awmakers in the Netherlands crossed a dangerous threshold in moving to legalize "mercy killings," says Dr. Allan Handysides, General Conference health ministries director.

On November 28, 2000, the main body of the Dutch legislature voted 104 to 40 to pass a law allowing for doctor-assisted suicides for terminally ill patients in some circumstances. When the bill is approved by the legislature's upper house, the Netherlands will become the only country in the world where a doctor can legally engage in euthanasia.

"The Seventh-day Adventist Church recognizes the moral dilemmas inherent in caring for the terminally ill," says Handysides. "But we strongly disagree that legalizing mercy killings is a morally appropriate way to deal with patient suffering."

A statement released by the Adventist Church in 1992 draws a sharp distinction between "foregoing medical interventions that only prolong suffering and postpones the moment of death" and "actions that have as their primary intention the direct taking of a life." Drawing on Biblical principles of the value of human life, the statement rejects euthanasia and affirms the Adventist Church's commitment to "revealing God's grace by minimizing suffering."

"A terminally ill person is entitled to respect, compassion, and to every medical treatment available to alleviate pain and improve the quality of their existence," says Handysides. He adds that the dying individual ultimately has the choice to accept or reject treatments that merely extend life.

"But this is categorically and morally different to active euthanasia, or 'mercy-killings,'" says Handysides. He also expresses concern that doctor-assisted suicide is open to abuse, no matter how many precautions are in place.

Reinder Bruinsma, Trans-European Division secretary, says he believes the position of most Dutch people is not very different from that of many people in other European countries. "Many, especially Christians, reject active euthanasia," he says. Bruinsma, a Dutch citizen, explains that "the difference between the Dutch and other nations is probably that they are more willing to regulate situations of which many, admittedly, do not approve, but which happen anyway."

This pragmatic legislative approach has led the Netherlands to adopt Europe's most liberal drug and prostitution laws and, in September, to become the first country to grant full legal recognition to same-sex marriages.

Proponents of the euthanasia law point to statistics showing that in 1999 there were more than 2,200 "mercy killings" reported in the Netherlands, and argue that the new law merely introduce more safeguards and allow greater legal scrutiny of a common practice.

Netherlands' euthanasia law has drawn protests from human rights groups, medical associations, and religious leaders around the world. The German Hospice Foundation has called the bill Europe's "first euthanasia law since the Nazi era." –-Adventist News Network


California Nurses Withdraw Union Petition
The National Labor Relations Board announced on December 4 that California Nurses Association (CNA) withdrew its petition to represent nurses at Ukiah Valley Medical Center/Adventist Health (UVMC). The withdrawal effectively ends CNA's bid to organize Ukiah's nurses into a labor union.

"After more than two years of administrative proceedings this is welcomed news," says Mike Wood, UVMC president. "Over the past two years, we've worked hard to create positive changes in our work environment, at a time when our entire industry has been challenged with extreme pressures such as declining reimbursements, staffing shortages–-especially in nurses–and increasing costs."

"A union election campaign can be very distracting," stated Ann DeBooy, UVMC Patient Care Services vice president. "Now that the CNA has withdrawn its petition, our focus can remain on providing quality health care to our patients, their families and our community."

Alan J. Reinach, Pacific Union public affairs and religious liberty director asserts, "The Adventist Church has taught its members to abstain from membership in labor unions."


New Web Site Offers Help
for Hurting Church Members
The North American Division Family Ministries Department and the Center for Community Caring, based at Andrews University, are partnering to establish an online support system for hurting church members.

Using a Biblical framework, Project CARE (Christians Achieving Restoration through Empowerment) counselors will provide general insight for helping those who contact the support system. Project CARE is a work-in-progress where creative ideas offer direction for future development, says Sharon Pittman, spokesperson for the Andrews University Department of Social Work.

For more information, visit the website at www.project-care.org.


New Converts in Arabian Gulf Island
Six members were added to the Seventh-day Adventist Fellowship in Bahrain by baptism on October 21, 2000, according to a report from Francis Saliba of the Adventist Media Centre, Cyprus. Saliba had just returned from a trip to the countries of the Arabian Gulf where he preached and gave encouragement to the members, who are currently without a pastor.

"This was the second baptism in Bahrain this year with another two persons being baptized last April," adds Sven Jensen, Middle East Union president. "These new members have been brought into the church by caring lay people. The absence of a pastor has not prevented the Seventh-day Adventist Fellowship--as they call themselves--to grow from strength to strength."

The Emirate of Bahrain is a small country island in the Arabian Gulf connected by a bridge to Saudi Arabia. The population is approximately 635,000 and predominantly Muslim. The Adventist Fellowship is part of the Gulf Section in the Middle East Union.

The first converts in Bahrain were baptized in 1972. The company was organized in 1993 with a membership of 17. The group has grown to more than 40.

"It is not without reason", concludes Saliba, "that we see new members join this group. There is a wonderful spirit and a caring attitude towards newcomers." --Adventist News Review


News Notes
Dennis Carlson, Minnesota Conference president, was recently appointed as assistant to the North American Division president for administration. Carlson replaces Bjorne Christiansen, who passed away on September 3.

Samuel U. Bulgim, executive secretary of the Greater New York Conference, was recently elected as Bermuda Conference president. Bulgim replaces Carlyle Simmons, who became Atlantic Union Conference secretary.

Jeff Scoggins, communication projects manager for the General Conference Office of Global Mission, was recently elected field secretary for Global Mission for the Euro-Asia Division. In this new position, Scoggins will promote and coordinate the division's Global Mission program.