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2fi"he Daily Tar HeelTuesday, November 21, 1989 World and Nation Medical technology outpace By STACI COX Assistant Managing Editor The definition of death and the right to die are increasingly complicated by medical technology, and a recent reso lution by the N.C. Medical Society regarding "death with dignity" exem plifies the difficulties physicians, fami lies and the legal system now face. "The lines used to be clear; either a man was dead or he was not," said Jim Shields, executive director of the N.C. division of the American Civil Liber ties Union. "Now that modern medi cine is so sophisticated, it's a question of nuances, of whether an artificially supported heartbeat is human without an active brain." Modern technology often puts phy sicians in a position that a patient can only exist in a persistent vegetative state with the help of artificial life support which the family wants ended, said Penny Hodgson, communications director for the N.C. Medical Society. "It's a question of ethics," Hodgson said. "It may be easier when the patient has made his wishes known, especially with a living will, but sometimes there has been no communication and the family wants everything possible done to keep Daddy alive. Then the physi B-OAppy ThANksqiviNq!!! limited spaces available Weaver Dairy Rd. 967-0044 151 EAST FRANKLIN STREET 20 OFF STOREW ALL CAROLINA BLUE RUSSEL ATHLETIC SWEATPANTS ANY RUSSEL ATHLETIC SWEATSHIRTPANT COMBO OFF DISCONTINUED SHIRTS & SHORTS cian doesn't have a leg to stand on." Living wills serve as excellent rec ords of a patient's desires and relieve the strain of making such a decision from the family, but they are not legal documents and are not binding, said Kenneth Wing, UNC professor of Health Policy and Administration and associate professor of law. If a patient changes his mind, a verbal statement overrides the living will and the docu ment is not valid if it violates local, state or federal laws. The N.C. Right to Natural Death Act gives physicians the right to remove extraordinary means from the care of a patient in a persistent vegetative state but does not define extraordinary means. The Medical Society resolution, which is not a law, includes intravenous food and water as part of extraordinary means but does not require physicians to act one way or the other. "We're just saying it's ethical," Hodgson said. "We had so many physi cians calling us and asking what the policy is on this that we had to create some tangible definitions." But the resolution only codifies Medical Society policy and might not stand up to strict legal scrutiny, Wing said. HEY SOUTH CAMPUS! Move North for the Winter Cozy up with at KENSINGTON WOt UNA Q) liinJLlixiT- i a t s ii m kc 4; ml Y - NOVEMBER 21st, Tues. "It's a complicated issue that I would take six weeks of class to explain," Wing said. "But in my view, any com petent person should be able to refuse extraordinary treatment." There are now 50 cases involving right to die in 16 court districts nation wide, and there is an important case before the Supreme Court during this term, he said. Almost every case that has been decided thus far has favored the patient's right to die, but the Medi cal Society is awaiting the Supreme Court decision before testing its resolu tion, Hodgson said. In the case facing the Supreme Court, Cruzan vs. Harmon, the parents of Nancy Cruzan, a 31 -year-old who has been kept alive artificially since a se vere car accident seven years ago, are suing the state of Missouri to allow them to disconnect her life support. The state is taking the stance that its interest in protecting human life over rides her right to die. "They're taking a radical view that severely restricts a person's right to make decisions about their own body," Shields said. "It's really just a short step to the abortion issue." The right to die is also abridged in states where suicide is illegal, he said. "I should be able to commit suicide if I want to," Shields said. "It may be the wrong decision, but it's mine to make. It's the same with the removal of i imp" in i in ng i i mb"' ' ' hi i Handled With Ckre Quality Copies Convenient Hours Specialty Papers the copy center Open 24 Hours 114 V. Franklin St. 967-0790 22nd, 24th, 25th Wed. Fri. Sat. U 2y D each $1Q rxv T7 TTY 00 40 OFF og ethics extraordinary means. The government can't force people to make the 'right' decision, because nobody knows what it is. It's a question of personal ethics." The difference between euthanasia and removal of extraordinary means may be ethically fuzzy to some observ ers, but there is a technical difference in removing artificial life support that allows the patient to die naturally and actively facilitating the patient's death, Hodgson said. 