Pubdate: Fri, 23 Nov 2001
Source: Register-Guard, The (OR)
Copyright: 2001 The Register-Guard
Contact:  http://www.registerguard.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/362
Source: Register-Guard, The (OR)
Author: Russell W. Platt
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal)

HEALTH CHOICES RESTRICTED

Two actions recently taken by our federal government regarding health care 
should be noted by all. Most on the mind of Oregonians is, of course, is 
the U.S. attorney general's attempt to kill (pardon the pun) our Death With 
Dignity Act by revoking the prescription licenses of doctors who help 
terminal patients obtain the means of ending their own lives. Also, there 
was the raid on the Los Angeles Cannabis Resource Center and the seizure of 
its finances, medical records and supply of medicinal marijuana. I suspect 
that a way is being sought to put an end to our own medical marijuana act 
in Oregon.

While the ethical consequences of laws permitting suicide and the use of 
marijuana may be debatable, they were in fact carefully crafted laws, 
affirmatively voted for by a majority of voting citizens to help ease the 
suffering of the afflicted. We are, in effect, being told that we may 
suffer and die only according to the processes approved of by the federal 
government and those who bend the politicians' ears. I find it beyond 
ironic that patients with chronic or terminal ailments are told that they 
may neither end their lives nor use a drug that may ease their suffering. 
It seems to me that a person opposed to suicide would be in favor of 
additional ways of reducing pain.

When the federal government can offer to all citizens free and universal 
health care, I will accept its decisions as to what constitutes appropriate 
medical care.

Russell W. Platt, Springfield
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MAP posted-by: Jackl