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'Did we mention that our health expert doesn't think you're a person?'

By: David Freddoso
Online Opinion Editor
08/19/09 5:18 PM EDT

This morning, CNN's American Morning tried to explain health-care rationing. Their guest? Princeton ethicist Peter Singer.

The network failed to mention anything about Singer's extremely controversial background as a euthanasia advocate who defines "person" in such a way as to exclude newborn infants and others -- such as elderly dementia patients -- who lack self-awareness and the ability to make plans. The network promised a response to The Examiner''s inquiries, but finally offered a "no comment" this afternoon.

"Killing a defective infant," Singer has written, "is not morally equivalent to killing a person. Sometimes it is not wrong at all."

Singer, who is respected for not shying from the controversy he creates in the philosophical world, confirms the accuracy of that quote on his own website, but wants to make sure it is taken in proper context. He is often paraphrased, inaccurately, as condoning the murder of any non-person. To be accurate, Singer does not believe that the killing of "defective" infants is permissible under all circumstances. With regard to "normal" infants, whom he also regards as "non-persons," Singer believes merely that it is a lesser wrong to kill infants than it is to kill conscious adults.

"Although a normal newborn baby has no sense of the future, and therefore is not a person, that does not mean that it is all right to kill such a baby," he writes. "It only means that the wrong done to the infant is not as great as the wrong that would be done to a person who was killed."

But when the discussion is about health care rationing, "non-persons" certainly seem like excellent candidates for cost-cutting measures. That's why Singer seems an odd choice to defend the practice of health care rationing, given that he considers many of those affected to be human "non-persons."

This seems at least worthy of a mention when CNN brings him on as an expert guest.

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Reader Comments

All comments on this page are subject to our Terms of Use and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Examiner or its staff. Comment box is limited to 250 words.

MsElainieous

Aug 19, 2009

Where does the MSM find people like this?
I read Peter Albert David Singer's bio on WIKIPEDIA. He has some other ideas other than it's OK to kill infants. He greatly approves of "wealth redistribution", he says to end poverty.
He is an animal rights activist. Grabbing my most attention however were these quotes, "Singer argues, "that sexual activities between humans and animals that result in harm to the animal should remain illegal but sex with animals does not always involve cruelty and that "mutually satisfying activity" of a sexual nature may sometimes occur between humans and animals".Let's see..the definition of "ethics" per Webster: Moral Principles.
If you have a son or daughter going to Princeton, be very afraid...
Where doe the MSM find these people?

BEK477

Aug 20, 2009

Just another example of an intellectual drone from the upper class advocating the death of middle class and working class citizens. Where do these monsters come from?
Does this mean that I can wack this fool because he is already too expensive to keep alive. Why not off this drone now and save us the expense of providing him with healthcare?

Inferwhatuwl

Aug 20, 2009

Didn't Hitler, shortly after coming into power in Germany in the '30's, start practicing "euthanasia" on "non-persons" in mental institutions? From there he simply expanded his definition of what constituted a "non-person".

Truly, those that do not remember history are doomed to repeat it.

SteveM

Aug 20, 2009

I've always wondered what qualifies one to be a 'professional ethicist". How are Singer's ethical views in any way more valid than those of the sozzled guy sitting one bar stool over from me at the corner tavern?

Martin Gray

Aug 20, 2009

Leave it to the light weights on American Morning to step in doo doo yet again. Does anyone remember that Hitler's intellectual framework about master race and genetic management came from ethicists in the U.S. or is it just me because of my age? The real nazis are alive and well among us.

Lanier Y Chapman

Aug 20, 2009

I'm against "experts" like Singer or bureaucrats deciding who lives and dies. Such decisions should depend only on the buying power of the patient and his/her family. If patients cannot afford the health care they think they deserve, well. . . And who cares about animal rights? I eat them, and if some people want to have carnal relations with them, that's their business.

Aug 20, 2009

MsElainieous asked, "Where does the MSM find people like this?" We don't have to go very far to find the answer to this mystery. We only need to remember old sayings like "two peas in a pod" and/or "birds of a feather." But let me add a twist to the latter: Two, three, four, (and counting) vultures on a branch."

bob

Aug 20, 2009

All this info was out there during the campaign...all the associations of Obama, what he said and what he believes....and those supporting this man, didn't care enough to do research, even if you gave them links!

You just know the politicians will never be on this health reform plan, and the rich can always hand over $$ to Dr's to get better treatment and not stand in line!

I wonder if Obama has an original thought in his head, or if the far left has warped his thinking.

Lanier Y Chapman

Aug 20, 2009

bob seems to resent that the rich can use their money to jump the queue. What's wrong with that? Resentment of the rich is what the far left does.

Confused1

Aug 23, 2009

Obama told us during the campaign, or shortly thereafter, that if you wanted to know "who he was", just look at the people he surrounds himself with. Now THAT is frightening, VERY frightening.

Wayne Boyd

Aug 23, 2009

Glenn Beck brought out a very good point one night on his show. He said that Obama told us exactly what he was going to do if elected. No one listened and he is doing just that, remaking America. As for as the people he surrounds himself with well, These people are, in my opinion, extremely touched in the head and need extreme psychiatric help. If you want to talk about "non-humans" lets talk about Obama's circle and lets not forget to add Obama if he believes as they do. Evidently he does or he would not have them on his administration and be given so much power. At conception, a baby is a human and stays that way until the Lord calls them home. America, we have gotten ourselves in one heck of a mess and I hope that we can win our country back before this administration destroys her for good.

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'Did we mention that our health expert doesn't think you're a person?'

By: David Freddoso
Online Opinion Editor
08/19/09 5:18 PM EDT