Almost 3000 people made submissions to the review of the End of Life Choice Act re the state assisting dying, or specifically euthanasia, this now the situation in a number of western European nations.
Evelyn Waugh sent up state assisted euthanasia with his 1953 satirical novel “Love Among the Ruins”, albeit as a Catholic convert romantic, he would have disapproved.
Currently, no matter how much agony one is suffering from an incurable problem, unless terminal within six months, state assisted death is unavailable.
This is madness. It would only be logical if humans lived forever and the prospect of a cure one day being discovered. But the cold hard fact is we’re all going to die. It’s unavoidable alas, so making people suffer is disgraceful cruelty.
Needless to say the review attracted submissions from the mentally weak, fearful of death, superstition purveyors, all babbling on about God, albeit which particular God none advised. I mention that as human history records over 3500 different Gods, only Christians and Muslims not letting on what their ones’ names are. Presumably they don’t know.
The obvious answer for poor buggers suffering constant pain is suicide, easily achieved by dozens of different ways. They own their lives; not the state, and it’s for them alone to make that decision.
On that note it’s amusing to recall that not so long ago it was illegal to commit suicide. Needless to say, no successful prosecution ever occurred.
16 Comments
As Bob says, “you own your life” but of course here the state is taking your life, albeit ‘helpfully’. What seems to be happening in Euros and other countries is that now anybody who is unhappy can now ask the state to top them off… The ‘living in pain and agony’ is a smoke screen, for what I don’t know but clearly going on available evidence it is the thin edge of something.
Would certainly make a difference to my last years. 78 fit, healthy, enjoying life, live on my own. It would give me SOOOO much ‘peace’ if I KNEW when it was time I could do it successfully peacefully and tastefully!!! MY LIFE MY TERMS?!! IF ONLY?!
What about making it possible to submit nominations?
Wife and I visiting Switzerland 2006 spotted a handsome chateau type hotel high on an alpine hill, we had to stop for the night so ventured off the highway and headed towards it. When we finally got to the entrance we could see the hotel was finished building but it looked open so we parked and entered. We could only find one employee in the bar and he seemed a bit surprised we were looking for accommodation. This was our first inkling of disquiet. He explained the accommodation that was finished and available was usually for relatives but we could stay if we wanted. The place was deserted otherwise but our choices were limited so we agreed. Long story short later that evening after a couple of drinks at the the bar I went off to find a toilet and, as is my wont, do a bit of looking around. Down one flight of internal stairs I found myself in a very large room like a gymnasium but with a low roof. There were stainless steel gurneys set up all over it with the ability to screen off around each one. Off to one side a room with a big stainless guttered table. This was getting very spooky. We later guessed it was an assisted suicide or euthanasia facility with the accommodation for families of the terminal. no wonder the receptionist/barman was surprised at a couple of Kiwi tourists looking for a hotel bed.
Its apparently big business in Switzerland and I suspect they catered to clients from other countries where its illegal. The next phase on from the formerly booming rest home industry. Might be an idea for any big commercial building you’re struggling to find a tenant for Sir Bob, conversion wouldn’t be overly expensive. Cost us NZD1250 for the privilege of not dying in their Hotel California too.
Nice to read some good sense on the topic. I am particularly cynical of the religious objections, anyone familiar with the Bible, the Torah, the Koran etc will know that the principle message isn’t love but be careful to kill the right people.
Colin- does abortion kill the right people (given biology says life begins at conception – not birth)?
Euthanasia develops a culture where some lives are less valued. One example is the nurses in Belgium who decided they had the power to end of the lives of very ill patients (at least 150 in a confidential survey)
A less extreme example but just as dangerous is the push in the Netherlands and Canada (it is already happening there) for depressed persons who are very unhappy to be able to utilise state euthanasia
The result brings euthanasia closer to “unsupported suicide” where the same people who support euthanasia will of course wring their hands over younger people choosing to end their lives.
The dilemma then is the “principle’ of (limited) self-determination or (limited0 self-autonomy. The common denominator or standard can become “I am very miserable and don’t want to live” as with the move in the Netherlands and Canada. The “moral” right to argue , “no you don’t qualify or no, you shouldn’t do it” will have already been weakened by creeping euthanasia criterion .
What an example for the young in’s -as if state funded procedures have no wider impact on society. It is not merely a “private” issue.
