Dear Judy,
I notice you never cover this subject, maybe because you’re scared. Like Debbie Purdy, the British woman who was recently written about in the New York Times, I have MS [multiple sclerosis]– the worst kind, which is primary progressive. I too am in my late 40’s, and I don’t want to live this way.
For a long time I thought maybe I would die by choking (I have difficulty swallowing and there have been bad and frightening instances), and I am very scared. Like Ms Purdy, I also know there’s a clinic in Zurich that helps people out of a terrible life, which is how I think of my own existence, and how I think of what these people in Switzerland do. They help us.
What do you think of such clinics, and why don’t you ever write about the whole issue of ending life, Judy?
No Name At All, Please
Dear No Name,
I have written before about assisted suicide, but that was long ago when another reader wrote in, asking if he could help a good friend who was suffering badly shorten her life, without suffering legal consequences. So you’re right, it’s time to revisit the issue: in fact next week’s Thursday blog will cover the very subject you mention, and the dilemma of Ms Purdy who, like you, has MS.
Now to you and your dilemma. For lots of reasons, moral, legal, and just plain ignorance about who you are and what you’ve endured, I cannot give you advice about whether or not ending your life is a good or bad idea.
I can however say I would never judge anyone in your position. I don’t personally think that a life, however miserable, must be endured. Nor do I think a miserable life must necessarily be ended. To me, that choice is yours alone.
I have never understood why the state believes it has the authority to intervene on this issue. But there are so many issues I feel are beyond the state’s authority that it would acres of web space to list them all here.
All I can say is this: I find it interesting that you wrote me to tell me about the Swiss clinic, without mentioning any concrete plans to go there. That means you still have some doubts, maybe many doubts, about whether it’s appropriate for you.
Thank you for writing
Judy
Life is the Lord’s, to give and to take. That’s the ONLY answer.
Hey, No-Name whoever you are, do what you want. but don’t try to palm off your decison on others (like Judy or anyone else). Take some responsibility.
Why do it in Zurich? Find a way to do it at home, in relative comfort. If you overdose, what’s the government gonna do, sue you?