Assisted suicide: Whose life is it anyway?

London Times ^ | 8/2/09 | Bryan Appleyard

[wagglebee]

Debbie Purdy was “ecstatic”. It was a strange reaction to the news that it had suddenly become easier to be killed in Zurich. But the real reason for her elation was that the news also meant it might soon become easier to be killed in Britain.

The law lords had just ruled that the director of public prosecutions (DPP) must make it clear under what circumstances he would prosecute somebody for assisting a suicide. It was the law lords’ last ruling before they themselves are killed off and replaced by a Supreme Court.

Multiple sclerosis will kill Purdy, 46, if the Dignitas clinic in Zurich does not do it first. Her argument was that she needed to know whether her husband, Omar Puente, would be prosecuted if he helped her make her last journey. If he would, she said, she would have to go and take the lethal dose of Nembutal soon, well before incapacity prevented her from travelling alone. If he would not, she could safely put it off for years.

The lords decided that not knowing which way the DPP would jump was an infringement of her rights, specifically article 8 of the European convention on human rights.

“Everyone,” they said, “has the right to respect for their private life and the way that Ms Purdy determines to spend the closing moments of her life is part of the act of living.”

Keir Starmer, QC, the DPP, has prosecuted none of the helpers of the 115 Britons who have gone to Zurich to die, but mostly his reasons have not been stated. The High Court backed his reticence, but the law lords said he must make his policy clear. He was not a happy QC.

[wagglebee]

Pinged from Terri Dailies

[wagglebee]

Then again there is that whole annoying free will thing.

And there doesn't seem to be much debate about those who commit unassisted suicide.

So maybe the state should just butt out of decisions that my doctor and I make.

God's gift of free will DOES NOT mean that there are no consequences and it certainly does not mean that suicide is not a sin.

Have you actually considered the ramifications of removing government oversight from the medical profession? Because that is what you are suggesting.

[copwife]

When I was a trauma/ critical care nurse, I thought everyone should have DNR tattooed on their chests. When you see people away from the context of their loved ones and familiar surroundings, you don’t see quality of life.I now work with mentally and physically challenged adults out in the community and my opinion has changed. Their lives may not be like ours, but they are loved and able to love in return. That is quality of life. With proper and ADEQUATE pain management terminally ill patients can enjoy quality of life. There is no need to kill them. That’s not to say that when all else has failed,comfort care is not in order. If a miracle is going to happen, God will do it with or without the EXTREME measures used to prololng life.

[BykrBayb]

Anyone that excited about other people’s deaths shouldn’t wear a scarf like that. It could get caught in something, like a door or a fist.

[Salvation]

 

Pray for an end of euthanasia and a conversion of America to a culture of life!

 

 

[OpeEdMunkey]

Have you actually considered the ramifications of increasing government oversight of the medical profession?

Because that is what Obama is suggesting.

And when it comes to suicide or assisting suicide as a sin, that's really in God's bailiwick, not man's.

Ever thought about how ridiculous it is for suicide to be illegal? There's really not much you can do to punish a corpse. The only reason it's illegal is to give insurance companies a solid footing for their not paying out on a suicide's life insurance policy.

[wagglebee]

Have you actually considered the ramifications of increasing government oversight of the medical profession?

Because that is what Obama is suggesting.

You seem to have reached the conclusion that since more oversight is bad, that less must be good. This is INCORRECT.

So I will ask again, have you even considered what will happen if government oversight of medical care is eliminated?

And when it comes to suicide or assisting suicide as a sin, that's really in God's bailiwick, not man's.

He has already spoken on that issue, "Thou shalt not kill."

Ever thought about how ridiculous it is for suicide to be illegal? There's really not much you can do to punish a corpse. The only reason it's illegal is to give insurance companies a solid footing for their not paying out on a suicide's life insurance policy.

I'm sure that's the culture of death's latest talking point. However, suicide was a crime thousands of years before life insurance even existed. Moreover, insurance companies DO pay off on suicide if the policy is old enough.

[OpeEdMunkey]

I dunno. In another thread that you started you seem to be arguing against increased government oversight. You know the one. Government rationing...Terry Schiavo...culture of death...all that. So, do you want more government intervention or less?

On the upside you do make great use of upper case letters.

And again, sin and punishment thereof is God’s business. Not yours, unless you’re a priest, and certainly not the government’s.

Sure. Suicide is a crime if you happen to take someone out with you. Or maybe it’s akin to littering if you decide to jump off of a building - and someone has to mop you up.

Other than that it’s between me and God. Not me, God, and the state. And certainly not me, God, and you.

You’d be hard pressed to find a life insurance policy that pays out if the life is ended by suicide. I’ve been reading a lot of them lately. In fact there are some that don’t pay out if you buy it while committing a crime.