For Thursday, January 19, 2005 Drummer Column, Gibbs, 771 words


What counts?


The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 in support of Oregon’s assisted-suicide law. This means that Oregon doctors can continue to assist any terminally ill patients with less that six months to live end their suffering on their own terms.
There are many sides to this controversy, just as there are many sides to other life-and-death issues like abortion and capital punishment. Seldom is any debate on these issues ever won or lost. They just rage on in perpetuity.
So, opponents, don’t get all worked up and start writing letters that put me in my place when I say I am happy as a bobtailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs. When my turn comes, I just might drive up there. It’s only ten-hours round trip.
Bravo, Oregon! Good for you. I favor physician-assisted suicide for terminally ill patients in chronic pain, and I personally respect states’ rights to vote on important laws that protect their citizenry. The people of Oregon want this assisted-suicide law, and that is fine by me. If folks don’t like it, they can move out of state, or simply not participate in the practice when their own number comes up.
People generally stick to their original convictions, either due to upbringing, politics, religion, race, unique personal experiences, or some combination thereof. So, I won’t debate the decision. I’d either be preaching to the choir or wasting my breath.
I’ve yet to see a discussion where a pro-lifer or a pro-choicer has ever slapped himself in the head, and said, “My gosh. You’re right. I never looked at it that way. I’m changing my opinion.” That’s because these particular opinions are special. They are bonded to moral convictions, which are not easily changed. A person may change his mind on whether or not he likes George Clooney as an actor, or whether he goes out to eat for Chinese New Year or not.
Studies by the Pew Research Center conducted in 1975, 1990, and 2005 show little change in percentages on a wide variety of life-and-death issues. Terry Schiavos and Jack Kevorkians create blips on the screen, but people in general go on disagreeing.
Currently, 46-percent of 1,500 Americans surveyed favor physician-assisted suicide, and 45-percent disapprove. The breakdown of voters makes the results more interesting. Only 30-percent of white evangelical Protestants were in favor, but 60-percent of white mainstream Protestants favored assisted suicide. Catholics were 40-percent in favor and 50-percent against. Only 34-percent of Republicans were in favor, but 52-percent of Democrats favored physicians’ assistance.
Here is one other interesting detail in the voter breakdown. Everyone was asked another question: if they thought about end-of-life issues a great deal, some, or not much? Those who thought about it a great deal voted 57-percent in favor. Those who thought about life and death issues seldom or not at all voted 35-percent in favor.
Faith in modern medicine seems to have had some minor influence in people’s decisions. In 1990 28-percent of those surveyed said that if they had an illness with no hope of improvement and great pain they would want the doctors to do all they could to keep them alive. In 2005 it went up six points: 34-percent said “save me if you can.”
In 1990 59-percent said “DNR. Pull the plug.” In 2005, that number had shrunk to 53-percent. Also, in 2005 39-percent of whites want to live to be 100, while 65-percent of blacks hope to see triple-digit living. This, too, is a modest increase from 1990.
Most, 70-percent, favor Right-to-Die laws and don’t mind if people in pain end their own suffering. This number hasn’t changed much in 15 years. However, neither have the distinctions: 60-percent believe in right to die if incurable and in great pain; if incurable but not in great pain – 53-percent; if life has become a burden due to illness – 33-percent; if patient has become a burden to family – 29-percent.
Seventy-percent don’t mind if the sick end their own suffering; 55-percent don’t mind if a spouse or loved-one pulls the plug; and 46-percent agree that the doctor can help if the patient requests it.
This tells me that our hope in modern medicine is growing stronger. Families carry the most weight in these decisions, but doctors are trusted and included. We all want to go on living as long as the living is good. However, when we know it’s over, we have the courage and willingness meet our fate head on, and seek professional help.
These numbers make as much sense as any others. I guess the only number that really matters is the one that is up.
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