Will doctors kill Jewish man despite protests from his family?

An 84-year-old Orthodox Jewish man is in danger of being euthanized by Grace Hospital in Winnipeg, despite protests from his family that the hospital's decision violates their religion, reports John Connolly, LifeSiteNews.com.

Samuel Golubchuk, whose family has been waging a court battle to keep him alive since late last November, was hospitalized for pneumonia in October of 2007. Doctors have attempted to hasten his death by starvation and dehydration, tactics that have been barred by a temporary court order keeping Samuel alive.

Golubchuk's family claims that he is recovering due to medical treatment, and although Golubchuk is awake and responsive, doctors refuse to acknowledge the fact to the courts. Golubchuk suffered some brain damage in a fall in 2003, but is still responsive and capable of communication.

The family argues that any removal of life support violates their religious principles. Orthodox Judaism forbids the shortening of life and recognizes the hastening of death as a sin. However, Manitoba law states that doctors have the final say in life and death situations, regardless of religious beliefs.

"If you have a child with a significant cognitive disability or a parent with dementia you cannot bring them to the hospital in Manitoba because it would be a death sentence," said Alex Schadenberg, executive director of the Canadian Euthanasia Prevention Coalition to LifeSiteNews.

Grace Hospital has the support of the Canadian Medical Association, a taxpayer-funded agency that has long pushed for euthanasia to be adopted into the Canadian medical system. The Golubchuk family has incurred nearly ruinous legal costs in their fight against a hospital with huge financial resources. The family is calling upon citizens opposed to euthanasia to help pay for legal fees and to aid in the legal and public opinion battle.

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[02/13/2008]

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