万花筒 2009-03-03&03-04 助人自杀团伙落网

In 9 states, investigators¹ search homes and businesses, moving in on alleged² assisted suicide ring ---- the Final Exit Network(1) which they believe helps people commit suicide by inhaling³ helium.

 

They hold your hands down so you can not remove the bag from your head, so even though they might ask you “Are you sure about this?” Once it starts, there is no turning back.

 

At least 4 people have now been charged in connection with the Georgia man's death, among them Thomas Goodwin, the head of Final Exit and his assistant Claire Blehr. On its website Final Exit says it is an all volunteer network, serving people who suffer from a “intolerable condition”. They claim they never actively⁴ participate nor encourage anyone to hasten their deaths. But authorities in Phoenix⁵ think differently.

 

And that's what's very disturbing about this death, here in Phoenix, the Van Voorhis’ death, because this was not a person who was terminally ill but rather somebody who was depressed⁶, mentally ill.

 

There have been no charges in that case yet. But today the infamous⁷ doctor Jack⁸ Kevorkian who says he has nothing to do with the Exit network reacted to the raids.

 

It's a witch hunt(2), it's an inquisition in action again.

 

It is unclear just how many deaths authorities are now looking into, but more arrests and charges could follow as officials try to determine if it was legal help or homicide.

 

Kristen Dahlgren, NBC news

 

1 investigators   

n.调查者，审查者( investigator的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• This memo could be the smoking gun that investigators have been looking for. 这份备忘录可能是调查人员一直在寻找的证据。
• The team consisted of six investigators and two secretaries. 这个团队由六个调查人员和两个秘书组成。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 alleged   

a.被指控的，嫌疑的

参考例句：

• It was alleged that he had taken bribes while in office. 他被指称在任时收受贿赂。
• alleged irregularities in the election campaign 被指称竞选运动中的不正当行为

3 inhaling   

v.吸入( inhale的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• He was treated for the effects of inhaling smoke. 他因吸入烟尘而接受治疗。 来自辞典例句
• The long-term effects of inhaling contaminated air is unknown. 长期吸入被污染空气的影响还无从知晓。 来自互联网

4 actively   

adv.积极地，勤奋地

参考例句：

• During this period all the students were actively participating.在这节课中所有的学生都积极参加。
• We are actively intervening to settle a quarrel.我们正在积极调解争执。

5 phoenix   

n.凤凰，长生(不死)鸟；引申为重生

参考例句：

• The airline rose like a phoenix from the ashes.这家航空公司又起死回生了。
• The phoenix worship of China is fetish worship not totem adoration.中国凤崇拜是灵物崇拜而非图腾崇拜。

6 depressed   

adj.沮丧的，抑郁的，不景气的，萧条的

参考例句：

• When he was depressed,he felt utterly divorced from reality.他心情沮丧时就感到完全脱离了现实。
• His mother was depressed by the sad news.这个坏消息使他的母亲意志消沉。

7 infamous   

adj.声名狼藉的，臭名昭著的，邪恶的

参考例句：

• He was infamous for his anti-feminist attitudes.他因反对女性主义而声名狼藉。
• I was shocked by her infamous behaviour.她的无耻行径令我震惊。

8 jack   

n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克

参考例句：

• I am looking for the headphone jack.我正在找寻头戴式耳机插孔。
• He lifted the car with a jack to change the flat tyre.他用千斤顶把车顶起来换下瘪轮胎。