Euthanasia: Are You For It Or Against It?
I was listening to my favourite radio station earlier, where they were discussing euthanasia, and the whole, ‘dying with dignity’ argument.
The specific case that they were looking at involved Dan James, an English rugby player, who became paralysed after an accident during a training session.
Dan had tried several times to kill himself, before finally asking his parents take him to a Swiss euthanasia clinic. Dan died in September 2008.
In a powerful statement, Julie and Mark James said their son Dan loathed his existence in what he said was a “prison” of his body.
They said he was “an intelligent young man of sound mind” who was “not prepared to live what he felt was a second-class existence”, his parents said…
Mr And Mrs James said: “His death was an extremely sad loss for his family, friends and all those that care for him but no doubt a welcome relief from the ‘prison’ he felt his body had become and the day-to-day fear and loathing of his living existence, as a result of which he took his own life.
“This is the last way that the family wanted Dan’s life to end but he was, as those who know him are aware, an intelligent, strong-willed and some say determined young man.
The problem is, the family are now being investigated by the police, and they could be jailed if found guilty of assisting Dan in his quest to die. Over here, they could serve up to fourteen years in prison.
I’ve always said that if I ever ended up in a situation where my brain was alive, but my body wasn’t, I’d want to be put out of my misery.
I know that there are brave people out there who live this kind of life every day, but I wouldn’t be one of them. I would most certainly rather die, than have to wholly rely on others to feed me, take me to the toilet, shave me, etc etc, at such a young age.
I’m resigned to the fact that old age may well force these things upon me, but having to live like that in my thirties or forties, or even fifties? Bollocks to that. And what about the people living in constant pain? Surely it would be more humane to give them some kind of control over their own lives?
I personally think that there are certain circumstances, where people should be able to decide for themselves, whether they want to live or die. And the family members who aid them, should not be prosecuted for trying to grant the wishes of their loved ones.
What say you?
Posted by Karen Scott · 
