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Man Kills Wife, Self at LVH Hospice, DA Says

An elderly man shot and killed his wife, a hospice patient, at Lehigh Valley Hospital-Allentown Tuesday afternoon, then killed himself, according to Lehigh County District Attorney James Martin and a hospital official.

 

An elderly man shot and killed his wife, then himself, in a hospice room at Lehigh Valley Hospital-Allentown around 1 p.m. Tuesday, Lehigh County District Attorney James Martin and a hospital official said.

The man's wife was a patient at the hospice.

No other patients were harmed or threatened in the apparent murder-suicide, the hospital's senior vice president, Chuck Lewis, said in a statement.

"This is a very tragic event," Lewis said, "and our hearts go out to the family of the deceased and our Lehigh Valley Health Network colleagues who were involved."

Elwood Osman, 86, of 573 Cherryville Road, Cherryville, was pronounced dead at 1:41 p.m. by Deputy Coroner Paul F. Hoffman, according to a release from the Lehigh County Coroner's Office. His wife, Mildred Osman, 83, was pronounced dead at 1:07 p.m. by the hospice nursing staff.

The couple's son, Thomas Osman, told The Morning Call that his parents were "a loving couple" and that this father had been distraught over his mother's illness. She recently had a stroke and suffered from spinal stenosis, he said. 

Martin and Allentown Police Chief Roger MacLean held a brief news conference about 2 p.m., confirming the apparent murder-suicide. He said three LVH employees who had gone to the wife's room after hearing the gunshots were being interviewed by police. There were no eyewitnessed to the shooting.

Martin said the hospital was not evacuated, since the shooting was confined to the room.

Autopsies have been scheduled for Wednesday.

The murder-suicide recalls other Lehigh Valley cases:

Related Topics: Charles Snelling, Hospice Killing, Lehigh Valley Hospital, Murder Suicide, and mercy killing

Deana Held

8:08 pm on Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Everyone has their own personal feelings on this subject. I personally have watched my own sister die from cancer and it was horrible. The disease sucks the life right out of the person and their families. The pain and suffering seems cruel. If a pet is terminally ill, the first thing the vet suggests is putting the animal to sleep. My personal feelings are that if we are told we are terminally ill with no chance of survival then we should have the oppurtunity to end out lives by being given a drug that puts us to "sleep". The pain and mental suffering is unbearable and frustrating for everyone involved. God Bless the Osmuns and how sad to know that Mr Osmun was beyond frustrated. I see nothing wrong with what he did. His beautiful wife was suffering and he had to watch. We should have choices when it comes to this nasty disease. May the two rest in peace together. I know alot of people will have negative comments but until you experience this nasty illness with a love one you will not understand and I hope you never have to.

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Jill

8:33 pm on Tuesday, March 19, 2013

What the hell are you talking about? My father died of cancer. It was horrible, but would have been worse if my mother killed herself too. What a cop out! You sound rediculous. I am sorry you don't have God in your life. We suffer in this life, but feel joy and happiness in the hereafter. Pay it now or later! You are actually comparing human life to an animal's life...really?

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morgen

8:15 am on Saturday, March 23, 2013

Deanna, I agree with you. Whenever a societal hot button like this comes up, people start thumbing through their Bibles for something to say.

It's strange that we don't see picket lines outside of animal clinics when the doctor is performing euthanasia. Guess animals don't count on Gods score card.

I am so sorry for your sisters suffering. It is too much to expect someone to endure that pain, and for the family to watch a lived one die. Whatever choices we make in life are between ourselves and God.

Please don't let these people making thoughtless judgments and comments make you feel badly for your opinions. Their comments are completely lacking in compassion.

Salisbury Resident

9:33 am on Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Deana, I agree that assisted suicide should be an option in the case of terminal illness. The way it is now, patients are forced to suffer and the bank accounts of the families are drained from the outrageous costs of hospital care etc. Having he choice should be a freedom, and no one should impose their own personal religious beliefs on anyone else, when it comes to this issue and many others. However, one concern I do have with assisted suicide, is that if it is an option, patients who may *not* have been so inclined to do this, might feel pressure to end their lives, when otherwise they might have wanted to fight it. I would absolutely hate for anyone to feel pressured that they *had* to end their life prematurely because of a diagnosis.

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Deana Held

11:32 am on Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Thank you, I agree with you.

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Dr Vincent Boombawts

1:19 pm on Wednesday, March 20, 2013

seems like you have a killing mentality, would you snuff out a child with a chronic illness that they will suffer with for the rest of their lives

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morgen

8:18 am on Saturday, March 23, 2013

Dr. Vincent, "survival of the fittest"?? Um, where are you a doctor, so I can make sure I bleed to death in an alley first.

The poor be damned, eh?

Jill

12:13 pm on Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Salisbury, God forbid your bank account get drained. The horror! Thank God you and Deanna aren't in charge of my healthcare.

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Dr Vincent Boombawts

1:18 pm on Wednesday, March 20, 2013

thank god I have exceptional health coverage and have applied a policy just for care in a nursing home in excess of 2 million dollars, this is called survival of the fittest, often people dont plan accordingly

concerned

8:43 pm on Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Euthanasia is a very sensitive topic to all concerned, but when it comes down to making the decision it is a private matter. Euthanasia becomes less of a debated topic when it involves a family member. Working through day to day life with a terminally ill loved one can give you a different prospective on euthanasia. When it is clear that they will die and they are in pain, a loved one may want to have a choice over how and where to end their days. Certainly this would make a person look at euthanasia differently.

