Press Release
It's wrong for government
to violate its own rules!
Marietta, GA - September 23,
2004
Until laws protect the right
of every adult to a peaceful, dignified death, Final Exit
Network will be there to support those who need relief from
their suffering today!
Clear violation of separation of powers
Final Exit Network applauds Thursday's ruling by the Florida
Supreme Court in the Teri Schiavo right-to-die case. Earl
Wettstein, President of Final Exit Network said, "Courts
have repeatedly ruled in favor of disconnecting life-support,
yet Governor Jeb Bush and fundamentalist conservatives in
the Florida Legislature subverted Ms. Schiavo's right to
a peaceful, dignified death. They condemned her to suffer
for almost another full year with an incurable condition."
The court's decision was based on a clear
violation of the separation of powers. The executive and
legislative branches of Florida state government trampled
the authority of the judicial branch and, thereby, the rights
of Ms. Schiavo. "This isn't a decision about whether
or not to remove life support," said Wettstein. "That
was decided by Florida courts long ago. This decision says
that it's wrong for government to violate its own rules."
Ruling strikes a blow
The ruling strikes another blow against those who would
impose their morality on others. John Ashcroft recently
suffered resounding defeat in Oregon when he attempted
to
run roughshod over that state's right to regulate medical
care. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld Oregon's
death-with-dignity law, and terminated Ashcroft's attempts
to exploit a diabolical interpretation of drug-abuse
laws
and send DEA agents after doctors who prescribe lethal
doses of medications to hasten death legally under the
Oregon
law.
The importance of advance directives
"We have great empathy for the anguish that Ms. Schiavo's
parents, Bob and Mary Schindler, and her husband and legal
guardian, Michael Schiavo, have endured during this protracted
struggle," Wettstein said. He adds, "It's important
that we all make our final wishes known. Ms. Schiavo's case
is a profound demonstration of the importance of preparing
an Advance Directive (living will) and Medical Durable Power
of Attorney." This is one of the few beliefs Final
Exit Network shares with Governor Bush. Last year he said,
"I . .encourage all Floridians to spare their own families
this agony by clearly indicating their wishes in an advance
directive or living will."
Final Exit Network
Live Well ~ Leave Well
Final Exit Network is a new,
national, nonprofit, 501 (c)(3) tax-exempt corporation,
based in Marietta, GA, dedicated to serving people who are
suffering intolerably from an incurable condition.
Goals:
