Warning: Are You Being Targeted for Euthanasia?

April 1, 2005

Warning - Are You Being

Targeted For Euthanasia?

http://www.rense.com/general63/euth.htm

March 30, 2005

By Mary Therese Helmueller, R.N.

In 1984, while working as charge nurse in the

intensive care unit, a 20-year-old man asked me, " Can

you give my mother enough morphine to let her sleep

away? " I was horrified. " I can not kill your mother, "

I responded. That was only the beginning. Recently, an

80-year-old was admitted to the emergency room and the

physician said, " LET'S DEHYDRATE HER " ; one more

patient was sentenced to die in hospice with NO

TERMINAL DIAGNOSIS and once again, THE LIVING WILL

determined the death of a 70-year-old man regardless

of how he pleaded to live. I can no longer remain

silent.

Your life may be in danger if you are admitted to a

hospital, especially if you are over 65 or have a

chronic illness or a disability. The elderly are

frequently dying three days after being admitted to

the hospital. Some attribute it to " old age syndrome "

while others admit that overdosing is all too common.

Euthanasia is not legal but it is being practiced.

Last year the New England Journal of Medicine reported

that 1 in 5 critical care nurses admit to having

hastened the death of the terminally ill! I believe

the percentage is much higher. I have worked with

nurses who even admit to overdosing their parents. No

one knows the exact euthanasia rate in the United

States, however Dr. Dolan from the University of

Minnesota states that 40 percent of all reported

deaths is probably a conservative estimation. If this

is true then the United States is executing euthanasia

at a higher percentage rate than the Netherlands where

it is also illegal but widely practiced.

Did you know that many doctors and nurses whom we

trust are speaking openly about their desire to

practice euthanasia? In fact they are even speaking

about ending their OWN lives when they reach the age

of 65 or BEFORE if diagnosed with an illness. Some

even admit to stealing the drugs for their own lethal

injection. Think about it. These are the same people

who will determine the value of YOUR life. If they do

not value their own, how can you expect them to value

yours?

I am a registered nurse in the St. Paul/ Minneapolis

area with 15 years experience in emergency and

critical care. My knowledge of euthanasia not only

comes from my experience working in the critical care

units throughout the Twin Cities, but also comes from

a personal tragedy and loss in 1995. This is my true

story. My hope is that you will educate others and

protect yourselves and loved ones.

On Monday, February 20th, my grandmother was admitted

to a local Catholic hospital with a fracture above the

left knee. She was alert and orientated upon admission

but became unresponsive after 48 hours and was

transferred to hospice on the fourth day and died upon

arrival.

I was in Mexico City conducting a pilgrimage and

unable to be at her side so there were many questions

upon my return. The doctors could not tell me the

cause of her death so I began to search for the

answers and was fortunate to obtain the hospital

chart. It then became very clear that my grandmother

had been targeted for euthanasia!

Carefully tracing the events it was evident that my

grandmother became lethargic and unresponsive after

each pain medication. She would awaken between times

saying, " I don't want to die, I want to live to see

Johnny ordained " : " I want to see Greta walk. " Johnny

was her grandson studying in Rome to be a priest and

Greta was her new great-grandchild. Even though

over-sedation is one of the most common problems with

the elderly she was immediately diagnosed as having a

stroke. When she became comatose a completely hopeless

picture of recovery was portrayed by the nurses and

doctors who reported that she had a stroke, was having

seizures, going in and out of a coma, and was in renal

failure.

The truth however can be found in the hospital chart

which indicates that everything was normal! The CAT

scan was negative for stroke or obstruction, the EEG

states " no seizure activity " and all blood work was

normal indicating that she was not in renal failure!

How were we to know that the coma was drug induced and

that all the tests were normal? Why would they lie?

Looking over the chart it is clear that obtaining a

" no code " status was the next essential step in

executing her death. This is an order denying medical

intervention in emergency situations. The " no code "

was aggressively sought by the medical profession from

the moment of her admission but was not granted by my

family until it appeared that she was dying and there

was no hope. Minutes after obtaining the " no code " a

lethal dose of Dilantin (an anti-seizure medication)

was administered intravenously over an 18-hour period.

