The story of Geoffrey Whaley recently really touched my heart. Just read his letter...
https://www.dignityindying.org.uk/news/geoffrey-whaley-open-letter/
Assisted dying is a terribly emotive subject that divides people completely, and it's difficult to imagine an easy conclusion to the question of whether it is right or wrong. In English law assisted suicide and euthanasia are illegal. Assisted suicide, under the terms of the Suicide Act (1961) is punishable by up to 14 years' imprisonment. Trying to kill yourself is not a criminal act. Depending on the circumstances, euthanasia is regarded as either manslaughter or murder and the maximum penalty is life imprisonment. There have been several cases over the last few years where people have attempted to change the law so that someone who is terminally ill could have help to end their lives. Those requests would have to be subject to checks and reviews by medical professionals and the courts, but so far it hasn't happened.
The biggest argument against allowing legal assisted dying is that terminally ill or disabled people will feel pressurised to end their lives prematurely as the treatment, and the commitment of people involved in the care, can be costly and draining. Other people worry that if the law is changed, even slightly, it will escalate in to allowing people who are not terminal ill to be assisted to die. Not only that, but who should make the choice to die? Would/should doctors be allowed to decide who should die and when?
For those who are pro assisted dying it is about the dignity and choice of when and how people wish to die. Dignity in life and dignity in death. No-one wants to see someone they love be in pain or suffering, and when it is too much for a person they should be allowed to end it at a time of their choosing. To allay any concerns that someone could be persuaded to die, there should be procedural safeguards, such as the consent of two doctors and the courts.
It's a minefield of legality and emotion, and I am glad I don't have to decide, to be honest. I have never been in a situation where I have had to watch someone be in such extreme pain that they would want to die, and I hope I never have to. I do know that I would do anything to avoid any loved one of mine being in that situation. So far, no one has been prosecuted for assisted dying even though there have been some arrests. It doesn't even matter if you have made a living will, or have been in sound mind when you have requested 'help', as it is still against the law. The police and courts have to investigate any cases, and it is right that they do this, but what a terrible place for anyone to be in. There must be a clear line between those that help a loved one to kill themselves, and those that end a life. A guideline was published by the Director of Prosecutions a few years ago and an interim policy has been in force since. It made clear that someone acting out of compassion to help a terminally ill patient with a "clear, settled and informed wish to die" was unlikely to face the courts. But persuading or pressurising the victim to kill themselves, or benefiting from their death, would encourage prosecution.
We live in a progressive society and I am sure the law will change at some point, and I do worry that it may open the gates to all sorts of problems, but I also know what I would want to happen to me if I was in the position that Geoffrey Whaley was in. He was able to travel to Dignitas but many people cannot afford to do this. I only know personally of one person that has done this, and I spoke to their partner many weeks later. They had both kept it very quiet because, as I've said before, this divides people on all counts. I found it very interesting to find out why this person had chosen to do what they did, and the view of the partner. The emotions ranged from anger that someone has to travel away from home, and often loved ones, to carry out their wish to end their life, and there was sadness, and yes happiness, that the person had died peacefully and without pain. In amongst it all was a resolution that the law needs to be changed. I learnt a lot from that conversation, and I felt nothing but admiration for both of them. It clearly hadn't been an easy decision.
No comments:
Post a Comment