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concerned

8:48 pm on Wednesday, March 20, 2013

To all who have made negative, and added nasty comments, remember everyone has a right to their opinions. It does not make them a terrible human being if they believe in something you do not. Instead of being negative and nasty, try this...love thy neighbor. If you never heard of it, look it up on your computer. God Bless

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morgen

8:20 am on Saturday, March 23, 2013

Right on. Judge not, lest ye be judged.

Whole lotta beam filled eyes around here.

Peter Goesinya

12:26 pm on Saturday, March 23, 2013

This whole thing is sad. If the man and his wife were allowed to make the decision to end her pain when she was ready, maybe this could have been avoided. I am totally guessing here as i do not know them personally, but maybe he didn't want the love of his life to suffer anymore. And maybe he wanted to be with her, or was afraid of what society would do to him for ending his love's misery. I think once you are at the point in life where you are forced to make these tough decisions, you should have the medical community on your side and be able to choose to end your life peacefully with a pill. Can you imagine watching the person whom you have loved for your entire life suffering, day after day, and no one will help? They just want to prolong the misery? I think it is a real shame that this man had to resort to this. Pro choice should be at the other end of a life too!

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Bill Wasylenko

6:46 pm on Saturday, March 23, 2013

Yes Peter you are right. If we are going to have choice at all it should be at the end of life and of our OWN choosing. Not chosen for you by someone who had an accident and found you not worthy of life. I know I was an accident and so were most of us.. but you see Peter they make money at both ends Both the abortion industry and the warehousing of humans industry are BIG BUSINESS.

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Cadillac Man

10:37 am on Sunday, March 24, 2013

Don't be afraid of death my friends! Welcome it! It's your right! You are in-charge of your own destiny! Not the blood sucking doctors who vacume your life and bank account clean in one easy sweep! Unlike Dr V here, I don't want to live forever! And you should donate that 2M to help the unfortunate. Back to this... Just tell your family your intentions first, so they don't think your completely wacked and put the gun in your mouth and squeeze... Simple.

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Chandler

3:40 pm on Sunday, March 24, 2013

We are not in charge of our own destiny. I feel so sorry for this couple and the family that is left behind. However, he still murdered his wife. How is that an act of love and devotion? Where were the friends, family and church and counselors at this time? Why couldn't they turn to the friends and family to get through this? I don't know how the family is able to handle this--for if it was my mother and father, I would be angry. I pray the family can find some comfort as time goes by.

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morgen

3:49 pm on Sunday, March 24, 2013

So, Chandler, I should assume you are also against animal euthanasia and the death penalty, right? Both of those involve intervening in life and death. You must also be opposed to CPR , c sections and blood transfusions, as they also interfere with life and death. If God intends for you to die, and someone resuscitates you, then they are wrong for doing so. Good to know. You must work for Dr. Vincent up there.

Chandler

4:45 pm on Sunday, March 24, 2013

Not against animal euthanasia at all--they are animals--not humans. Nor am I against the death penalty---that doesn't even apply to this post at all. If someone commits a heinous crime such as murder--the judge and jury need to decide. Not apposed to CPR (or any of the other things you mentioned)--I am a certified CPR trainer. I am all for saving people and providing proper medical care to those in need. But murder and taking your own life is a willful decision that is made--not a heart attack or some other medical condition that can be treated. (I do not know Dr Vincent)

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morgen

4:53 pm on Sunday, March 24, 2013

So basically, the killing of one of Gods creatures, when God himself has not ended their lives, is acceptable because some living creatures matter, and some don't.
Im so glad we have actual spokespeople for God in this thread. I'm taking notes.

Chandler

5:04 pm on Sunday, March 24, 2013

Humans and animals are not equal.

Sad that the man felt he had to resort to drastic measures. My deepest sympathy to the family during this difficult time.

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morgen

5:18 pm on Sunday, March 24, 2013

..and some humans count more than others? So, your argument isn't that we don't have the right to take life , it's that we don't have the right to take the lives of those we feel are more important. Criminals are human, aren't they? But yet, the "only God can take life" argument doesn't apply to them or animals because we decide that only some of us are good enough to live.

That's my point. That If you use God as a reason to not end a life, then it should be across the board. Unless God himself shows up and says "I don't mean animals and criminals..y'all can kill them on my behalf", be consistent with your argument.

We can't pick and choose who we apply our religious laws to..which, by the way, have absolutely no relevance. We do not live in a country with an official religion. So these arguments about abortion, euthanasia, and the death penalty are moot. What he did was drastic, and very sad. But no one should be made to suffer in a feeble effort to maintain a life not worth living. Each of us should have that choice when the time comes. If we extend the gentle termination of life to prisoners, we can most certainly do the same for innocent people who are suffering horribly.

mari

9:49 am on Monday, March 25, 2013

Peter Goesinya. LMAO! Love the name.

Jill, Ahmar, and dr.v- shame on you. For you Bible beaters. I think you forgot : "Judge not, that ye be not judged." "For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again."

If I were terminal and suffering I wish someone would have the balls to do that for me. As for him killing himself, I think he didn't want to live without her.

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Jill

1:57 pm on Monday, March 25, 2013

Mari, obviously you are unable to walk the walk. When you're busy memorizing those quotes you like to rattle off....maybe you should put them into practice. Here's a little quote for you...Thou shall not kill! Also, you are a joke! You are telling us not to judge as you sit in judgement of us. Shame on you! What a hypocrite. Lol!

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