Monthly Archives: March 2017

When we talk about euthanasia, what exactly do we mean? Today, we usually hear about euthanasia in the health care context. For our purposes, euthanasia amounts to doing, or not doing, something to intentionally bring about a patients death. Because theres so much confusion surrounding the term, lets make sure we understand what euthanasia is not.

It is not euthanasia to administer medication needed to control painthats called good medical care. It is not euthanasia to stop treatment that is gravely burdensome to a patientthats called letting the patient exercise the moral option to refuse extraordinary medical means. It is not euthanasia to stop tube-feeding a patient whose diseased or injured body can no longer assimilate food and waterthats called simply accepting death.

In these circumstances, pain control, refusing extraordinary means, and stopping feeding may all allow death. Butand this is crucial to our understandingunlike euthanasia, their purpose and intent is not to bring about death.

Actually, euthanasia could be called a form of suicide, assisted suicide, or even murder, depending on the patients level of involvement and consent. To define euthanasia this way, though, seems to diminish its threat. After all, arent there laws or, at the very least, strong social taboos against suicide, assisted suicide, and murder?

Unfortunately, when it comes to the sick and disabled, this is no longer entirely true. And, the rationale and cultural forces behind the movement that brought this about threaten even more to tear down the legal and social barriers to killing.

Most of us know about Jack Kevorkian and his efforts to help ailing people commit suicide. Many of us may not realize, though, that Kevorkians maverick image masks a serious crusade that is building on emerging legal and cultural trends. Our society is poised to accept euthanasia on demandand worse. What we dont know about that could kill us.

In sum, it is vitally important to understand that everyones most basic rightthe right to lifeis in jeopardy when our law and collective morality no longer view all persons as equally worthy of life, solely on the basis of our common humanity. Not only is it the right thing to do, it is also in our own best interests to protect and cherish weak and vulnerable members of our human family.

In order to do that, we must educate ourselves and others about the growing threat of euthanasia, vigorously oppose its legalization, and pray for the wisdom and compassion to properly comfort, care for and dissuade those considering suicide.

The information on euthanasia is a PowerPoint Presentation (2007) prepared for American Life League by Julie Grimstad, Executive Director of Life is Worth Living, Inc.

Read more here:

Euthanasia - Learn | American Life League

Judy Putnam, Lansing State Journal Published 4:50 p.m. ET March 10, 2017 | Updated 13 hours ago

As more states legalize marijuana, pet owners are giving their dogs and cats cannabis to treat everything from anxiety to arthritis. But veterinarians say there isn't enough scientific data to show it's safe and effective for animals. AP

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A little piggy named Hamlet went to the market this week after 60 mph winds blew his house down. Wochit

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The Chesapeake Humane Society has come up with a creative way to spread awareness for their furry friends to find a permanent home. USA TODAY NETWORK

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Workers at the Detroit Zoo in Royal Oak treated animals to Valentine's Day-themed goodies. Detroit Free Press

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Jim Schaefer interviews Jocelyn Grabowski about the Berkley Animal Clinic's efforts to save a classroom pet. Jim Schaefer/Detroit Free Press

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This home sits on 240 isolated acres and could be ideal for collectors, farmers, private types or party animals. Tanya Wildt, Detroit Free Press

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Detroit Zoo has a new cricket breeding program. Some 1,900 animals from anteaters to birds, various reptiles and amphibians eat them. This program allows the zoo to save $225,000 from shipping them in from the outside. Eric Seals/Detroit Free Press

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Bark-A-Bout pet resort in Shelby Twp. hosts Pets Paint with a Purpose to benefit 4 Paws 1 Heart and Davinci Foundation for animals. Jessica J.Trevino, Detroit Free Press

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The Detroit Zoo's warthog piglets were names after characters from "Game of Thrones." Detroit Zoo

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Visitors at the Jacksonville, Fla., Zoo were introduced to the three newest members of the lion family on New Year's Eve. Gannett-USA TODAY

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Kathleen Talbot was not expecting to find a two-headed turtle when she stepped out of her house in Hudson, Maine. You've got to see this little guy...or guys?!

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Pets on pot: Owners treat sick animals with weed

Lost Michigan pig takes a trip to Home Depot

Cats up for adoption purr-fectly pose for glamour shots

Love is in the air at the Detroit Zoo

A few minutes with ... the caregivers of Coco the guinea pig

Lapeer farm house could be dream come true

Cricket breeding program at Detroit Zoo

Dogs making art at Bark-A-Bout pet resort

Warthog piglets at the Detroit Zoo

Lion cubs romp with mom in public debut

Two-headed turtle crosses the road...not a joke!

Iyesta, a 13-year-old tabby, was euthanized after suffering from cancer. Her owner now regrets the decision.(Photo: Courtesy)

A Delta Township woman who regrets euthanizing her cat is angry at Michigan State Universitys veterinary clinic for what she described as continued pressure to end her pets life.

Though a veterinary hospital official said its an unusual accusation and consent for euthanasia was given in the case, it offers a window into the tough decisions for pet owners. Many of us consider our pets as members of our families.

For some people, these are children for want of a better word, said Dr. Chris Gray, director of the MSU Veterinary Medical Center.

In Faye Norris case, money wasnt among the considerations. Shes a retired state employee who was willing to spend what it took to help her beloved cat, a 13-year-old tabby named Iyesta.

Norris said she doesnt believe in euthanasia and told staff repeatedly at the Medical Centers Small Animal Clinic that she didnt want that option for Iyesta. She said MSU has a culture of euthanasia.

