The state of Washington has just followed in the footsteps of its neighbor Oregon: If you happen to be a resident, over 18, and terminally ill you may, under certain circumstances, shorten your own life. That’s the new law.
In fact Linda Fleming, a 66-year-old with terminal pancreatic cancer, did just that in late May.
Fleming followed the rules prescribed under the new Washington state law meticulously: a doctor prescribed the drugs that would end her life, but it was she who took them. She knew she had less than 6 months left to live. She was mentally competent. And she made her requests for the drugs both orally and in writing.
I am wondering what my readers think of Washington state’s new law allowing assisted suicide for the terminally ill.
For it? Against it? Worried that it might be misused? Or that greedy heirs might pressure the terminally ill to shorten their lives? Let me hear from you!
Honestly, Judy, why do you ask? Do you think you’ll get anything more than a few non-descriptive yes or no answers? Because if you do get anything original, I would love to see them!
I have said it before and will do so again: life is the Lord’s to give and take. This is no different from killing unborn babies. No one should be surprised when the next stage is for special committees to decide who is ot longer worth keeping alive, or something along those lines - if the decisions are in our hands, who is to draw the lines?. This so called freedom of choice will have results that can barely be imagined, and when we wake up, it will be too late.
Boy, this is a loaded issue, especially in my work. There are some illnesses that are horrific for the patient and the family both. That’s not up for debate. Thankfully, there is medication for every symptom out there. Up to and including palliative sedation if necessary. We have to give these patients and families the support they deserve and need, I like to think with the right combination of symptom control, spiritual and emotional support, a patient would not feel the need to end their life. I think of a pebble being thrown in a pond, the ripples represent the way a person and their illness can touch so many lives, there is importance in every life and in every passing.
Who is to say what is right or wrong? Ms. Frye is right. This subject is too loaded. Until and if we got reports from beyond life, we will never know, We can only hope that the combined wisdom of legislators, doctors, religious leaders, family and the patient will make the right choice in each individual case.
Jimmy’s list of people whose combined wisdom should make choices in individual cases should be reversed. The change in the law essentially does that. The patient is empowered to consult with family, their own spiritual ideas and advisors and their doctors and make a decision that is right for them. That is how it should be. Personal.