X-Message-Number: 6996
From:  (Thomas Donaldson)
Subject: A euthanasia problem close to home
Date: Sat, 28 Sep 1996 09:32:29 -0700 (PDT)

Hi!

About rights to suicide, euthanasia, etc one piece of news has just come out
in the US which should make us all very wary.

In California there is a bit of a drama going on between a doctor, his wife,
and his children. (I get all this from the 28 Sept issue of the San Jose 
MERCURY NEWS). The doctor is Dr. Gerald Klooster. He suffers from Alzheimer's
Disease, and recently tried to commit suicide. His wife will go along with
this but his children do not and have instituted legal proceeds to take 
custody of him from his wife and turn it over to them. He's currently in 
"serious" condition at the hospital to which he was taken (recently upgraded
from "critical").

Alameda Cty Superior Court Judge William McKinstry has decided that his wife,
Ruth Klooster, has not cared for him appropriately and his children should 
have custody. And, very important, THIS JUDGE HAS REVOKED THE NON-RESUSCITATION
CLAUSE OF GERALD KLOOSTER'S LIVING WILL.

We all have inserted clauses in our Wills stating that we want suspension,
and we all have Living Wills to that effect. If this action is not questioned,
those Living Wills become easy to nullify. 

Given that this article is correct, we may have a legal problem. Suggestions,
comments, etc are solicited, but most important would be to point out this
issue to any other organization concerned with right-to-die legislation,
education, etc. 

				Long long life,

					Thomas Donaldson


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