The Jewish Community Center with Nancy Gurwin Productions presents the musical tube keeping their daughter alive; the state of Missouri argued against it. The case eventually reach- ed the Supreme Court, which ruled 5-4 to allow the state to continue Ms. Cruzan's life. Another 10,000 persons in the United are said to be in vegetative states similar to Ms. Cruzan. To avoid a situation like Ms. Cruzan's, Marjorie Norman has signed both a living will and a durable power of attorney, which gives advance authorization to a spouse, relative or close friend to make health-care decisions should she become incapacitated. She wrote her first living will in 1975. Ms. Norman spent years looking after her husband and uncle from Florida, whom she resettled in Michi- gan when he could no longer care for himself. Both even- tually had to be placed in nur- sing homes. She was a regular visitor to the homes, where she did her family's laundry and made sure the A 1990 Roper poll showed that 70 percent of the Jews surveyed expressed support for physician- assisted suicide, as did 65 percent of the Protestants and 62 percent of the Catholics. men received the best care. She does not want to end up in a nursing home. "In our society we talk a great deal about prolonging life," she says. "But we've done nothing for old people in any way, shape or form. It's wonderful to say, 'We have to take care of the el- derly,' but look at the cost. "The decision (to kill oneself) is each individual's choice. What's unbearable for one is not unbearable for another. Why do some peo- ple choose to commit suicide? For some, life is just too painful." Ms. Norman says she hopes "I'd have the courage" if it came time to end her own life. "My biggest fear is that I'd fail." After her death, she wants to be cremated and her ashes dispersed, or buried if her children prefer. "What's important isn't what happens after you're dead. What's important is what you do for someone while he's alive." ❑ Activist Fears Implications Of Michigan Euthanasia Bill ELIZABETH APPLEBAUM Assistant Editor I n Ronald Seigel's night- mare, the fate of the han- dicapped lies solely in the hands of others. A son, believing his crippled mother would be better off dead, decides to withdraw the insulin injec- tions keeping her alive. A brother, faced with financial woes, opts to remove feeding tubes from his handicapped sister, slowly starving her to death. Today, Mr. Seigel, a longtime activist for the handicapped fears he is wat- ching his nightmare — in the form of Michigan House Bill 4016 — come true. The bill, proposed by David Hollister, D-Lansing, is now before a Senate committee. It would allow individuals to name a "patient advocate" to make decisions for them should they become mental- ly incompetent. The ad- vocate would have the option of removing life-sustaining medical treatment, or food and water, keeping the pa- tient alive. Corresponding secretary for the Michigan Han- dicapper Caucus (MHC), Mr. Seigel is fighting for amendments to the house bill that he said are necessary to protect those who are handicapped and cannot always speak for Ron Seigel: "Imagine if the kinds of things said about handicappers — that they would be 'better off dead' or 'it's too expensive to keep them alive' — was said about any other minority." themselves. As it stands now, the bill would allow third parties to decide when a patient should die (even if the patient had never expressed a desire for euthanasia) and allow them to end another's life by star- ving him to death. Mr. Seigel's proposed amendments specify that the advocate would not be allowed to remove ordinary treatment unless the patient had specifically made such a request. The agent could not remove natural food and water from the patient. The advocate would not be allowed to remove artificial feeding unless he could pro- ve the patient is certain to die and that his continued existence involves great pain. A patient must be inform- ed of his rights not to choose an agent. At admission, hospitals would not be allowed to give patients the forms designating an advocate "as this would indicate a form of emotional pressure." Mr. Seigel, of Highland Park, is involved with the MHC and other causes. A Wayne State University graduate, he helped estab- lish in 1971 the United Community Ombudsman Organization, which ad- dressed citizens' concerns with government institu- tions. Working with the om- budsmen, Mr. Seigel pushed for what would become the first Detroit city ordinance making it illegal to discrim- inate against the han- dicapped. Most recently, Mr. Seigel was named head of a Na- tional Association of the Physically Handicapped committee established to Directed and Choreographed by Michael D. Pion Music Director: Rochelle Barr OPENS SATURDAY, SEPT. 8, 1990-8:30 P.M. Saturday, September 8th, 8:30 p.m. Sunday, September 9th, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, September 15th, 8:30 p.m. Sunday,. September 16th, 2:00 p.m. & 7:30 p.m. Saturday, September 22nd, 8:30 p.m. Sunday, September 23rd, 7:30 p.m. Sunday, September 30th, 2:00 p.m. General Admission $8.50, Seniors $8.00, Students $5.00 Group Rates Available, 20 or more $7.50 For reservations call the Jewish Community Center at 661.1000 or Nancy Gurwin at 354.0545 Presented at the Jewish Community Center 6600 West Maple Rd. W. Bloomfield, Ml 48322, 661.1000 A Footlights Incorporated Production ricxce.as.=-a HUDSON'S. HARMONY HOUSE & SOUND WAREHOUSE CALL-FOR-T1X (313) 645-6666 T i, THREE GENERATIONS OF QUALITY ROOFING RESIDENTIAL COMMERCIAL • Roofing Gutter Work Painting Drywall Repairs • Patios • Cement Work • Chimney Repairs • Chimney Cleaning • Walls • • • • KNOWN BY THE CUSTOMERS WE KEEP Insured & Licensed • Member NRCA & CAM FREE ESTIMATES 585-0450 31200 Stephenson Hwy, Madison Heights 48071 MAE BROOKS would like to thank all of her wonderful family and friends for their many good wishes and prayers following her recent Argery. . THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS 57