Chapter one - Discussion exercise 1.3, p.19, questions #1-6
Question #1 Should people have the moral right to end their lives if they so please?
Question #6 What kind of restrictions, if any, should there be on assisted suicide?
The case in question is actually an anonymous letter written by a widowed 80 year old man. In his letter he discusses the fact that he has been alone for over seven years and his children live four states away. He is concerned that the many ailments he has are beginning a downward spiral that is beyond his control. He does not wish to become a burden in his final years to his children and any money spent on extending his life he feels would be better suited to giving his grandchildren a better start with their education. He has no desire to move to the state that his children inhabit or to be pushed into a nursing facility for someone to care for him and wipe his ass when he is no longer able to perform that function himself. The author is confused why individuals are unable to throw in the towel and die with some dignity. He does not want to be labeled an elderly suicide and become a statistic. This man believes that there should be an exit package available at city hall with paperwork and some pills. This way you are able to get all of your affairs in order prior to drifting off for the everlasting nap. He finishes his letter with the question “How can choosing my own end at my own time be considered anything other than a most dignified final exit?” (Anonymous, June, 2003)
- I think that the moral right to end your own life is a personal justification. If you are a truly religious person then you would not choose to end your life regardless of the reason. A religious person generally holds the bible and the word of God close to their chest; it is against the “code” of religion to take your own life. My personal feeling is that as long as you have the ability to justify your reason, you don’t want to be a burden to your family, than it is your choice. I also believe that your station in life would play a huge role in any decision that you would come to make.
- I feel that being close to the end of your life does give you justification to “call it a day” and end your life. This of course is provided that there is nothing that can be done to prolong your life in a manner that you are accustomed to living. I feel that the quality of life that you are able to live would have a bearing on the choice that you make. Why are we allowed to make a decision on the life or death of a family pet, but are not allowed to let a parent, grandparent or child die with the same dignity?
- The phrase right to die means to me that you have the choice to end your life if you choose. I do believe that it should not have the meaning to end your life at any point in time, but it would be dependent on the reason of your choice. If you are dying a slow painful death and it will take more than a year, but you will be bed ridden for the entire time then I think you should have the “right to die” with dignity and not have your family see you slowly fade away and remember you as a sick person instead of the vibrant person that you once were.
- This question is dependent on what the word “assistance” consists of. Cancer patients have the right to withdraw consent for treatment, if a person goes into cardiac arrest they can have a DNR order in place to prevent anything being done to keep them alive. Cancer patients can still be given medication to ease any pain that they are feeling, does that constitute assistance?
- Once again this is dependent on what the word “assistance” consists of. If a patient is on life support and is in a vegetative state and a doctor shuts off the life support system has he not ‘assisted’ in the death of a patient? I don’t believe that the general public has enough knowledge to give any assistance to a dying individual, but I do believe that if a doctor is able to ease the pain of a dying person than he should do whatever is within his power and legal right to help ease a person on their ‘final journey.’
Question #6 What kind of restrictions, if any, should there be on assisted suicide?
- There should be rules and regulations in place for assisted suicide. These rules should have to do with the length of time that an individual has, as well as the quality of life that they will live. I also feel that it should be a qualified member of the medical profession who makes the diagnosis and does the ‘assisting.’ We should not have the right for assisted suicide based on age, there are lots of individuals who are old, but are still healthy. One of the big restrictions that would need to be put in place is that the only person who can decide on the suicide assistance is the individual who is dying. No one else should be able to make a decision on the life or death of another individual.
The case in question is actually an anonymous letter written by a widowed 80 year old man. In his letter he discusses the fact that he has been alone for over seven years and his children live four states away. He is concerned that the many ailments he has are beginning a downward spiral that is beyond his control. He does not wish to become a burden in his final years to his children and any money spent on extending his life he feels would be better suited to giving his grandchildren a better start with their education. He has no desire to move to the state that his children inhabit or to be pushed into a nursing facility for someone to care for him and wipe his ass when he is no longer able to perform that function himself. The author is confused why individuals are unable to throw in the towel and die with some dignity. He does not want to be labeled an elderly suicide and become a statistic. This man believes that there should be an exit package available at city hall with paperwork and some pills. This way you are able to get all of your affairs in order prior to drifting off for the everlasting nap. He finishes his letter with the question “How can choosing my own end at my own time be considered anything other than a most dignified final exit?” (Anonymous, June, 2003)