To be rich or powerful or “educated’ is foolishness without wisdom.
Leigh.
First-SRJ’s blog is not a debate on the morals or concerns around abortion, which is a highly subjective topic and has nothing to do with my point around “holy” texts.
Next, although there is some limited merit in the idea that assisted euthanasia (and that term assisted is important) may devalue lives, it’s important to note that this isn’t unique to a society that provides this. Some lives are already devalued by disease or injury or suffering. Virtually all doctors and nurses are confronted by patients who (literally) would be better off dead but are forced to suffer on. Your comment on Belgian nurses makes my point.
I don’t believe any of your comments about Canada or the Netherlands, I think you are cherry picking there.
Finally-can you explain your final comment? It’s just bizarre.
Compassionate euthanasia is the right thing to do.
Why fear death?
It’s the height of pessimism to believe this is a one off event.
Everything in nature tells us that cycles repeat.
I suspect that the Hindu’s have it more or less right, we all reincarnate and the party never ends.
The dysfunctional father in the sky story was written by a bunch of bullying men with control issues.
Isn’t it obvious that the loving creator of everything gave us free will to believe, or in the case of atheists, not believe.
This non human creative source, clearly loves us enough to provide sufficient oxygen in our atmosphere and just the right amount of atoms in the moon to balance our planet at a safe distance from the sun.
I’ll raise my glass to that loving god.
Yes well, some of us are in no hurry…
bit concerned as to what we’ll be ‘next time’ ,
think it might involve some form of payback for being ‘a bit naughty’ ,
s’pose naughties relative to an earthworm … as it is to … an earthworm.
You’ll be fine Neil, if you’re in no hurry, you’re unlikely to have made any big mistakes.
The concern is that greedy children and grandchildren tell the slightly senile Ethel with her arthritis that she need not suffer anymore in her $1,200 a week care facility. She is just sitting there watching the likes of Hilary Barry on TV while chewing through the inheritance pot.
I agree with you Keith from Marton, the core problem is greed.
Mind you, Ethel may have the last laugh if she ends up somewhere better.
The name of the Christian God is Yahweh, which obviously derives from Judaism, namely the personal name for God in the Judaic tradition. Under Judaism today it is considered sacred, not spoken out loud, and when written, it is often written Y-h w-h, or similar.
The ‘being within six months of death’ requirement for the End Of Life Choice Act should be extended to one year. The reason I say it should be extended to one year, is that most hospices only take terminally ill people who are considered to be within one year of death. I worked for a hospice for many years and saw, first-hand, the suffering many people needlessly endured as they approached death. Hospices have an enviable philosophy of “living our dying” but the reality is that not all terminal illness pain can be controlled by modern drugs. In my experience, the hospice staff I worked with were the best I’ve ever had the pleasure to work with in 50 years of employment, but many are grossly underpaid and undervalued within the health system. Many hospices get little government support and they rely heavily on donations from the public. But any changes to the law need to leave that ultimate decision with the person who is dying – relatives should never get a say for obvious reasons (i.e. all the gold diggers would be rushing their infirm ‘olds’ off for the needle). Ensuring the decision lies with each individual could be covered off by making a provision in one’s Will/or a separate written declaration, (whilst still in command of all one’s mental faculties) to the effect that in the event of a terminal illness and mental incapacity, that one wishes his/her life to be terminated and thereby give permission to do so.
I personally don’t know what the issue is with taking your own life, whose place is it to presume what you should do with it, if you want to go out with a mighty Banzi! or quietly while dozing under a shady tree one summers afternoon, so what !?
perhaps the problem is it reminds the other nerdies of their own mortality, some thing they choose not to face. surly the way we go out gives meaning to our departure, a story to tell for those left behind. perhaps having to recount that uncle albert took his own life isn’t socially acceptable..
it occurs to me that our death is the one thing we get for free in this world.. so why not piss as many people off as you can with it… like the government and the credit card company,
I’m reminded of some philosopher or was it a shrink… saying that the pain of our death is our gift to those we leave behind…
it would piss me off though , if i took my own life , when on the other side was faced with a long line of grim faced ancestors saying, “what were you thinking!” , “we’re sending help, another week was all we needed you to endure ” “just one more week!”
any way I’m 100% certain physical death isn’t the end, a week after a mate passed away he was stood at the end of our bed, said Gi-day mate, grabbed my finger and was gone. true story .
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