It put her into a deeper coma, slowing the respiratory

rate and compromising the cardiovascular system

leading to severe hemodynamic instability. The

following day she was transferred to hospice and died

upon arrival. The death certificate reads " Death by

natural causes. "

My grandmother had no terminal diagnosis but the

hospice admitting record indicates two doctors signed

their name stating that she was terminally ill and

would die within six months. How was this determined?

The first doctor, who was the director of hospice,

never came to evaluate her or even read the chart.

More interesting is the fact that the second doctor

was on vacation and returned three days after her

death! Obviously these signatures were not obtained

before or even upon her admission to hospice. How can

this be professionally, morally or even legally

acceptable? Can anyone therefore be admitted to

hospice to die? It certainly seems possible especially

if sedated or unresponsive. In fact, this hospice has

recently been under investigation for accepting

hundreds of patients who had no terminal illness.

It Could Happen To You

How can this happen? A serious problem lies in the

definition and interpretation of " terminal illness "

which permits the inclusion of chronic illnesses and

disabilities. Terminal illness is defined as " an

incurable or irreversible illness which produces death

within six months. " The fact is that many chronic

illnesses such as diabetes and high blood pressure are

incurable and irreversible and without medical

treatment such as insulin and other medications these

illnesses would also produce death within six months.

Therefore, those with chronic illnesses or

disabilities can be conveniently denied medical

treatment and even food and water to make them

terminal. Typically it is the elderly who arrive in

the hospital that are at the greatest risk. But it

could be ANYONE! Especially those whose life and

suffering is viewed as useless and burdensome.

Difficult to believe? Well it was for our prolife

lawyer until his mother-in-law was admitted to a

hospital several months later for a stroke. She became

" unresponsive " and " comatose " a few days after her

admission. The neurologist wrote an order to transfer

her to hospice refusing an I.V. and tube feeding

staring " this is the most compassionate treatment. "

Remembering my story, our lawyer requested the removal

of all narcotics and demanded an I.V. and tube

feeding. This infuriated the neurologist. He began to

accuse the family of being uncompassionate and

inhumane. To prove his point he began a neurological

assessment on the patient. Just then she opened her

eyes and pulling the physician's necktie, forced his

face to hers and said very clearly " Give me some

water! " It was obvious that she was awake, alert and

orientated. He angrily cancelled the transfer to

hospice and ordered a tube feeding and intravenous.

Several weeks later she was discharged and was

exercising on the treadmill! She escaped the death

sentence. Unfortunately many others like my

grandmother have not. A stroke does not make you

terminal but not receiving food and water does!

A clear understanding and definition of euthanasia is

essential for a correct and moral judgment.

Unfortunately the meaning is being altered by those

who hold society's values and by those who seek

financial gain. According to the Congregation for the

Doctrine of the Faith and reaffirmed by Pope John Paul

II in his encyclical letter Evangelium Vitae

euthanasia is defined as " an action or omission which

of itself and by intention causes death, with the

purpose of eliminating all suffering. "

The killing in hospitals today is commonly referred to

as " the exit treatment " and disguised by the word

" compassion. " Many doctors and nurses honestly believe

that this is the most compassionate treatment for the

elderly, the chronic and terminally ill, especially

those whose suffering is seen as hopeless,

inconvenient and a waste of time or money. Those who

hold this twisted and corrupted idea of compassion

actually believe they are doing good because suffering

has no value and materialism is their god. For

instance, how often have we heard that Medicare and

Medicaid are " running out? " " So why not relieve pain

and lighten the financial burden of our families and

society? "

As a result, many patients are intentionally

oversedated and forced to die from dehydration,

starvation or over medication. " Death by natural

causes " will be officially documented on the death

certificate. Did you know that this is the exact same

proclamation on the death certificate of St.

