Assisted Death has always been a sensitive issue which has to be dealt with keeping in mind the fact that to a large extent, life and death are beyond our control. We need to realize that there is no definite when it comes to issues like these and every case is different. The idea of giving someone the right to end their life is complicated. This issue doesn’t come under a black or white area. Enabling someone with the right to end their life comes with immense responsibility. It is important to see that this law doesn’t get misused.
As a responsible society, our first duty is to search for ways which can improve people’s life. It is unfortunate that we have come to a point where we are discussing about the right to die. Basically, it is suicide but in a different form where someone ends their life with the assistance he gets from others. I do support the fact that there should be a way for people who are suffering with any grave physical or mental condition to put an end to their sufferings but what I fear is the misuse of this right. People, especially in their early 20’s often go through emotional upheaval which makes them want to end their life. If there would be a law that enables them to do that, then it can be used radically by people who can otherwise lead a normal life.
Patients suffering with terminal illness are the ones which can use this law to end their sufferings which are caused by the disease and by the painful treatments. There must be a team of medical practitioners who can study the case of the specific patient to see if the particular case is irremediable. I agree to the fact that patient’s will is important but that cannot be made the only decisive factor here. We are not going to be a healthy society if we help people end their life easily. Instead, we must focus on the ways which can help them to choose opposite. Psychiatric patients are also the ones who are suicidal in many cases. When we are talking about psychiatric patients then we must be sensitive to understand that their sense of understanding might also get affected due to the illness. Doctors believe that such patients more than often do not have enough perspective to make a sound decision and therefore, assisted death in such cases should not be supported .
Supreme Court, however, said that anyone who wants to have assisted death must have two independent doctors to examine his condition. Ana Novakovic who is the policy and government relations co-ordinator for the B.C. Schizophrenic society suggested that for such patients the request of assisted death should be taken in writing from the patient. There must also be a panel including the close friends and relatives of the patient who can give an idea about his daily life which will help to understand the ordeal of the patient . Such organized measures are necessary to ensure that no life must end because of negligence or in a haste to take a decision. Involving people who have seen the social behavior of the patient is significant. Patient’s opinion should be given a priority along with these factors.
Assisted death is acceptable in cases where the person is terminally ill and there is no way that the person can become healthy again. In such cases, if the patient wants to put an end to his sufferings then he must be given that right. In my opinion, it is acceptable only when the illness cannot be treated. We can here talk about a woman who was suffering with Cancer named Brittany Maynard. She underwent assisted suicide in Oregon on No.1, 2014. She mentioned how the disease is killing her anyway and she is just opting for a method that is less painful . Such cases give us an insight into the life of a person undergoing immense pain that needs to be put an end to. As I mentioned earlier, in case of psychiatric patients, special measures need to be taken before granting them with the choice to die.
In my opinion, it is not acceptable for people under the age of 21to consider assisted death as an option. It is because of the reason that they are prone to making rash decisions. We can help them to rethink by providing them with counseling. I also believe that it is completely unacceptable for allowing people going through an emotional trauma to take their life. This must not be considered a valid reason. We must take measures which can improve the quality of life of such people.
The right to decide should not be solely left on the individual. It must be a collective decision. It is important to involve the society so that a correct decision can be taken. A person’s life is inter-connected with many others. As much as it is important to consider expert opinions in this matter, we cannot rely only on that. The relatives of the individual willing to choose euthanasia must also be involved in the decision making process. This will help the individual to make a responsible and sound decision. Also, authorities must check that whether it is the lack of will or the lack of resources because of which a person is choosing euthanasia. If it is the latter case then that individual must be helped to lead a normal life instead of giving him the right to die.
The limit cases for me include people under the age of 21 and those going through an emotional loss that has nothing to do with their clinical health. Such people must be given proper counseling and not the means to end their life. It is important to realize the fact that just radically passing this law will result in its misuse. It is very important to prepare guidelines for this law by discussing with experts in the field of medicine including both the mental and physical medical practitioners so that no one should be able to bend the law to suit their own interests.
Canada is a country where free will is respected. It is ensured that individuals live a dignified life. It is a nation which ensures that people live here freely and comfortably. To deny a person going through pain of the right to end their life in a dignified way is going to be incorrect but there must be strict guidelines which should be followed for the enactment of this law. It is also essential to keep religious sentiments detached from the law as in the case of many other rights which care given to the citizens of Canada. Quebec has already given this right and the first case of legal euthanasia was confirmed in the month of January 2016 . Canada is soon approaching the time where euthanasia would be legal. It is important for the Canadian society to make sure that this law should not be abused and should provide relief to those suffering with irremediable conditions.
Works Cited
"Deciding on assisted death in context of mental illness highly complex, experts say." 6 March 2016. CBC Website. 8 March 2016 <www.cbc.ca>.
Dovey, Dana. "Canada Legalizes Euthanasia, As High Court Passes Assisted Suicide Law." 9 February 2015. medicaldaily.com. 8 March 2016 <www.medicaldaily.com/canada-legalizes-euthanasia-high-court-passes-assisted-suicide-law-321>.
Hamilton, Graeme. "First Quebec euthanasia case confirmed, two others reported." 15 January 2016. National Post Website. 8 March 2016 <www.nationalpost.com>.
"Mental illness and Euthanasia." n.d. The life information website. 8 March 2016 <www.life.org.nz>.
