Friday, July 29, 2005
Doctors In Britain Retain Right To Play God
Back in June, on my birthday, we looked at the case of Leslie Burke. Burke is a gentleman in Britain suffering from a degenerative brain condition that will one day end his life. He has brought suit. He does not, under any circumstances, wish to have nutrition removed when he is no longer able to feed himself, or to speak his mind. Under British law, doctors, not patients, have the right to make the decisions in those circumstances.
Sadly, yesterday, Mister Burke lost an appeal. The story is remarkably free of details, but I found some things about it quite chilling.
And while we are being chilled, Al Mohler quotes a family planning executive in Britain on the news that abortion is on the rise in that country:
Sadly, yesterday, Mister Burke lost an appeal. The story is remarkably free of details, but I found some things about it quite chilling.
But during the appeal hearing, Philip Havers, QC, representing the GMC, said the original ruling had fundamentally altered the nature of doctor/patient relationships and was not in the best interests of the patient.In other words, the doctor best knows the patient's interests, not the patient himself.
And while we are being chilled, Al Mohler quotes a family planning executive in Britain on the news that abortion is on the rise in that country:
"Motherhood is just one among many options open to women and it is not surprising that younger women want to prioritise other things. We should stop seeing abortion as a problem and start seeing it as a legitimate and sensible solution to the problem of unwanted pregnancy.""Legitimate and sensible?" Brrrr...I need a jacket.