'That's murder," she said. "I don't worry about any of our members com mitting murder. What we're concerned with is the transition from life into death of a patient who's being artifi cially sustained as they are being whittled down to 6 feet, 4 inches and only 90 pounds of bone and skin stretched taut." Shield agreed that active euthanasia was not the issue, but personal dignity and understanding the limits of tech nology do need to be addressed. "It's not easy but it's to the good that we think about these things," he said. "It's very important that society does not enforce majority judgment for per sonal ethical decisions." But making clear decisions and enacting responsible legislation is hampered by the emotions surrounding the issue, Wing said. People tend not to think about the issue until they are personally embroiled in a case and unable to examine the facts objectively. "One thing that's really unfortunate is in modern society our part in the dying of one another is something we don't talk about and aren't educated about, then you suddenly find yourself in a nursing home deciding whether or not to unhook dad," Wing said. Some national solution that can be adjusted with technology needs to be implemented to deal with the issue of death with dignity, but until then it's up to individual states and medical socie ties to outline a plan, Hodgson said. "Of course there may be a cure for anything with the current rate of tech nology," Hodgson said. "But for now it's prolonging dying instead of pro longing life." Minor Ruffin Hall, director of academic affairs for Student Government, said he was disappointed with the planning of the minor. "I think it's very positive that the overall response has been in support of a minor," Hall said. "I am, however, disappointed that the departments have not chosen to move faster on it. "The issue has been discussed numerous times over the past couple of years. The departments were asked not to structure one but to analyze if they had the resources to offer it." Cell said she set a Nov. 1 deadline for the departments to respond to her memo concerning the possibility of having a minor, and most departments met the deadline. "A significant number of depart ments have indicated interests in offi cially having a minor. thinks tastes Chef Giovanni interrupts to add that his Gamberi Creole, which is created with fresh clams, shrimp, prosciutto. sauteed with onion, green peppers and mushrooms over a bed of rice, is delicious as well as the best value in town at Chef Chan disagrees! He favors the meat, large shrimp, scallops a king with enspy vegetables m a unique insists it is the freshest seafood dish Whose dish is best is debatable, but the fact that these are the best Italian & Chinese Chefs in town is certain! We are open on Thanksgiving's evening from 5:00 to 9:00 pm with a special combination plate which includes turkey and dressing plus one of the foUowng entrees: Polio Alia Qirondin Honey shrimp Shrimp AlkiMarcoPoh Triple Crown Delight Veal Alia Marco Polo t1CiCic. Aged Tangerine Beef per combination plate plus soup, Spring Roll or house sauti Tltrt$P mil -fnY VPSPYwriifYne nsvtuf Let us host your next Christmas Party in our beautiful formal China Room, Beginning with cocktails, appetizers and finish with a sit down dinner. Please Bring Your Friends for a Lavish International Sunday Buffet Prime Rib Egg Plant Parmigiana Chicken Picante Beef Broccoli Spring Rolls Shrimp Cocktail fresh fruit & dessert Lunch: 1 1:30-2:30 (except Sat.) Sunday International Luncheon Buffet 11:30-2:30 Dinner: 5:00-9:30 (Sun. -Thurs.) Weekends: 5:00-11:00 1813 Durham-Chapel Hill Blvd Chapel Hill located next to Brendle 's r i .i All Major Credit Cards Accepted Czecks demand changes in massive Prague protest From Associated Press reports PRAGUE, Czechoslovakia More than 200,000 people filled the streets of Prague on Monday, de manding free elections and the resig nation of the hard-line leader in the largest protest ever in this communist nation. For the first time in decades, major protests involving tens of thousands of citizens also broke out in other cities, state-run Czechoslovak TV said. The protesters converged on Prague's central Wenceslas Square, then set out for Hradcany Castle, a national symbol and the residence of President Gustav Husak. They were blocked by police barriers and later dispersed peacefully. Czechoslovak TV said at least 200,000 people took part in the march. It also reported 20,000 protesters in the city of Brno, 10,000 in Bratislava and 5,000 in Liberec. "It's the end, Milos!" the demon strators shouted, referring to Com munist Party chief Milos Jakes. "Jakes, out!" Some carried banners reading, "Democracy for all" and "Red murderers to court" a refer ence to the alleged death of mathe matics student Martin Smid. Dissi dents say Smid was killed Friday by police, but the government called reports of the death "an unfounded rumor." Romania resists reform BUCHAREST, Romania Romanian leader Nicolae Ceausescu defied the reform sweeping Eastern Europe and said Monday the land he rules like a feudal lord will stick to its rigid Marxist course. Thousands of supporters cheered and applauded on cue. 