Wednesday, February 04, 2009

Gay Marriage Hearings Tomorrow and Assisted Suicide Creating Indecision

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First, gay marriage.

Public hearings are scheduled tomorrow for both the Senate and the House. Faith and Freedom will be represented and speaking against gay marriage and in favor of traditional marriage.

I strongly recommend that you attend these public hearings if at all possible. You are not required to speak, but your presence will make a statement for traditional marriage.

House Bill 1727---Hearing scheduled for 10:00 AM in the House Committee on Judiciary--House Hearing Room A--John L. O'Brien Building.

Senate Bill 5688--Hearing scheduled for 3:30 PM in the Senate Committee on Government Operations & Elections--Senate Hearing Room 2--J.A. Cherberg Building.

Assisted Suicide Is Creating Indecision.

In about a month the "Death With Dignity Act" aka, assisted suicide, will take effect.

Hospitals and other health organizations across the state are deciding whether they should participate in assisted suicide or not.

Many are undecided.

I will tell you who is in, who is out and who is undecided at this point, however it is a comment made by Doctor Hope Wechkin, medical director of Kirkland-based Evergreen Hospice Services, that caught my attention.

The University of Washington Medicine health system and Group Health Cooperative are in.

U.W. Medical Center and Harborview Medical Center are also in, but are making it clear that individual physicians may opt out.

Swedish Medical Center and Virginia Mason Medical Center are still undecided as well as many hospice centers across the state.

Catholic health care organizations said up front, they will not participate.

It is the comment of Dr. Wechkin that caught my attention. The Dr. told Janet Tu, at the Seattle Times, "No physicians have been trained in how to evaluate for requests like this and prescribe live ending doses of medication."

Wechkin also said, "This isn't something we have classes on in medical school."

Indeed.

The Hippocratic Oath dates back to Hippocrates (460-377 BC) and is a statement of commitment to life--not death.

While I understand the Oath was made in the name of a list of Greek gods and has been modified over the years, my point is that it's focus was life---not death.

We are yet to fully see or experience the impact of consequences, some unintended, by the march to redefine and re-engineer our culture.

Ironically, the original last line of the Oath says, "If I keep this oath faithfully, may I enjoy my life and practice my art, respected by all men and in all times; but if I swerve from it or violate it, may the reverse be my lot."

_____________
Gary Randall
President
Faith & Freedom

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