Assisted suicide

March 25, 2005

Here’s something I wonder about the Schiavo case. One of the reasons frequently given for restoring Schiavo’s feeding tube is that death by dehydration and/or starvation is cruel. Dying of thirst and starvation sounds particularly awful.

But the fact is that’s the only option left us. Because we do not allow our doctors to assist in suicide, the only way we can let people like Schiavo go is a slow, lingering death. We have the ability to make an exit quick and peaceful. But instead — because some folks insist life being sacred means every shred must be protected at all costs — those of us who would choose a more rapid exit do not have the opportunity.

I would choose a more graceful exit for myself; and if I was in a state like Shiavo’s, I would hope that my family could choose a more graceful exit. But because of our “culture of life” the only option may be thirst, starving, or slow suffocation, because our “culture of life” friends would rather perpetuate suffering than allow someone to help end it.

Posted in Religion