Euthanasia comes from the two Greek words which mean “good death”. It refers to the practice of ending a life in a painless manner. This has been a topic of controversy for years, as it deals with the taboo topic of death. In the article, Glen Aspinall has planned his death, as he has been diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndrome, a chronic bone marrow disease that stops the body from producing red blood cells. However, I have to disagree with him, and I do not support Euthanasia.
Firstly, there is always a huge risk involved when carrying out Euthanasia. Even where a specific life expectancy (like six months) is referred to, medical experts acknowledge that it is virtually impossible to predict the life expectancy of a particular patient. Some people diagnosed as terminally ill don't die for years, if at all, from the diagnosed condition. Euthanasia might be carried out on people who have a chance of recovery, and this will deprive them of having normal lives. Therefore I feel that the risk involved when carrying out Euthanasia is very huge, and it is a risk that is not worth taking.
Euthanasia rejects the importance and value of human life. People who support euthanasia often say that it is already considered permissible to take human life under some circumstances such as self defence - but they miss the point that when one kills for self defence they are saving innocent life - either their own or someone else's. With euthanasia no one's life is being saved - life is only taken. History has taught us the dangers of euthanasia and that is why there are only two countries in the world today where it is legal. That is why almost all societies, even non-religious ones, for thousands of years have made euthanasia a crime. And therefore I feel that Euthanasia does not take into account the importance and value of human life.
Advocates of Euthanasia might argue that Euthanasia will end one’s suffering. They argue that they make the life of one who is terminally ill end painlessly, and shorten their time spent suffering. However, I beg to differ. Most of the time, patients have to sign agreements to their mercy killing, and if they are unable to, close relatives will aid them in doing so. However, I feel that terminally ill patients are likely to be depressed, and therefore unable to consent to their hastened death in a balanced or acceptable way. They are in no condition to make decisions about their life and death. Also, when close relatives help them to sign papers and agreements about euthanizing their relatives, they usually use this as a chance to gain something from their relatives. Often, relatives agree to euthanize their parents after they have given all they can. For example, when they have given all their money to their children, and they have nothing left to offer. Also, they can use euthanasia to kill their parents, to obtain what is on their will etc. Therefore, there are many risks involved and many bad intentions other than ending suffering.
Therefore, I do not support euthanasia, as there are huge risks involved, other motives when euthanizing, and also euthanasia does not take into account the importance and value of human life.
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Source: http://www.northernstar.com.au/story/2009/07/02/his-choice-to-live-or-die/
His choice to live or die
GLEN ASPINALL has planned his death.
The terminally ill 58-year-old believes everyone has the right to choose when and how they want to go.
Which is why he keeps at home the means to take his own life.
Mr Aspinall, of Goonellabah, joined voluntary euthanasia group Exit International four years ago when he was diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndrome, a chronic bone marrow disease that stops the body from producing red blood cells.
He is kept alive by fortnightly blood transfusions, which in turn cause an iron overload in his system.
“If my condition was to decline slowly, I would have the option of picking some time when I felt that I was still able to end my life without the assistance of others,” he said.
Mr Aspinall watched his mother die slowly and painfully four years ago, and his father succumb to cancer 30 years ago.
“I wouldn't wish that on anybody,” he said.
Partly because of these experiences, he has little time for 'right-to-life' advocates.
“I think it's appalling these people can thrust their views on other people when we should all be free to live our own lives and choose our own method of ending it,” he said.
Mr Aspinall was one of about 50, mainly elderly, people who yesterday attended an Exit International public meeting and workshop at the Lismore Workers Sports Club.
Exit International founder and world-renowned voluntary euthanasia advocate Dr Philip Nitschke plotted the history of the movement, the legal context, and the high-profile suicides he assisted when the practice was briefly legalised in the Northern Territory in the mid-1990s.
After the meeting he invited people interested in learning about practical suicide measures to join Exit International and participate in a workshop.
His Lismore meeting was the second-last stop in a month-long tour of retirement areas on the NSW and Queensland coastlines.
“Most of our members are 75 to 80 years old,” Dr Nitschke said.
He didn't get depressed by talking constantly about death, and was opposed to a culture he describes as 'seriously death-denying'.
“You get quite inspired and uplifted by the elderly folk who see this as quite a practical approach,” he said.
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