Euthanasia

Ok so one of these entries came sooner that I had expected.

The case of Italian Eluana Englaro has been on news world-wide as Italy struggles for and against the reasons for euthanasia.

As she had been in a coma for over 15 years, her father has struggled to persuade clinicians and parliament that his daughter should be allowed to die as per her wishes while alive. The prime minister had ruled over the courts that she should be allowed to die, but the president ruled otherwise. However, before this case could be debated and ruled on further, her feeding tube was removed and she died within three days.

Although this is an abnormally short time according to many critics of euthanasia, the subject of dying with dignity is different.

I support euthanasia, in certain cases, to allow for people to live and die with dignity, as their wishes dictate. I believe that it is reasonable for somebody to request when alive that they are left to die, or have do-not-resuscitate orders in medical notes so that they do not potentially cause excess heartache and suffering to loved ones, a financial burden on those who cannot afford ‘good’ care and a strong likelihood of legal difficulties if a loved one decides to act on their wishes independently.

The last point raises the case of a British man who was arrested upon return from Switzerland after travelling with his terminally-ill partner to a clinic where patients are allowed to die with their dignity in tact. Thankfully no charges have been pressed and followed through on, but not only has he lost his partner, he also has to face this on return.

I understand that legalisation of assisted suicide could lead to some exploitation, but there could be further legislation brought in to minimise it - something similar to a donor card or living will.

Overall I believe Eluana Englaro’s death was morally right, and if people have made the choice, they should be allowed to die rather than live in a persistent vegetative state or coma. Personally, I would want the same should I be in an irreversible coma or in a state where I had no quality of life.