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Show OutONtdE Paqe FeklAy, Foci Hairvairdl pcoff Deads dosciossioin) omi bioGthlcs Apl 29, at U. 19M Panelists hypothesize about euthanasia, death penalty By Ellen Garff hypothetical life and death questions posed by moderator Arthur Miller, a Chronicle staff writer noted In order to determine whether Utah is unique in dealing with abortion, capital punishment and euthanasia, 14 local panelists debated their medical, legal and ethical implications Wednesday at the University of Utah. A pastor, a Utah Supreme Court justice, several doctors, professors and attorneys-peop- le from all professional sectors of the communitywere asked to respond to law professor at Harvard University. "We have chosen these topics because of the serious legal and medical implica- tions that surround them," Miller said, as he opened the debate. "But even more serious are the ethical and moral dilemmas each present." Miller asked panelists if Utah is unique in handling these issues because of the religious dominance of the LDS Church. He said panelists' responses to hypothetical questions would reveal the answer. He asked panelists if they would impose capital punishment on "George," a criminal on parole who has strangled a baby, beaten its father and raped its mother. Lloyd Poelman, a Salt Lake attorney, said he would impose the death penalty. "I would want to live in a society that Chronicle photo by Guy E. protects the dignity of human life. A sense of justice is being fulfilled with the sacrifice of that man." Karen Shepherd, editor and publisher of Network magazine, agreed with Poelman. She said it's important that this person never commit these crimes again. "After 10 or 15 years in jail, 'George' will be back on the street again." But U. philosophy professor Peter Appleby said he is strongly opposed to capital punishment because it shows society's weaknesses. "Blood atonement is not part of our society." "Society says families of victims are entitled to take the blood of other people," Appleby said. "That idea stems back to Old Testament times." Gilbert Athay, criminal attorney of executed murderer Pierre Dale Selby, was adamant that he could never ask for the death penalty. "When the death penalty is imposed, our justice system is saying to the public Elder IV Miller listens as a panelist explains how e she would handle a capitol punishment case. Miller created hypothetical "soap operas" on capital punishmake-believ- ment, abortion and euthanasia and asked the panelists how they would respond in each situation. CEESEEB m w m m v p . m ww ir i 1 wr.im.T. that human life is something we don't hold sacred. Never in the state of Utah should a life be taken," Athay said. "The taking of a human life is making society less civilized," he said. "Civilized nations don't have the death penalty." Christine Durham, Utah Supreme Court justice, told the audience about the expense involved in executing someone. "Society should lock people up and throw away the key rather than spending millions of dollars every year to execute people," she said. Durham said society makes "celebrities" out of people who are to be executed. Panelists also raised questions of what a person feels during the act of execution, and whether or not an execution should be aired over public television. Athay said the public doesn't know what's going on in a person's mind as he or she is about to be executed. "The execution should be done at 'high noon' in the town square. The public should witness it." He said, however, he believes witnessing a murder doesn't deter people from continuing to murder. Miller asked panelists to respond to another hypothetical situation where a beaten father asks emergency room physicians not to give him blood transfusions. Because of religious reasons, he decides he does not want to live. "I would definitely transfuse," Greggory Devore, a doctor of fetal and maternal medicine, said. "He's not rational and competent at that moment and I would definitely try to save his life." Obstetrician Richard Hebertson agreed with Devore. He said the Hippocratic Oath that physicians take to save lives is important. "It's safer to make the decision to transfuse a patient." One physician, however, was opposed to physicans' not respecting patients' wishes. "I believe the wishes of a patient are of paramount importance," Lou Borgenicht, a Salt Lake pediatrician, said. Professor Appleby said religion is irrelevant in a situation such as this. "Every person has the right to refuse medical services for whatever reason." Miller asked Devore what he would do rt if the man had been on a system for a long time and his family asked doctors to "pull the plugs." He also asked what Devore would do if a life-suppo- terminally ill patient in tremendous pain asked him for pills to overdose. Devore said he would