Here in the UK, euthanasia is illegal. I understand that in some countries there is a legal choice and many people travel from here in the UK to these countries with loved ones, to help them pass in a dignified manner that they have chosen for themselves.
Loved ones have been prosecuted in the past for assisting their family member to die this way, but is it really so wrong?
Photo by National Cancer Institute on Unsplash
I think it is safe to say that we all know someone who has been affected by cancer in one way or another. My grandmother was sadly eaten away by the indiscriminate disease and at the end it seemed cruel that she had to suffer the way she did. It was torture for both her and everyone that loved her. You cannot describe the feelings of hopelessness, watching someone in so much pain, but not being able to help.
There were moments when she would beg her children to help her die to put and end to the pain and suffering. It is a heartbreaking situation.
If she had the option to choose euthanasia, I believe she would have done so at the end. To be allowed to die with dignity and not having the fear of more pain and suffering is surely end of life care; not a criminal offence.
I hesitate to refer to animals as we are human, not animals, however we would not sit by and watch an animal suffer in this way. In fact veterinarians have sworn an oath to such effect. Anyone found to allow an animal to slowly die in pain would be prosecuted for animal cruelty.
Photo by Diana Polekhina on Unsplash
So why do we have more compassion for animals than humans in this respect?
Are we more disconnected from animals than humans? Is it that we are scared of godly repercussions if we were to assist that choice for another human being? Do we have the right to chose when we die?
I believe in the UK, we have more empathy for animals than we do for humans. Not everyone of course, but on the whole I believe this to be true. Ask anyone if they will watch a movie where the dog dies and they will tell you it’s the most upsetting part of the film, even if people are being killed left right and centre! The dog dying has the most impact.
Perhaps we allow euthanasia for animals because of this increased empathy. Should we learn to love other people as much we love animals? Would it then be acceptable for euthanasia?
I am an atheist so I have no understanding of being afraid of god. To me this is an alien concept. I can only imagine the power of the fear someone has of being punished by a god for doing something against his will.
I do however believe in morality and that we all have an internal moral compass. We know right from wrong instinctively and that is down to how we have evolved over millions of years. We created society in an attempt to bring people together and create structure and order.
Law is another matter. You only have to watch an episode of judge Judy to realise that it’s all words and loopholes. Morality doesn’t come into it. I do not think that people who create these laws are making them for moral reasons and making euthanasia illegal simply confirms this to me.
Photo by Tingey Injury Law Firm on Unsplash
Should we have the right to choose when we die? If someone had the mental capacity to make that choice, and wanted it to happen in a dignified manner with loved ones being able to be by their sides without the fear of them being held accountable afterwards, then I genuinely don’t see a valid reason for not allowing the process to happen. I can only see cruelty and control being the only reason for taking away this end of life choice. I do feel that it should be the right of the individual to chose euthanasia, NOT a loved one, as the decision to endure should come from oneself.
In my humble opinion, I feel we should ultimately have the right to choose euthanasia if we have nothing but pain, fear and suffering left to endure. Quality of life should be exactly that, a certain quality, not just an existence until our body stops working, especially when medicines are being used to prolong the agony of staying alive when there is no hope for a cure or peace before death.
Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash
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