Under One Roof

Have you heard about the “Death with Dignity” law of Washington and Oregon in the US? It is assisted suicide for those who are terminally ill and have no more recourse.

Linda Fleming of Sequim, 66 years old, had stage 4 pancreatic cancer. She died Thursday night last week after she took drugs prescribed under the “Death with Dignity” law. Fleming is the first death under this law that was approved in November of 2008. In Oregon, it started as early as 1997 and around 401 people have used it already to end their lives.

You know, when I read this today, I was torn between agreeing to the law and shaking my head because this puts a different light to my stand on suicide.

Taking one’s own life is any which way is suicide. That’s clear. But, when one is terminally ill, or those who have been in life support for a long time and clearly has no more chance of waking up, then it becomes a matter of mercy on the person. Yes, still a suicide but then, as the name of the law suggests, it is giving the person a chance to die with dignity.

A person, taking her own life for no other reason but a problem she thought she cannot solve, is gravely insulting those who still wish to live. But in these cases of euthanasia, where a person is terminally ill, probably in too much pain and would like to dictate the way she finally succumbs to death… it really puts a dent to my stand.

Tags: Death with Dignity Law