I dont believe in euthanasia because I feel God created people and animals, and I believe he created us and he should decide when we die, she said.

Iyesta was diagnosed with cancer in June after Norris discovered a lump on her neck. She took Iyesta to the clinic 28 times, including at times daily for bandage changes, and paid for expensive chemotherapy. She said treatments totaled $8,600. Her cat developed sores and had low energy.

Norris said the clinics staff of oncologists, veterinarians and a social worker brought up euthanasia again and again.

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The doctors at MSU think they know when your animal's life isn't worthwhile ... and then they keep pressuring you to euthanize your pet until it happens, she wrote in a follow-up e-mail.

On Iyestas last day in October,Norris rushed her to the clinic for help with pain. After she said she wouldnt put her cat to sleep unless there were no other options, she said the vet examining Iyesta told her there was nothing left to do. Her sweet cat was in pain. She consented.

The next day she checked on the cats lab report and found that Iyestas vital signs and oxygen levels were good, and her hydration had been improving after afeeding tube was inserted. She was angry and filed a complaint, feeling robbed of time with Iyesta.

Gray reviewed the case after Norris complained and has a different story. In a letter to Norris, Gray said that the vet who took care of Iyesta did not recall her objections to euthanasia. The vet agreed that she said she didnt want her cat in pain.

The cat was so weak, she had difficulty lifting her head, Gray wrote. Norris disputes that description.

None of our clinicians would force euthanasia upon an owner nor undertake euthanasia without owner consent, Gray wrote.

He did agreeto continue to ensure that the discussions of euthanasia are as empathetic and compassionate as possible.

Gray said in an interview that there are no rigid guidelines on when to suggest euthanasia. He said its also hard to summarize how decisions are made.

Different vets will advise in different ways, and different owners will make decisions at different points, he said.

He said a small percentage of pet owners, in his experience, oppose it completely.

They are few and far between, he said.

Gray said he can recall no other cases of complaints like Norris. In fact some pet owners have complained that their animals were treated too long before euthanasia was offered.

Because the clinic takes animals referred to them from veterinary practices and it is a teaching hospital with more options we are less prone to euthanasia than other practices, Gray said.

Norris is not only sad, shes angry. She is still grieving hard, feeling like she didnt do everything she could for her cat. She has seven other felines.

Her story made me recall my own experience in 2013. My 13-year-old Brittany spaniel was failing. She had been diagnosed with a disease involving the pituitary gland, Cushings disease. I remember a friend gently suggesting that maybe we were keeping Phoebe alive when she didnt have a good quality of life. I protested. Her quality of life seemed OK but my familys wasnt with lots of interrupted sleep and messes and handling of medications.

But when Phoebe suddenly started falling down and could no longer walk, we decided it was time and made the appointment. The power was out, it was bitterly cold, and I wrapped her in a blanket in front of a fire, stroking her red-and-white fur and saying goodbye.

By the appointment time, however, she had perked up and was back on her feet, even snapping up dog treats at the vets office. Should we postpone?

My husband and son made me decide, probably because she was considered my dog except during bird hunting season when she shadowed my husband constantly.

I resented being handed the final call but I made it and she died in my arms.

It was tough. I felt selfish and, like Norris, I had second thoughts. In the end, I decided that she had lived a good life and that I should focus on that.

I still miss her.

Judy Putnam is a columnist with the Lansing State Journal. Contact herat 517-267-1304 or atjputnam@lsj.com. Write to her at300 S. Washington SquareSuite #300Lansing, MI, 48933. Follow her on Twitter@JudyPutnam.

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Euthanizing cat haunts Michigan woman - Detroit Free Press

I have no ambition, ever, to be the oldest man in Ireland. I do not want the media traipsing to my nursing home bed where I am propped up before an icing-covered sponge cake with 118 candles.

I do not want cameras there as I am presented with a cheque from the President, or bored reporters asking me that underwhelming question: What is the secret of your long life? Then again . . .

Were it to happen, there is just one reason why I would ever like to be 118. I would love to be asked that question. I would love to reply to them: Loads of late nights. A bottle or two of brandy a day. Plenty of red meat. Forty cigarettes between sunrise and sunset. No religion. Sex whenever with whomever/whatever, wherever I could get it. And a very bad temper. It might stop them asking that daft question again for fear theyd get an honest answer.

I have always believed our life design is upside down. Where people vaunt in their youthful sap, at height decrease/And wear their brave state out of memory, as Shakespeare put it. We grow; hold our perfection briefly; we decline. Might it not be more humane were it the other way around?

Some suggest that is what happens, how with old age we revert to childhood. That, however, is accompanied by a stripping away of our independence, our dignity, as control disintegrates and we become a humiliation to ourselves.

Old age has little to offer. We should not be trying to prolong it. Who wants to end up incontinent in mind and body? Why should anyone be forced to endure such final humiliation against their will?

It is said that some years ago, when asked his opinion on euthanasia, a rural TD responded: I suppose theyre no better than our own youth here at home. He could be forgiven as few talked about euthanasia then. Now, its different.

In this newspaper last month we featured Kate Tobin, a former nun who worked for 13 years as a palliative care nurse. She has MS and wants the right to die when it progresses. Who are we to say she should be forced against her will to suffer the humiliating latter stages of that awful disease?

Euthanasia, from Greek meaning an easy, good, or happy death. From eu/good plus thanatos/death.

inaword@irishtimes.com

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In a Word . . . Euthanasia - Irish Times