Maximillian Kolbe? Everyone knows however that he died

from a lethal injection in Auschwitz concentration

camp after many days of dehydration and starvation!

Pope John Paul II states clearly in his encyclical

Evangelium Vitae: " Here we are faced with one of the

more alarming symptoms of the 'Culture of Death' which

is advancing above all in prosperous societies, marked

by an attitude of excessive preoccupation with

efficiency and which sees the growing number of

elderly and disabled as intolerable and too

burdensome. "

Many souls are being denied the opportunity to

reconcile with God and family members because their

death has been hastened or deliberately taken. This is

a grave and moral injustice. Pope Pius XII in his

Address to an International Group of Physicians on

February 24, 1957 stated, " It is not right to deprive

the dying person of consciousness without a serious

reason. " Pope John Paul II confirmed this in

Evangelium Vitae saying, " as they approach death

people ought to be able to satisfy their moral and

family duties, and above all they ought to be able to

prepare in a fully conscious way for their definitive

meeting with God. "

Recently the Carmelite Sisters shared this tragic

story of a friend whose husband was euthanized. Her

husband was diagnosed with terminal cancer but was not

expected to die for several months to a year. He had

been away from the Catholic Church and the sacraments.

He also was estranged from his children. One day he

complained of pain that was not relieved by

medication. The wife spoke to the nurse who then

called the doctor. When the doctor arrived he gave an

injection through the intravenous line. The husband

took three breaths and died! The wife screamed, " I did

not ask you to kill my husband! " " We needed time to

reconcile our marriage and family. " She continued to

cry, " He needed time to reconcile with God and the

Church! "

It is evident that euthanasia is being even more

cleverly planned and executed. A very holy priest from

St. Paul was called to the hospital by a nurse to

administer the last sacraments to a hospice patient.

When the priest arrived he was surprised to find the

patient sitting up in the chair! He visited with the

patient approximately a half hour then heard his

confession and administered the last sacraments. Just

before he left the room the patient jumped up in bed

and the nurse administered an injection. Perplexed and

concerned, the good priest called the hospital upon

returning to the rectory. The patient had already

expired!

There is a good and legitimate purpose for hospice

units, but how can it ever be morally acceptable to

transfer patients to a unit to die when they have NO

TERMINAL ILLNESS? How can sedating a patient and

refusing a tube feeding and intravenous be considered

compassionate? Dehydration and starvation is not a

painless death! Has this become the Auschwitz of

today? A convenient and economically efficient place

to dump the unwanted, imperfect, and burdensome of our

society?

Would a " living will " prevent these tragic events? The

living will makes you a clear and easy target to be

euthanized. A " living will " has nothing to do with

living. It is your death warrant. It actually gives

permission to facilitate your death by denying medical

treatment. Did you know that it was originally

developed by Luis Kutner in 1967 for the Euthanasia

Society of America? It is the most cost effective tool

for hospitals, insurance companies. Medicare and

Medicaid. Therefore, since 1990 it has been

deceptively packaged and promoted as a patient's right

known as " the Patient Self-determination Act. " If

cutting care for those patients who ask for it wasn't

so successful in saving money and controlling the

budget, why then did it originate in the Senate

Finance Committee and why was it supported by the

House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Health? These are

finance committees whose only interest is controlling

the budget! It is obvious that the living will is all

about saving money, not your life!

Many people fear the loss of control that comes with

illness and hospitalization. Tragically, they are

deceived in thinking that the " living will " protects

them and restores this control in their lives. Nothing

could be further from the truth. No one knows the

exact condition in which they will be admitted to the

hospital. The " living will " is written in very broad

terms leaving it open to the interpretation of medical

professionals and others who stand to benefit from

your demise. Remember your best interests or your

interpretation may not be theirs! Can you imagine

writing general instructions or signing a legal

contract for the care of your Mercedes Benz several

years before any problem occurs? " Please do not give

oil or gas " ; " If in three days it can not be fixed

stop everything and trash the car. " How absurd and

ridiculous! It takes time to diagnose and treat even

car problems! If we would not foolishly demand this

for a car then how can we demand it for a human life

which has an eternal value?

