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| Inmate loses euthanasia case |
| By Denver Post |
| Published: 03/22/2004 |
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The Colorado Court of Appeals refused last Thursday to order the state to euthanize a short-term Department of Corrections inmate who said he found prison life "stultifying." Timothy Stoakes, serving a six-year, 90-day sentence for vehicular eluding, reckless driving and eluding a police officer, said he is an unnecessary burden on Colorado taxpayers and has been reduced to a person without hope or potential - "a 'product' or 'widget' in Colorado's prison industry." He told the court he has a right to avoid a "stultifying and degenerative" environment that he says violates the constitutional prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment. He said his life is "no better than chickens in a chicken farm." "Pursuant to his civil rights under the Constitution, and for humane reasons, Mr. Stoakes seeks active euthanasia, lethal injection; where a physician may do what is necessary medically to alleviate unnecessary pain, or perform treatment until imminent death occurs," he wrote the appellate judges. Stoakes claims he has the right to be euthanized because of his religious beliefs, and that prison officials must carry out his wishes because he is a "ward of the state." Earlier, Fremont County Judge Julie Marshall dismissed the lawsuit as groundless. The Court of Appeals agreed, saying Stoakes failed to back up his contention that his prison life is cruel and unusual punishment. His remedy - euthanasia in lieu of his sentence - is also without merit, the court said. |
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