'The party cannot give up its revo lutionary responsibility,' ' said Ceaus escu, president and Communist Party chief, speaking at the opening of the 14th Romanian Communist Party Congress. "It cannot surrender its historical mission to another force." "Only a few departments have had difficulty scheduling meetings at that time (in order to make the decision)," she said. Hall said, "Some departments ex pressed to me earlier in the semester that they did not have enough time to discuss the feasibility of a minor. "For the larger departments that reason may be valid, but for some of the smaller departments I don't see what the problem is." Cell also set another deadline in mid-January for the departments to decide what classes will constitute the minor. "If the different departments offer a minor, they must decide in January what the design of it will be," she said. She said the faculty must decide if the idea of a minor would work against Our Italian and Chinese Chefs are arguing. . . Can you help ? Chef Giovanni from Florence. Italy, insists that his Polio Alia Sorrentina sauteed with eggplant, prosciutto & spinach in a reel sauce then topped with mozzerella cheese is the best Italian dish in the Triangle area! However, our Chinese Chef Simon Chan his General Tao s Chicken looks, a smells just as good! only M 0.95! Seafood Basket which has lobsteA crab meat This dish is served potato basket and Chef Chan ever created! Shrimp Vegetables Curried Chicken Six fresh & mixed salads AllYouCanEat$7.95 children under 1 0 half-price Please call Ad Talk 1-80O6S4-8448, then 1519 after tone for more information lJ News in Brief He clearly was referring to reform in the Soviet Union, radical change in Poland and Hungary and the fall of orthodox communist regimes in East Germany and Bulgaria. Romania is a regular target at inter national human rights meetings for suppressing dissent and restricting religious freedom. Adding to the misery of the nation's 23 million people are years of shortages that have led to poorly stocked grocery stores, cold apart ments and cars without gasoline. Indian elections approaching NEW DELHI, India Campaign ing ended in most Indian states Monday, two days before the -start of parliamentary elections in which half a billion people are eligible to vote for 10,000 candidates representing hundreds of parties. Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and his Congress Party face a tough challenge from a coalition of five opposition parties, known as the National Front and led by Vishwanath Pratap Singh, once among Gandhi's closest allies. Campaigning ended Monday evening in 15 of India's 25 states and five of seven federally ruled territo ries, where voting will take place Wednesday. Residents of nine other states and the two remaining territories will vote Friday or Sunday, with campaigning required to stop 48 hours before the polls open. Voting in the eastern state of Assam was postponed indefinitely because its electoral rolls were not ready. Elections were spread over three days because of the vastness and diversity of India, a nation of 880 million people that has about 500 million eligible voters and is the world's most populous democracy. from page 1 UNC's idea of a liberal arts education. According to Cell, the faculty thinks the minor allows a greater degree of specialization. "Realistically, the faculty takes curriculum changes very seriously," she said. ' Cell cited the marine science de partment as one that is interested in offering a minor. "There is no B.S. (Bachelor of Sci ence) in marine science. It's purely graduate. They wanted to think about it." Hall said, "The most important thing for students is that most departments in the College of Arts and Sciences are in favor of the minor. That is a positive sign and a great step." But Ruffin said, "It appears to me like this is going to drag on." The Daily Tar Heel. The best news on campus! Pay for college, the smart way. The Army Reserve can help you pay for college ... the smart way. First, you may be eligible for the Montgomery GI Bill. This could provide you with up to ' $5,040 for current college expenses. Second, if you have or obtain a qualified student loan, you could get it paid off at the rate of 15 per year or $500, whichever is greater up to a maximum . of $10,000. Selecting certain specialty training can increase the maximum to $20,000. Arid you'll also earn good part time money for serving in a nearby Army Reserve unit. Following Basic Training and an Army skill training school, you'll usually serve one weekend a month plus two weeks of Annual Training. And you'll earn over $85 per weekend to start. Think about it. Then think about us. Then call us today: Cary Village Natl 467-2500 BE ALL YOU CAN BE? ARMY RESERVE . . i V I i v V
Daily Tar Heel (Chapel Hill, N.C.)
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