Good morning Judith,
I have this uneasy feeling that we are using 20/20 hindsight, which may
be ok on the basis of determining the actual and factual problems of
Tracy.
However the court is dealing with Robert's actions, and his hell may
have been very different from Tracy's, and the world the physicians, and
other experts live in. We do not know how much accurate factual
information had been given to Robert, or was readily available to him;
nor his ability to integrate and interpret this information. I am
inclined to assume that Robert was operating on a very highly emotional
level, which is pretty natural with anyone close to extreme pain and
suffering, particularly ones own child and even more so if this child is
disabled. Responding emotionally, the factual and analytical info in
bureauspeak may have bean meaningless to him: Robert may well have
blocked out all bits that were uncomprehensible/meaningless to him and
have taken a direct path: Tracy's suffering is unbearable how can we end
it. Crime passionelle?
have a good weekend, rgds John
Judith Winter wrote:
>
> Re:
>
> >>>
>
> Sydney Morning Herald article "Life and Death Matters" on Peter Singer on
> 8th May 1999, scroll down http://www.smh.com.au/news/9905/08/index.html
>
> Euthanasia debate returns to Canada with court case
> By Randall Palmer
>
> OTTAWA (Reuters) - The issue of euthanasia returns to the fore this week
> when the Supreme Court of Canada decides whether to hear an appeal from a
> Western Canadian farmer convicted of murdering his disabled daughter.
> Robert Latimer ... piped carbon monoxide into the cab of his pickup truck
> in 1993 to kill his 12-year-old daughter Tracy, who suffered from cerebral
> palsy.... But euthanasia advocates contend this was mercy-killing, and that
> Tracy's leg was soon to have been amputated....
>
> And they have revisited the question of whether Latimer felt he must kill
> Tracy. They argued in a written belief that he "believed that there were no
> options available to deal with Tracy's unbearable pain other than death."
>
> <<<
>
> I have a question about a medical detail:
>
> Tracy and her situation are described as "cerebral palsy ...
> Tracy's leg was soon to have been amputated ... unbearable pain."
> My question is "Why was her leg to be amputated?"
>
> I ask because there is a particular condition [marked by unbearable,
> usually burning, pain] for which amputation of a limb is sometimes
> recommended -- only to have people later find out that amputation does not
> relieve the pain. [Further detail is after my signature.]
>
> I would like to know more about Tracy Latimer's medical situation:
> If she had the condition I have in mind, this could have a bearing on the
> false "belief that there were no options."
>
> Further informtion about her medical situation might be helpful in advocacy
> related to this condition.
>
> If anyone can provide me with further information ABOUT THE RECOMMENDED
> AMPUTATION, please write to me. (Documentation/citation appreciated,
> especially URLs to on-line information.) [BTW, I was unable to reach the
> above-cited article from the URL (not even by using their search engine).]
>
> Thank you.
>
> In connection,
>
> Judith Winter
> ~ Maiandros ~
> Research & Communications
>
> <[log in to unmask]>
> <[log in to unmask]>
> The following addresses are temporarily not available ["down"]:
> <[log in to unmask]> and <www.rsdnet.org>
>
> RSD / CRPS is an under-recognized and under-treated condition,
> most identified by excruciating, neuropathic pain which may follow
> a "relatively minor" injury, usually to a limb. It affects multiple
> body systems and is usually progressively debilitating. Accurate
> information and early diagnosis matter. Early signs are regional
> (i.e.local) and often include: swelling, color and temperature
> changes, and severe, burning pain ("worse than a bad sunburn").
> Though RSD/CRPS is not contagious, the severity of the pain and
> resulting disability usually profoundly affects the entire family.
>
> [Permission granted to post this message to OZAdvocacy
> <[log in to unmask]>, USAdvocacy List
> <[log in to unmask]>, where the message to which
> I am responding originated. PLEASE POST MY ENTIRE MESSAGE,
> as I am presently not subscribed to either of these lists. Please
> cc copies of replies to me at <[log in to unmask]>. Thank you.]
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