Right is right and wrong is wrong—regardless of legality: Another hospital has opted out of Washington’s assisted suicide law. From the story: Sunnyside Community Hospital will not participate in the state’s new Death With Dignity Act that takes effect next week, a decision likely to be followed by other hospitals in Yakima County...In announcing the hospital’s decision Wednesday, chief executive Jon Smiley said members of the board, medical personnel and local residents felt that “this act does not meet the standards of a majority of people in our community.”
Assisted suicide shouldn’t meet the standards of any physician or community. That realization will take time to reestablish after decades of “death with dignity” advocacy. But this is a good step in that direction. If enough health care facilities and physicians follow this leadership in Washington, Oregon, and Montana, perhaps it will sink in that prescribing poison is not a legitimate medical practice.
Then, the “choice” crowd will try and force participation, which will bring a huge clash over conscience clauses.
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