An American man committed assisted suicide in a Swiss clinic and it was televised in Great Britain this evening. Like in most states in the U.S. assisted suicide is illegal in GB. A retired professor who suffered from motor neurone disease, in 2006, Craig Ewert allowed a film crew to document his last four days of life in the documentary, “Right to Die: The Suicide Tourist.”
Apparently, the airing of an assisted suicide has caused great controversy across the pond. Death is typically a private affair. To air it, is pretty taboo in practically every culture. The family’s thinking was that they wanted to show that assisted suicide is a peaceful way to exit harsh diseases such as what Mr. Ewert suffered from.
However, most religions shun the act of suicide. The Catholic Church has been a very vocal opponent. I, myself, am unsure as to whether I could commit suicide or seek out assisted suicide if I were to fall victim of a terminal illness. I believe it’s one of those decisions that would be hard to make unless one is in that position. However, I do find it a bit ironic that we can take dear fluffy to the vet and have her put out of her misery. Yet, we can’t do the same for humans.
I’ve had family members who suffered towards the end of their lives, feeling pain that would not have had to been experienced had there been an option of assisted suicide. The question as to whether they would have selected the route of passing away when the time came or getting a bit of help and end it early will never be answered. However, having the option to do so makes a bit of sense. Granted, checks would have to be put in place to ensure that only those who are suffering from terminal illnesses would be afforded the opportunity to end it early.
I suppose religion plays a role in this. However, I don’t feel that preventing assisted suicide should continue because of a group’s religious beliefs. I suppose assisted suicide is right up there with politics, gay rights, and abortion. So of course it was only a matter of time before I came around to writing about it.
I do know one thing: I do not want my last moments of life to be televised to the world. Just not the way I want to go out.
Please share your thoughts.
Filed under: Droppings Tagged: | Craig Ewert, televised assisted suicide
I heard this story on NPR while I was driving home from work tonite. I thought pretty much the same things you wrote. I think it’s something we should be allowed to do. I know strong checks and balances would have to be in place. And I know it will be a huge fight against the religious to even talk about it. I agree that it wouldn’t be fair to allow those who are religious to shut down the discussion simply because they think it’s wrong, but I also am positive that they would shut down the discussion. I’m not sure it’s something I’m ready to spend time fighting over. Gay rights, politics, and abortion are much more important to me now. Besides, if you talk to the right people, they’ll tell you that if we would just legalize medical marijuana those terminally ill folks suffering in pain, mightn’t have to experience quite so much pain.
I heard this too, I don’t think I could do it.but if I did it would be a private thing..
I do hope that if a lot of pain is involved I have a very caring nurse with a large dose of Morphine..
This is a hard one, but like you said it’s really an issue of being ABLE to make to the decision, not whether you would do it yourself or not, for whatever reason, religious or otherwise….