Recently, a 70-year-old was admitted through the

emergency room in respiratory distress. He was placed

on a ventilator and transported to the intensive care

unit. He was awake, alert and orientated anxiously

writing notes: " I don't want to die " : " I changed my

mind " : and " Please don't take me off the machine. " He

was very persistent and urgent with his pleading. I

soon understood why! His family and physicians were

meeting to discuss a serious problem. He had signed a

" living will " declaring that he did not want " any

extraordinary measures. " He was now viewed as

" incapable " of making any decisions and they wanted to

follow his wishes as stated in the legal document!

Very convenient for those who do not want their

inheritance spent on hospital costs and for those who

do not want to be bothered with a " useless burden " to

our society!

Today hospitals and health care facilities are

required to ask patients if they have a living will or

lose government funding! The question is proposed in

such a way to create pressure on patients so that they

think it is something good, desirable and necessary.

" Do you know that you have a right in the state of

Minnesota to possess a living will? " Please remember

that the living will targets you for euthanasia by

denying you medical treatment. Living wills kill: they

do not protect you. Instead, I urge you to obtain a

copy of " The Protective Medical Decisions Document "

(PMDD) from the International Anti-Euthanasia Task

Force, www.internationaltaskforce.org P.O. Box 756,

Steubenville, Ohio 43952. Ph: 740-282-3810. Sign it

and keep it among your records. Please get rid of your

living will!

Can you or a loved one be targeted for euthanasia

without a living will? The course of events and

treatment in my grandmother's short hospitalization

are documented. She did not have a living will. Please

know the following steps-it could save your loved

one's life.

1) Oversedation Causing Lethargy And Unresponsiveness

Difficulty or inability to awaken a patient.

Some patients, especially the elderly, are very

sensitive to pain medications which are slowly

metabolized by the liver. Toxic levels build quickly

with very small doses commonly producing lethargy and

unresponsiveness. Elderly patients require

approximately 20% less of the normal adult doses.

2) A Hopeless Picture Of Any Recovery The patient

appears to be comatose and dying. The medical staff

affirms this with overwhelming reports and statements.

3) No Code Status Also Referred To As DNR/DNI (do not

resuscitate/ do not intubate)-The consent is obtained

from the family. It is a request to deny a patient

delivered emergency care in a life-threatening

situation.

4) Lethal Doses Of Dilantin Or Narcotics-(morphine)

This will hasten the death, shortening the hospital

stay and expenses.

5) Transfer To Hospice Without Tube Feeding Or

Intravenous Due to sedation and inability to eat or

drink the patient will die of dehydration and

starvation.

If a loved one is lethargic or unresponsive demand to

see the medical chart and medications sheet. If you do

not understand the terminology and medications,

consult a pharmacist. A computer printout is available

at pharmacies on most medications. If you suspect over

sedation speak to a prolife doctor or nurse and then

ask to stop all narcotics and wait at least for 48

hours to see if there is any improvement. Contact

prolife organizations such as National Right to Life

Committee to obtain information and local phone

numbers of prolife organizations, doctors, nurses or

lawyers in your area: National Right to Life

Committee:

http://www.nrlc.org/default.html 512 10th St NW

Washington, D.C. 20004; 202-626-8820.

Think twice before giving consent to a " no code

status. " It has become too convenient for those nurses

and doctors who hasten the death of their patients!

Furthermore, it not only denies emergency medical

treatment but many professionals also deny the

following: antibiotics for pneumonia: medications and

assistance to choking victims!

If your loved one is being transferred to hospice DO

NOT assume there is a terminal illness. Ask to see the

chart especially in regards to unresponsive elderly

and comatose patients. Remember that " comatose " is not

a terminal illness, but not receiving food and water

will make anyone terminal! Always ask for a second

opinion. Consult with prolife nurses or doctors.

