subject: A Reticence for Euthenasia [print this page] In western culture assisted suicide and death are approached in a very tender fashion. Even in extreme cases of suffering where a person has no chance of surviving their ailment, assisted suicide is usually committed with much hesitation and reserve on the part of most parties concerned and the societies in which they occur. Regardless of the reasons for going through with assisted suicide it will always be permitted grudgingly, if at all, by society. This is because there is a concept of intrinsic value to every life that many feel transcends any quality of life one may experience. A large point of contention is whether the individual or the general will asserts a stronger conception of what is most important in deciding if a life is worth living; if it is valuable enough to continue.
Typical cases and reasons given by those who support assisted suicide are often to avoid the immense pain that comes with many terminal illnesses. Whether the pain comes slowly, or swiftly, it often eventually arrives in a way similar to Jonathan Swift, and Jack in the article by Stewart Alsop. Even with modern medicines and treatments to help dull the pain, morphine is not enough to make the pain subside permanently. It is most generally accepted by assisted suicide supporters that a short life of suffering is not worth living out. It is often considered to be mercy to put some one out of their misery.
In the case studies we watched we see some patients who wish to die to avoid the imminent incredible pain that their illness will bring, or to end the suffering they already endure, but there are others who want to end their lives because they can no longer function to a degree that is satisfactory to them. They loose the ability to carry out life in a way that to them has value; their lives have lost meaning in their eyes. These cases are usually more controversial as much of society appears to believe that even if a person must endure inexplicable pain, they can continue to live a purposeful life. Even unto an inability to take care of them selves a large amount of society believes that there is still a value to life. The risk of violating this intrinsic value keeps assisted suicide a very case-by-case issue.
Whether from a religious background or an atheistic one, just about all people have a preconception of a value, which applies to every life. Before they know anything about the experiences accumulated by a person, or their situation in life, a value is assumed and implied. I think one of these values, which I believe are shared by most people, is the view of the potential for human choices and experiences, which makes up a life. When a person dies from whatever causes, be it a natural death, a person dying young, or even a child, it is a tragedy. People think of all that they could have done, seen, and experienced that will not, and can not happen.
I believe it is often this potential which people attempt to protect, and the laws that are passed in the restriction of assisted suicide are made for this purpose. Most societies that allow assisted suicide disallow those who are clinically or otherwise depressed from carrying through with assisted suicide to protect from an unrealistic or unfounded view of the persons' future quality and state of life. Like wise many societies judge a person who they see as unable to command rational thought, as unable to legitimately make such a decision.
To some it is sacred, to others it is beyond religious; it is a quality of life with exists regardless of otherworldly designs. Either way it is something that is close to the hearts of those who believe it, and often goes so far as to be very timid about letting others end their lives. Without life there is nothing else. There are no other decisions, no other possibilities but death or whatever fate awaits us. It is finality itself. I believe concern for its protection is justified. But one must ask for a decision as to what extent this protection reaches, and by whom it will be executed by.
Regardless of who believes what, or what value others assign to a life, it is the individual who must live, and endure their own life. By this I would say that the individual has the largest claim to the right of assigning value to their life. Who else has a higher authority to this duty? Society however appears to hold the value of life above the individual's volition to execute their own liberty. Before we allow someone to end their own life it must be decided if it is an acceptable course of action, as there is no recourse, and no going back. So let us look at the situation of an individual wishing to end their life.
When we look at a patient who is either terminal, or has a decreased ability to carry out their preferred lifestyle, we can see how they might view the potential in their life to either be narrowing or exclusive when it comes to their particular passions, valued activities, and reasons to live. A person may spend their entire life building up a value system that they base the purpose of their life around. I believe that anyone who has lost a spouse, child, or sibling may be able to grasp the idea of loosing value, or meaning in his or her life. Everyone needs a reason to get up in the morning and live. Without a potential to gain these, I believe there may be ample reason to give mercy to the suffering.
From the above example I turn to looking at what other authorities have been called upon on this matter. Doctors have before been suggested as a voice in the issue of assisted suicide. Other than being able to say how long a patient may live, or under what conditions of suffering, as well as what can be done to help them cope with it, I fail to see what the basis of their authority is derived from. As for society itself, I believe as one religion is not to force its beliefs on another in or society, the general will may not force their conception of intrinsic value on an individual, no matter how diverse or unified it is. Only the individual can properly assign a value to their life and decide if it is worth living out. They must decide if there is any further potential value remaining to them.
