Musing

First about the popularity numbers. 48% in the polls means that all of the others together only get 52%; not so bad. Now to the Latimer case. As I understand it, he killed his functionally challenged daughter who was in daily, all-day severe pain, with no reasonable chance of improvement, ever. Certain other countries, notably the Netherlands, have laws allowing mercy killing. Here, it's been done quietly in hospitals for those in severe pain with terminal cancer, "Give her as much morphine as she needs to be comfortable" and babies with anencephaly (no brain) were simply given no nourishment so they passed away more quickly, although it's a fatal condition anyway. And withdrawing life support is very common, but can be controversial, as in the Terry Shiavo case. In the movie, "Million Dollar Baby," Clint Eastwood "pulled the plug" on Hilary Swank as she lay hopelessly disabled after her last fight. It made one think, but maybe the point is this: decisions like that should be reached by consultation with peers. I'm not at all sure Latimer should have been given "life" in the first place. And I certainly don't agree with him being denied parole. I thought that's reserved for people likely to re-offend, and he certainly doesn't fall in that category, EG, Calgary

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