If you need assistance in finding a prolife doctor,

information, or just need to discuss your concerns on

a particular case, please contact The Moscati

Institute; 2901 Branch Street: Duluth MN 55812 Ph:

218-728-4608.

Your life may be in danger especially if you are over

65 and admitted to the hospital. Euthanasia is not

legal in the United States but is being practiced.

Recently, Dr. Kevorkian in a TV interview said, " Why

is everyone focused on me? There are many more doctors

doing the same thing! " A pediatric cardiologist who

interviews students for a prominent medical school on

the east coast recently reported that more than 95

percent agreed with Dr. Kevorkian's practices. The

culture of death has permeated the minds of our

doctors before they enter medical school! Obviously

euthanasia is already being taught through the media,

entertainment, primary and secondary schools and even

in our families!

Euthanasia is embraced by the lack of values in our

society. It is the result of a culture that has

accepted and promoted the killing of unborn children.

The value of life is the extent of the pleasure and

well being it brings. Suffering, imperfection,

illness, and inefficiency are viewed as unbearable

setbacks, useless and burdensome. Death is viewed as a

" rightful liberation. " As a result, euthanasia is

packaged to appear desirable and then sold to the

unsuspecting public as the " living will, " " death with

dignity " and " the right to die. " Is it not logical

that those who can kill the child in the womb will

also kill their parents in their old age for the same

reasons of convenience, compassion, money etc. . . .?

We should think twice about promoting euthanasia by

saying: " I hope there is a Kevorkian around when I get

older, " or " Just shoot me if I ever become like that. "

There is a great spiritual value to suffering. Every

human life must be valued and supported as a precious

gift. We cannot afford to patronize movies, TV

programs, businesses or any forms of entertainment

that promote, encourage and support the killing of

innocent life. Prolife political candidates deserve

our support and votes. It is imperative to be

informed. We cannot fight what we do not know or do

not see. You can contact Human Life International and

ask for their monthly newsletter. Human Life

International; 4 Family Life; Front Royal, VA 22630;

phone: 540-635-7884: FAX: 540-636-7363.

More importantly, we must work to convince government

officials and medical professionals to protect all

human life from the moment of conception to natural

death. You have escaped death by abortion but you are

all being targeted for euthanasia!

Miss Mary Therese Helmueller, R.N. lives and works in

the Minneapolis-St. Paul area. She is a registered

nurse with fifteen years of experience in emergency

and critical care. This is her first article in HPR.

Read only the mail you want - Mail SpamGuard.

April 1, 2005

All true.

Working in a nursing home I have seen many Terri Shiavos.

And yes, the " DNR " is the justification given for this- " comfort measures "

are often subtle code for " let them die. "

One of the more shameful examples, among many I have seen, was of an elderly

man who was not doing well. A PEG placement had been scheduled, but this

gentleman was very ill. We asked the physician if he would either postpone

the surgery or admit him to the hospital to stabilize him prior to the

surgery. His response was " oh well, he's a DNR. " In other words, " let him

die. " ( I spoke with family and convinced them to change physicians. But

this is a common response.

One of the folks I watched die from starvation and dehydration- a planned

death very much like Terri Shiavo- took two weeks to die. I and other staff

appealed to the son many times. He insisted , just as Michael Shiavo, that

the lady was in a vegetative state, with no awareness; and that the order to

with hold food and water be carried out. I bear the guilt that I sat next to

this woman on many days, spoke with her, knew very well that she did in fact

have awareness- she would reach over and touch my arm when I made a

statement to her, and often tried to communicate- and yet I idly watched

this angel of a person waste away and die.

I cannot recall the number of folks I have seen given " pain management

medications " just prior to quietly passing away.

The thing folks in this country NEED TO LEARN quickly is that if they are

offended by the death of Terri Shiavo, then they need to change the laws

that allow for euthanasia.

In fact, I see no real difference between us and those who followed orders

and loaded Jews on the trains...

Michael

as [glkbreeze]

Thursday, March 31, 2005 9:25 PM

Warning: Are You Being Targeted for

Euthanasia?