Wednesday, February 28, 2007

A case of euthanasia?

Police are investigating whether a Kaiser Permanente transplant surgeon attempted to hasten the death last February of a 26-year-old San Luis Obispo man on life support in order to harvest his organs more quickly.

...

When the patient didn't die, Roozrokh allegedly told nurses: "Let's just give him some more candy," according to a person who was briefed on what took place but spoke on condition of anonymity because of the ongoing investigations.

If these allegations are true, this is murder, plain and simple -- not to mention a public-relations disaster for the organ-transplant industry. It's hard enough getting people to donate their organs when doctors aren't trying to kill them.

Link to Police probe death in organ donation case - Los Angeles Times