1. Why do you think people have the right to choose their own death?

Mentally competent adults who suffer from a fatal or irreversible physical illness, from intractable physical pain, or from a constellation of chronic, progressive physical disabilities have a basic human right to choose to end their lives when they judge the quality of their life to be unacceptable. This right by its nature implies that the ending of ones life is ones choice, including the timing and persons present, and should be free of any restrictions by the law, clergy, medical profession, and even friends and relatives no matter how well-intentioned. Final Exit Network does not encourage anyone to end their life; we are opposed to anyones encouraging another to end his life, do not provide the means to do so, and do not assist in a persons death. 2. What are your reasons in supporting physician-assisted suicide? My years of work in a major medical center helped me to understand the tremendous advances we have made in intervening in patients health issues and improving lives; but also all too often how the medical community walks away from patients at the most critical time in their lives when nothing more can be done to relieve their suffering.. 3. What responsibilities do physicians carry? Physicians have a responsibility to end a patients suffering when nothing more can be done to relieve their suffering 4. Where should the line be drawn? Euthanasia should be voluntary and not involuntary. See response number 12. 5. How can you tell whether a patient truly wants to die or not? If they are mentally competent and rational and repeatedly over time state their wish to hasten the end of their life 6. How much has this issue changed since 1990? National polls in the U.S. continually show that approximately 70% of the public approves the right of a mentally competent terminally ill person to hasten the end of their life. See the accompanying pdf file on the 2011 Harris Poll Also see more history at http://www.finalexit.org/assisted_suicide_laws_united_states.html 7. What is your opinion on Dr. Jack Kevorkian's work?

His stubborn and often intemperate advocacy of assisted suicide helped spur the growth of hospice care in the United States and made many doctors more sympathetic to those in severe pain and more willing to prescribe medication to relieve it. 8. What do you think of Dr.Kevorkian's creation and use of the Mercitron? It was illegal for a doctor to administer a lethal injection, so Dr. Ks Mercitron allowed the patient to voluntarily initiate the process. The machine also allowed him to leave the patient with the family when the button was pushed. This practice was tested repeatedly in the courts in Michigan and Dr. K was never found guilty using the Mercitron. 9. What kind of treatments are considered morally obligatory, and which are not? See number 12. Individuals have a right to voluntary euthanasia. 10. What do you think about the opinion that euthanasia is murder? Not if it implies the ending of ones own life. I believe doing so is an individual human right. It is ones choice, including the timing and persons present, and should be free of any restrictions by the law, clergy, medical profession, and even friends and relatives no matter how well-intentioned. Individuals are certainly entitled to their own opinion but should not have the right to decide for another individual. 11. Are there any restrictions such as age when making a decision to choose euthanasia? In the states that support it in the U.S. you must be 18 years of age. Belgium recently approved euthanasia for children with the consent of their parents. Those who are in favor of allowing children to request euthanasia with the consent of their parents say that it will allow families to have a way out of a very painful situation. They further claim that it is compassion which motivates them and say that it is wrong and unfair to deny children an end to their suffering just because of their youth. 12. Are there any disagreements among people who support euthanasia? There are several different types of Euthanasia, also known as assisted suicide, physician-assisted suicide (dying) , doctor-assisted dying (suicide) , and more loosely termed mercy killing, basically means to take a deliberate action with the express intention of ending a life to relieve intractable (persistent, unstoppable) suffering. Some interpret euthanasia as the practice of ending a life in a painless manner. Many disagree with this interpretation, because it needs to include a reference to intractable suffering. Many agree with one type and disagree with another There are two main classifications of euthanasia: Voluntary euthanasia - this is euthanasia conducted with consent. Since 2009 voluntary euthanasia has been legal in Belgium, Luxembourg, The Netherlands,

Switzerland, and it is also now legal in the USA in states Oregon, Washington, Montana and Vermont. Involuntary euthanasia - euthanasia is conducted without consent. The decision is made by another person because the patient is incapable to doing so himself/herself. There are two procedural classifications of euthanasia: Passive euthanasia - this is when life-sustaining treatments are withheld. The definition of passive euthanasia is often not clear cut. For example, if a doctor prescribes increasing doses of opioid analgesia (strong painkilling medications) which may eventually be toxic for the patient, some may argue whether passive euthanasia is taking place - in most cases, the doctor's measure is seen as a passive one. Many claim that the term is wrong, because euthanasia has not taken place, because there is no intention to take life. Active euthanasia - lethal substances or forces are used to end the patient's life. Active euthanasia includes life-ending actions conducted by the patient or somebody else. Active euthanasia is a much more controversial subject than passive euthanasia. Individuals are torn by religious, moral, ethical and compassionate arguments surrounding the issue. Euthanasia has been a very controversial and emotive topic for a long time. The term assisted suicide has several different interpretations. Perhaps the most widely used and accepted is "the intentional hastening of death by a terminally ill patient with assistance from a doctor, relative, or another person". Some people will insist that something along the lines of "in order relieve intractable (persistent, unstoppable) suffering" needs to be added to the meaning, while others insist that "terminally ill patient" already includes that meaning. 13. What is your role as a board member of Final Exit? Dr. Frank Kavanaugh serves on the Advisory Board of the Final Exit Network, He has been a health educator for 40 years, retiring as Professor of Medical and Public Affairs at the George Washington University Medical Center and Professor of Communications with an endowed chair at George Washington University. He is Chairman Emeritus of the International Academy for Preventive Medicine and a former Vice President of the Cooper Institute for Advanced Studies in Medicine and the Humanities. His years in the medical community helped him to understand the tremendous advances we have made in intervening in patients health issues and improving lives; but also all too often how the medical community walks away from patients at the most critical time in their lives when nothing more can be done to relieve their suffering. 14. Could you describe the general procedures that take place when someone asks for help? You must be a member of Final Exit Network to be accepted into the Exit Guide program.

You leave a message with our answering service and you will be contacted by a Case Coordinator to gather information about your medical situation. You will be asked to provide a written statement explaining your desire to seek an early peaceful death, and a statement from at least one doctor giving your diagnosis and prognosis.The medical information, doctors summary, and your personal note will be forwarded to the Medical Committee and a provisional acceptance may be granted. It is helpful if you can attest that your closest relatives or major care givers are not opposed to your wishes. If you receive provisional acceptance an Exit Guide will be assigned who will get in touch by phone and, if possible, arrange a home visit. Your individual needs and timetable will be discussed. From your Guide you will receive detailed information about the method we recommend, and the inexpensive equipment you will need to obtain. The Network never supplies equipment.