oblige the families' wishes because there has been adequate time to assess the situation rather than having to make a hasty decision in an emergency room. "There's a fine line, however, between treating a patient's pain and providing him with pills to overdose," Devore DRIVE THE NEW DODGE DAYTONA SHELBY Z... AND WIN! Drive to win' Take the wheel of a Daytona Shelby 2 and put this Dodge performance machine through a competition rally course set up on campus your lap will be electronically timed with the best' official score wins a trip to Daytona Beach to compete in the National Grand Finals. Plus prizes to the 2nd and 3rd place finishers. All absolutely tree to students Fntry is easy Just fill out the entry form at the competition and then drive to win Open to any student 18 years or older who's a licensed driver Win a trip to Daytona Beach. Floridd during Spring Break, including your roundtrip an tare and hotel accommodations as campus winner National Grand Finals Awards 1st Place $5,000 cash scholarship and use of a Dodge Daytona Shelby 2 tor 1 year and the student - 2nd Place $3,000 cash scholarship and use of a Dodge Daytona Shelby 2 tor 1 year 3rd Place $2,000 cash scholarship and use of a Dodge Daytona Shelby 2 tor 1 year. - When: Saturday 30th & Sunday 1st Time: 1 0:00 am to 5:00 Dm Where: Veteran's Hospital Parking Lot) GUARDSMAN THE DODGE DAYTONA FREE! PHI DELTA THETA E. Elder IV Arthur R. Miller, a nationally noted Harvard University professor, contem- dates a panelists response during a pubfic examination of "Issues of Life and Death." Miller moderated the debate, which featured 12 panelists from various segments of the community. Miller presented a final hypothetical situation to panelists. As a result of rape, a woman becomes pregnant. She doesn't know if the child is her dead husband's or the rapist's. Miller asked panelists if the woman should be able to have an abortion. Rev. France Davis of the Calvary Baptist Church, said everyone has an opportunity to live. "The woman's psyche would be extremely damagea by the abortion. If people keep executing and having abortions, eventually there will be no one left." Athay had mixed emotions about this particular situation. He said society should respect Roe vs. Wade, a Supreme Court decision, which allows every woman the right to an abortion, but that every life has its own right too. Shepherd accused the panelists of talking about women as incubators. "The woman has every right to decide if she wants to become a mother or not. She's not an incubator, she's a person." But Miller brought up another situation. "What if the maternal grandparents want to raise the child?" Miller asked. Justice Durham said grandparents have a valid interest in raising the child, but this alternative must be weighed against the mother's other options. U. philosophy and law professor Leslie Francis said she would represent the mother and not the grandparents. "They (the grandparents) don't have the right to say she has to bear that child," Francis said. "Even if the couple has consented to have the baby together, it's morally wrong to insist that she bear the child." said. Kay Gillespie, a Weber State College professor, said doctors should go ahead and do whatever their morals tell them to do. Shepherd agreed with Francis. She said the mother always has the right to make her own decisions. "I would feel uncomfortable living in a state which has the right to tell women what to do." Items for the Chronicle events calendar "Life After Film School," Panel Discussion, OSH 215. -- 7:30 p.m., U.S. Student Film & Video Club Screening, SSA. -- 8 p.m., "Singin' in the Rain," Pioneer Memorial Theatre. ' Tomorrow 9 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., U.S. Student Film should be submitted two days in advance, by 4 p.m., at the Chronicle offices, Union 240. The items should be typed or printed legibly on a form obtained from the Chronicle. Please note that the calendar, or parts of it, may be cut due to space limitations. Today a.m., U.S. Student Film Festival Workshop, "Film Theory," QSH 215. --- 10 -- 12:30 Owens, Ballroom. SPONSORED BY Chronicle photo by Guy --- 1 D-Ut- p.m., Congressman Wayne "INF Treaty," Union p.m., Eastern Orthodox Student Association Discussion Group, Panorama North, Union Building. -- I p.m., U.S. Student Film Festival Workshop, "Anthropology and Film," OSH 215. -- 3 p.m., U.S. Student Film Festival --- and Video Festival, Workshops and Screenings, OSH 215, OSH Auditorium, Social Work Auditorium. Sunday -- 3 p.m., Fine Arts Lecture, "The Painted Past: Attic Vases From the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Part 1" Michael Padgett, Fine Arts Auditorium. p.m., Artist's Reception, LaRue -6 McGarry Brewster, PMT Gallery. p.m., U.S. Student Film and Video Festival, "Best of Fest" competition winners, OSH Auditorium. -- 7:30 |
