Article September 28, 1899 Issue

Have Doctors a Right to Kill?

Dr. Nehemiah Nickerson of Meriden, Conn., in an interview with a reporter had the following to say in regard to the address of Judge Simeon E. Baldwin on the right of man to die a natural death:—

"It seems to me that most of the physicians who have expressed their opinions, both in town and throughout the country, have evaded the question at issue, and lost sight of Judge Baldwin's argument. He makes two propositions: First, when a physician is treating a person suffering from an incurable disease, and knows beyond the shadow of a doubt that the patient has but a few days to live, is it right to put him gently out of his suffering provided he desires it? Second, should a man who is tired of this life, and who is under no obligations to any one, end his life by his own hand?

"I would answer both of these questions in the affirmative.

Send a comment to the editors

NEXT IN THIS ISSUE

Article

A Plea for the English Language