SPEC. ED.
HOME STATE: MICHIGAN
I don't think Kevorkian should be
found guilty because he has the
best interest of his patients.
TRINA SEABROOKS-
MA7THEWS
CLASS: SOPHOMORE
MAJOR: SOCIAL WORK
HOME STATE: WASH. D.C.
Kevorkian should be fotmd
guilty. If it were time for those
people to die then God would
have taken control of the
situation for the person to live
or to die.
ANTOINETTE LEBBY
CLASS: SENIOR
MAJOR: BUS. ADMIN.
HOME STATE: MARYLAND
Kevorkian should be found not
guilty because he is merely
granting the wishes of his
patients.
JENNIFER DAVIS
CLASS: SOPHOMORE
MAJOR: POL. SCI
HOME STATE: VIRGINIA
Kevorkian should be found
guilty because the patients are
not in their real state ofmirui. It
should be the patient's decision
to make-when they are stable
arui not drugged up.