And hanging on by a thread is SCHIP (almost vetoed out of existence last year but given a last-minute reprieve until next March). One of my grandchildren was covered by this program for a couple of years until his parents got a new business running well enough that they no longer met the means test.

I don’t know where to find how these other government programs have impacted suicide rates. The VA has problems, but probably due more to the client base than poor management..

Where he is wrong, is that we currently have government run health care. Its called Medi-Care. Eventually it will be so large that it will threaten the entire government from a financial perspective.

It doesn’t seem possible that we will avoid suicide as a paid profession. The only possible alternative is to fundamentally change Medi-Care. I can’t imagine the political will to do that – despite what I or Dr Bob might think.

James

I would like to join, but first need to determine if this is a discussion of legality or morality.

Abortion discussions, for example, typically fail to clarify what is legal and what is moral. Those of us who are pro-choice are frequently tagged “baby killers” because we do not advocate criminalizing abortion. I regard abortion as morally reprehensible but consider my mission as a Christian to lead others to that understanding.

I can say the same about suicide (or capital punishment, gambling, substance abuse, prostitution, infidelity and a host of other sins) but I also know that legal remedies have limitations.

Morality, freely exercised, is often indistinguishable from compelled behavior but compelled behavior cripples the moral compass.

Legalizing medical assistance in no way mitigates the moral depravity of suicide for either the subject or the “assistant” but I don’t see that criminalizing that assistance addresses an important core issue.

(If, on the other hand, there is no distinction between legality and morality, then this comment will be my last in this thread.)

And, if anyone is wondering, yes I’m against it.

Blessings.