Suicide Is Not a Treatment

LOS ANGELES TIMES, April 4—The paper reported that an earnest debate had begun in the state legislature over physician-assisted suicide with the introduction of Assembly Bill 1592.

“Unfortunately,” the article stated, “although this measure is born out of a sincere desire to help suffering people, it does so in the worst possible way.”

The paper described the assembly bill as not only leading society down the dangerous slippery slope of euthanasia but undermining California's accomplishments in addressing individuals suffering from pain.

The Times reported that Derek Humphrey, a leading proponent of euthanasia, has just released a book titled Freedom to Die in which he admits cost containment is an ultimate goal: “A rational argument can be made for allowing [assisted suicide] in order to offset the amount society and family spend on the ill, as long as it is the voluntary wish of the mentally competent terminally ill adult . … The hastened demise of people with only a short time left would free up resources for others. Hundreds of billions of dollars could benefit those patients who not only can be cured but who want to live.”

However, the paper said, “California must continue down the humanitarian path of treating pain in suffering individuals — not authorizing HMO administrators to end lives to bolster their bottom line.”

Freshmen Reveal Surprisingly Conservative Views

SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, April 6—College students are no longer showing up at home with more than just their usual baggage. The paper reported that this year's college freshmen may have also brought home some surprises for spring break. “They include conservative views on casual sex, abortion and other issues,” said an article in the News.

“A comprehensive survey of this year's college freshmen finds a host of areas where young adults are taking decidedly different turns on issues than previous generations of students. From the lowest support ever for casual sex and keeping abortion legal, to questions of law and order and even their goals in life, the differences are sometimes wide,” said the article.

The paper reported that Chris Gillott, chairman of Pennsylvania State University's Young Americans for Freedom, said “their members are more conservative than their parents.”

The paper added that he said young adults are looking for a return to religious or more traditional moral values after the legacy left by the baby boomers.