The Bishop of the Catholic diocese of London is “profoundly disappointed” in the Supreme Court’s ruling to overturn a ban on doctor assisted death in cases of terminal illness. I am profoundly disappointed in anyone who’s profoundly disappointed in this decision.
There is no dignity and no reward in suffering. Don’t be fooled by pain medications and faith in an afterlife as salves for a body ravaged by an incurable disease. The high court nearly overturned the law by a vote of 5-4 back in 1993 when brave Sue Rodriguez fought for the right to end her life. She had ALS – Lou Gehrig’s Disease – and was in tremendous, ceaseless distress. One vote shot her down but she ended her life anyway, with the help of an anonymous doctor.
The Bishop and others who believe that all life is sacred claim that other countries that allow euthanasia are killing off their elderly and those with physical disabilities. This is not happening in significant numbers. Murder happens, illness or not, and that’s just a sad fact of life. But there haven’t been waves of unlawful end-of-life-against-their-will incidents. It’s a common rebuttal but it’s not based in fact.
The court put strict rules on who would be eligible to control their own way out. They must have an irreversible illness with enduring suffering and give their consent. It’s not going to be legal for someone who’s depressed to go to a Dr. and ask to be terminated. A person can’t wheel someone up to a hospital and say, “kill ’em”.
Having witnessed first-hand what it can be like for someone I loved to live the final days of a life they wished to end, I applaud the Supreme Court for stopping the persecution of those with the knowledge to assist with a calm, dignified end to the suffering. It’s about time we treated our fellow human beings with the dignity and relief that we give to our ailing animal friends.
I’ve always found the religious types to be somewhat hypocritical in their views in matter such as these. If the state were to intervene or express similar views on various religious matters, the religious types would screen bloody murder. The separation of religion and state isn’t perfect, but the religious types in this case should really take their heads out of their ass. Chronic and unbearable pain is not a noble or honorable cause.