|
|
|
| Current Issue |
|
|
| Resources |
|
|
|
Humanizing Death
| Article
# : |
11460 |
|
|
Section : |
MODERN THOUGHT
|
| Issue
Date : |
4 / 1994 |
4,154 Words |
| Author
: |
An Interview With John Pridonoff
|
The following interview was conducted by THE WORLD & I editor Robert Selle with John Pridonoff. In October 1992, Pridonoff succeeded Derek Humphry as executive director of the Eugene, Oregon-based Hemlock Society U.S.A. Humphry wrote the best-selling Final Exit (Dell), which has been billed as a do-it yourself book on suicide techniques. Pridonoff holds a doctorate in psychology and is an ordained minister in the Congregational Christian Church. He has had extensive experience with crisis intervention in cases involving death and dying and has trained numerous social workers, chaplains, nurses, and doctors in the counseling of patients and family.
The World & I: What does the Hemlock Society U.S.A. stand for philosophically?
Dr. John Pridonoff: The society's basic mission is to promote physician aid-in-dying as a legitimate option for terminally ill people. In other words, it champions the right of people who have been diagnosed as terminally ill to have this option with medical assistance.
W&I: What exactly does euthanasia mean to you?
Pridonoff: This is where we have to make a bit of a distinction between my speaking as executive director of the Hemlock Society--where I give you the society's position on an issue--and my personal thoughts.
As far as the Hemlock Society is concerned, it is focused on physician aid-in-dying for terminally ill people.
As for myself, I think the issue of euthanasia needs to be examined beyond the dimension of terminal illness. I don't necessarily mean that laws should be passed at this point legalizing many forms of euthanasia, but I certainly think that the issues should be discussed. The reason? Because of the number of people who daily face end-of-life decisions and health situations where the medical evaluation is that there is really no avenue open to recovery, only a steady disintegration of the quality of life until the time of death at some point in the near distance.
I think in those situations, which may not be clinically diagnosed as terminal illness, that the issue of euthanasia should be discussed. It certainly was in earlier times in history--say, prior to the advent of the Christian church--and I think it needs to be discussed by humankind under all conditions.
...
Read Full Article
Look for this article in Ask.com
|
|
