Euthanasia NOT About Terminal Illness
Here is proof positive that the international drive to legalize assisted suicide/euthanasia is not really about terminal illness. The World Federation of Right to Die Societies has reissued its "Manifesto." Here it is in full. I will discuss the italicized portions of the Manifesto below:
"The World Federation of Right to Die Societies (an international nongovernmental organization) is aware of the increasing concern to many individuals over their right to die with dignity. Believing in the rights and freedom of all persons, we affirm this right to die with dignity, meaning in peace and without suffering. All competent adults--regardless of their nationalities, professions, religious beliefs, and ethical and political views--who are suffering unbearably from incurable illnesses should have the possibility of various choices at the end of their life. Death is unavoidable. We strongly believe that the manner and time of dying should be left to the decision of the individual, assuming such demands do not result in harm to society other than the sadness associated with death.
"The voluntarily expressed will of individuals, once they are fully informed of their diagnosis, prognosis and available means of relief, should be respected by all concerned as an expression of intrinsic human rights."
Notice that all competent adults with an "incurable" illness are supposed to have this right. That is not the same thing as a terminal illness. Arthritis is incurable. Asymptomatic HIV infection is incurable. So may be bi-polar disease. Thus, the Manifesto is a call for establishing an almost open-ended right throuighout the world for death on demand.
The legalization of assisted suicide/euthanasia would, by definition, harm society. It corrupts the purposes of medicine, it discriminates against the vulnerable by permitting the facilitation of some suicides, while requiring the prevention of others, and it opens the door to the fall of a steep moral cliff as has occurred in the Netherlands where, after 30 years of euthanasia, the parliament will soon legalize eugenic infanticide.
posted by Wesley J. Smith @ 10:33 AM
6 Comments
6 Comments:
Doctor: "So, Mr. Jones, I see you've applied for assisted suicide. What incurable illness is your justification for this?"
Mr. Jones: "Male pattern baldness."
May not be incurable. Haven't you heard of Rogaine?
This is even more distressing when you think about the fact that things that used to be voluntary have a way of becoming mandatory ... like parents of children with Down syndrome who report having to justify why they didn't abort.
I guess I better not mention my essential tremor.
Wesley: "May not be incurable. Haven't you heard of Rogaine?"
Well, I'm assuming that when they say *incurable* they mean illnesses that cannot be *eradicated* from the patient. In other words, merely the ability to treat a condition's symptoms without removing its underlying cause (eg. Rogaine!) doesn't eliminate its incurability. This of course blows the doors wide open to all manner of conditions making assisted suicide justified, as you point out.
Obviously I don't truly think men will be killing themselves over baldness, but it highlights the disturbing implications of statement's wording.
I agree with your entry. It is a very logical point of view.
It is very easy to condemn euthanasia out of hand. Until one experiences an illness that cannot be cured and is not terminal, it is impossible to feel empathy for people in such circumstances. Imagine having an illness that caused suffering that rendered life unbearable and knowing that that suffering would be indefinate. People have varying views on euthanasia, even those who are in favour of it often think it should be limited to the terminaly ill. In fact I would suggest it is those that are not terminally ill, but who have no other options left who present the strongest case for legal euthanasia. Why should a rational person who wants to live but is unable to have any quality of life due to illness be forced to suffer indefinately? Obviously this would apply to a very few individuals with specific conditions that could not be managed medically but such people do exist and many of them comit suicide every year, without any mental illness. I would suggest that they deserve a more humane death.
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