RE: new science mag aims at young adults

Crux, a new magazine aimed at young adults, explores science issues
(http://www.cruxmag.com/aboutcrux.html) from a Christian perspective.

Crux has not started print publication yet, but you can access my blog,
where I regularly post commentary on science news, at
http://cruxmag.typepad.com/sci_phi/ .

cheers, Denyse
P.S.: It currently offers online an interesting interview of Douglas
Coupland, the Canadian who wrote Generation X
(http://www.cruxmag.com/asset/CRUX_regeneration.html )

--
Read brief excerpts from my book, By Design or by Chance?: The Growing
Controversy On the Origins of Life in the Universe (Augsburg Fortress, 2004)
at
http://www.designorchance.com/press.html
Study Guide:
http://www.arn.org/arnproducts/books/b088sk.htm
Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0806651776/qid=1109790930/sr=8
-1/ref=pd_csp_1/104-8617533-8799957?v=glance&s=books&n=507846
My blogs: http://www.christianity.ca/faith/features/weblog.html
http://cruxmag.typepad.com/sci_phi/
Denyse O'Leary
14 Latimer Avenue
Toronto, Ontario, CANADA M5N 2L8
Tel: 416 485-2392
Fax: (phone or e-mail first)
oleary@sympatico.ca 
www.designorchance.com
-----Original Message-----
From: asa-owner@lists.calvin.edu [mailto:asa-owner@lists.calvin.edu] On
Behalf Of drsyme@cablespeed.com
Sent: Friday, March 18, 2005 8:48 AM
To: asa@calvin.edu
Subject: cruzan v schiavo what a difference a decade makes
In 1983 at the age of 25, Nancy Cruzan was in a motor 
vehicle accident from which she suffered severe head 
injuries.  As a result of this she was ultimately 
diagnosed as being in a persistent vegetative state. 
 Years later, her parents wanted to discontinue her 
feeding tube, but this was blocked by the State of 
Missouri.  Nancy Cruzan was young and healthy when the 
accident ocurred, and had not prepared a writted advanced 
directive of what treatments she may or may not want if 
she was severely ill.  The State of Missouri determined 
that there needed to be clear and convincing evidence that 
the patients' wishes would be to withdraw treatment in 
such a case.
This went to the US Supreme Court in 1990 and they upheld 
the State of Missouri's ruling saying that it was not 
unconstitutional for a State to require such a standard.  
As a result of this the lawmakers passed a federal law 
that requires all hospitals to discuss advanced directives 
with all patients as they enter the hospital.  The 
prevailing sentiment at the time  was that the Missouri 
decision was essentially a violation of Ms. Cruzan's 
rights, that her parents should be allowed to make 
decisions for her, and the thought was that the new law 
would help to prevent such a situation.
But it hasnt helped Terri Schiavo.  The cases are very 
similar.  No prior medical history in either case, no 
advanced directives.  Both in a persistent vegetative 
state.  One difference between now and the late 80's early 
90's is that most states have legislation in place 
addressing both advanced directives, and addressing who 
should make decisions for people without advanced 
directives.
And Florida has a law similar to most states, that give a 
hierarchy of decision makers when a patient is unable to 
make decisions on their own, and when there is not an 
advanced directive.  And, in every state that I know of, 
the spouse has higher priority than parents or children of 
the patient.  
But now the political climate is such that not only did a 
state official intervene to block a procedurally 
appropriate decision to withdraw treatment in the case of 
Terri Schiavo, but now there is talk of federal 
legislation that would either block the removal 
specifically in this case, or to pass some other 
legislation that may require stricter evidence of what the 
patients wishes would be.
I think that there is a strong conservative agenda here. 
 But I think that conservative position is making a big 
error here.  My problem with their position is even the 
conservatives are not accepting marriage as seriously and 
as absolute as the bible claims that it is.  In what I 
understand as a biblical view of marriage, the spouses are 
joined as one.  Why shouldnt the husband be the one making 
decisions here?  They have gone through the Florida courts 
three times, both sides presented evidence, and all three 
times the courts agreed with the husband that the evidence 
indicates that Terri Schiavo would not have agreed to 
continue with the feeding tube.  
The conservative backlash against this, I think, is 
another example of our society's eroding respect for the 
institution of marriage.