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Right to Die

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by John F. Williford

Sent to: Maria_Cantwell@cantwell.senate.gov, senator_murray@murray.senate.gov, and cc'd to Jay.Inslee@mail.house.gov

Hello, Senators.

I see by the following article in the NYT that Senate Majority Leader Frist has called a witness who is in a persistent vegetative state to testify before the Congress, and has stated she is therefore entitled to witness protection under U.S. Law. The hypocrisy of this is stunning.

The New York Times > National > Congress Moves to Halt Feeding Tube Removal

We again see the pattern of parsing and distorting law, which in parallel with ignoring or unilaterally abrogating law is a hallmark of the Majority and of the Bush Administration.
If you are given an opportunity to vote on this matter, I urge you to vote against any measure that would prolong sustaining life by artificial means, irrespective of the interests and desires of patients.

Intervention of the legislature on this particular case has been rejected at the State of Florida level and by the federal courts, including the Supreme Court, which has declined to intervene.

Interposing additional legislation or imposition of abuse of existing law in this case may indeed provoke delay, but it is unlikely that the constitutionality of any such legislation will be sustained, or that the ultimate outcome some months or years later will differ from what it is today.

Justice delayed is justice denied.

This looks like pandering, rather than principle, and in the case of a qualified and trained physician like Dr. Frist, the excuse of ignorance is not available.

Regards,

John F. Williford
Richland, WA

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