Dupuy: 'Death panel' canard hurts end-of-life talk

Dr. Death is dead.

Murad (Jack) Kevorkian, whose name has been synonymous with doctor-assisted suicide, died last week at 83. He spent eight years in a maximum-security prison for helping the sick end their suffering. But Kevorkian was no angel ... of death. He was eccentric, flamboyant and obstinate about his pet cause. But he did force us as a country to talk for a minute about the rights of the dying. Kevorkian himself died quietly in a hospital due to a blood clot.

We tend to treat death as something we can beat. We celebrate those who triumph over disease. We whistle past the fact we are all at some point going to die.

Three states have "death with dignity" laws: Oregon, Washington and Montana. In these states there are actual death panels - procedures to carry out the wishes of the dying including how to administer the final overdose of barbiturates.

The problem with the Health Care Reform "Lie of the Year" - the made-up death panels - is that it made end-of-life issues politically taboo. The rumor of a Star Chamber Government Death Panel has inhibited any openness to conversation about physician-assisted suicide. Yes, opportunistic fearmongering has scared us away from addressing our ultimate fear.

My 12-year-old dog had lymphoma. Her body rapidly decomposed while still alive. That was my puppy - unable to eat or manage stairs. Her nose oozed blood. Her breathing became progressively more labored. She was not going to get better. Her vet pleaded with me to put her down. "It's the best thing you can do for her now." I had my hand on her head as she passed.

I'm not advocating that everyone who is sick and not going to get better should be put down. I'm not equating dogs with people. But, I would like to think I could be allowed the same compassion my dog received when it comes

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