Opinion - Letters to the Editor

POSTED: Thursday, Dec. 04, 2008

Says hospital has right to its own values

I wish to address several recent letters to the editor concerning St. Joseph Hospital and the death with dignity initiative. St Joseph Hospital, as a Catholic sponsored institution, does not provide this service based on its values and mission. Everyone including patients, physicians and hospitals have the right to make a decision whether to participate or not.

It is also important to realize that the vast majority of assisted suicides in the state of Oregon have occurred outside the hospital setting usually at home and this decision is based on the patient's wishes.

Another misconception by one writer was that hospitals are paid like hotels or by a daily charge and the longer they stay the more money they receive. Most of the time hospitals are paid based on what is called a DRG or Diagnosis-Related Group, which pays a set amount for each diagnosis regardless of how many days the patient remains in the hospital.

This life ending decision by the patient, their families, and physicians needs to be made carefully and handled with dignity and compassion based on their own values, beliefs and desires.

Roland Trenouth

Bellingham