Besides abortion (beginning of human life), assisted suicide (end of human life) are two among the biggest or most controversial hot button issues at least for the past 50 years or so in Western societies.
Here are some brief comments/questions:
- The right to individual suicide is undeniable when an individual voluntarily and without external influence/pressure chooses/consents to do so. This does not preclude or prevent any attempts to save the individual before, during or after suicide attempt. It does not prevent any loving care of the individual by family or friends.
- Is there any requirement to assist such an individual with their suicide attempt?
- Assisted suicide may prevent unnecessary suffering while committing or during suicide. Assisted suicide allows for consultation and a more peaceful passing away then perhaps otherwise.
- Is it legitimate or morally acceptable if an older, perhaps not very healthy, individual chooses suicide to avoid becoming a burden to others? It is in accordance with the individual right to suicide and dignity of that individual.
- Should it be limited only to mentally fit adults? What about seriously suffering children?
- Should it be limited only to terminally ill or end of life individuals?
- Should doctors be actively involved in assisted suicide (e.g. administering injections etc.)? Or should doctors only provide means (e.g. pills) to commit suicide to the individual who then chooses to apply the means.
- Active, direct involvement in assisted suicide by doctors is in violation of their Hippocratic Oath (do no harm). Doctors are supposed to prolong and improve healthy lives not end lives.
- I believe it is empirically demonstrated that originally such laws have been passed to assist suicide limited only to terminally ill or end of life individuals, but later these laws were amended to include other individuals or all individuals.
Here is what the government of the Netherlands says about euthanasia of children:
"Euthanasia and minors
A child may request euthanasia from the age of 12. However, the following additional requirements apply:
the child must be capable of assessing and understanding what is best for them in their situation;
if a child is aged 12-15, euthanasia can only be carried out with the consent of the child’s parent or parents, or the child’s guardian;
if a child is aged 16 or 17, the parent(s) or guardian must be consulted in the decision-making process, but their consent is not required. ..."
Is the Netherlands going to far with euthanasia? Do the people of the Netherlands largely agree with how euthanasia is legalized?
"... On Monday, the New York state Senate passed legislation to legalize assisted suicide by a vote of 35 to 27. With just six Democrats joining Republicans in opposition, the Medical Aid in Dying Act now moves one step closer to becoming law and making New York the 12th state in the nation to legalize assisted suicide. ...
This bill has some of the loosest safeguards in the country, stripping away even the bare minimum protections seen in other states.
There is no mandatory waiting period. No requirement for in-person evaluations. Mental health screening is only required if a doctor suspects impaired judgment, which, given that evaluations can be done virtually, opens the door wide to inaccurate diagnoses. New York’s bill allows for assessments over Zoom and no follow-up. There is no requirement for physicians or pharmacists to report cases to the state.
Supporters insist the law is only for those near death, those with terminal diagnoses who are suffering. But we’ve heard this all before. We’ve seen what happens when assisted suicide becomes legal. In countries such as Canada and the Netherlands, eligibility quickly expanded beyond the terminally ill.
In the Netherlands, assisted suicide accounts for nearly 6% of all deaths, and proposals have been floated to allow otherwise healthy seniors over the age of 75 to request assisted suicide after six months of counseling.
In Canada, officials have documented cases of patients seeking death not due to pain, but because of poverty, loneliness, or fear of becoming a burden to others. ...
But there is another cost to this bill. The erosion of something deeply precious; namely, our culture of care. ...
They bathed their loved ones, managed pain medication, and sat with them through the long, quiet hours of dying.
Many were holding down jobs or raising kids at the same time. But they still chose to do it. To serve. To love. ..."
NY's Medical Aid in Dying Bill a Shameful Act of False Compassion
