The Truth about Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide :: Free Euthanasia Essay

The Truth about mercy k strickening Euthanasia news apparently sells big in the media. Barred from conducting an on-camera inter discern with damn Kevorkian in prison house, ABC News is waging a court battle against the lucre Department of Corrections they have refused a request from the ABC platform 20/20 to let Barbara Walters interview Kevorkian. Corrections invoked a estate prisons policy that took effect last promenade, barring TV crews except for telephone line footage and scenes of inmates taking part in prison activities. A county circuit render found in favor of ABC on July 13, saying the prison policy infringes on First Amendment rights AP, 7/13. However, this ruling was blocked ii weeks later by a state appellate court Washington Times, 7/30. Kevorkian is serving a 10-to-25-year sentence. Media hype surrounding euthanasia clouds the issues involved in the euthanasia debate. Numerous US studies have established that the Americans most presently affected by the issue of physician- aid suicide -- those who are frail, sr. and slimy from terminal illness -- are also more opposed to legalizing the recital than others are * A poll conducted for the Washington Post on March 22-26, 1996, found 50% support for legalizing physician-assisted suicide (Washington A18) Voters aged 35-44 supported legitimation, 57% to 33%. But these figures reversed for voters aged 65 and older, who opposed legalization 54% to 38%. Majority opposition was also found among those with incomes to a lower place $15,000 (54%), and black Americans (70%). * An August 1993 Roper poll funded by the Hemlock connection and other euthanasia supporters indicated that voters aged 18-29 supported physician-aided suicide 47% to 35% voters aged 60 and older opposed it 45% to 35%. Hemlocks newssheet commented that the younger the person, the more likely he or she is to favor this legislation. The newsletter added that this is somewhat at odds with how Hemlock views its member ship, since it sees itself as defending the interests of elderly citizens. (Humphry Poll 9) A study of cancer patients found that terminally ill patients experiencing significant pain are more opposed to physician-assisted suicide than other terminally ill patients or the general public. The patients who did tend to favor assisted suicide were those who had been diagnosed with clinical depression. The researchers commented Patients with pain do not seem to view euthanasia or physician-assisted suicide as the appropriate response to inadequate pain management.