TAW122
Emissary of the right to die.
- Aug 30, 2018
- 6,821
An common saying is "my enemy's enemy is my friend" loosely applies here. Instead I would frame it as "our (temporary) ally is better than those who oppose us or do nothing for us". So this is why it is a good idea to support groups that advocate and vouch for death with diginity. While it is true that they may not necessarily share the same goal as we do, which is true pro-choice, allowing people to choose between living or dying, they at least stand up against the prohibitionist and pro-life, anti-choice society which is the majority of the world. In a sense, they are the seed in which would jump start the discussion in allowing choice for people to die a dignified death, albeit in limited circumstances (terminally ill, chronic suffering (physical and psychological), or those with a hopeless prospect in their lives). It's a start and while several countries are way more advanced than the US and various other places around the world, it can open the path to (someday) making it legal in places that previous prohibit assisted suicide, euthanasia, and death with dignity. Just a year ago, there are two states in the US that legalized death with dignity which is already significant progress in just one year (Maine and New Jersey respectively).
While things may be still slow in the pipeline, there is still progress going on as long as there are people who support such initiatives and keep pushing for such change. Of course, realistically, we may not expect to see death with dignity supporting voluntary euthanasia as in true free choice, it starts out for only terminally ill people and then it can expand to cover those who are suffering immensely, and maybe someday allowing it for people who just hate life and have given life (more than) a fair shot and are ready to check out. I don't forsee it happening in our lifetime (voluntary euthanasia, similar to Futurama suicide booths), but maybe the next few generations down the line will benefit from it. For us, the best we can do (for those who choose to stay and fight) would be to keep pushing for legal death with diginity laws and practices so that someday we will get voluntary euthanasia in more places and jurisdictions. The Netherlands, Switzerland, and Belgium are far ahead of everyone on this issue and there is a chance it can be expanded further to include those who are sick of life and want out. So I believe other countries have the possibility of doing so provided people continue to advocate for death with dignity. Germany just a month ago or so has lifted the ban on assisted suicide and opened it for clinicians and doctors to practice that for the terminally ill patients which is a major step in the right direction.
While things may be still slow in the pipeline, there is still progress going on as long as there are people who support such initiatives and keep pushing for such change. Of course, realistically, we may not expect to see death with dignity supporting voluntary euthanasia as in true free choice, it starts out for only terminally ill people and then it can expand to cover those who are suffering immensely, and maybe someday allowing it for people who just hate life and have given life (more than) a fair shot and are ready to check out. I don't forsee it happening in our lifetime (voluntary euthanasia, similar to Futurama suicide booths), but maybe the next few generations down the line will benefit from it. For us, the best we can do (for those who choose to stay and fight) would be to keep pushing for legal death with diginity laws and practices so that someday we will get voluntary euthanasia in more places and jurisdictions. The Netherlands, Switzerland, and Belgium are far ahead of everyone on this issue and there is a chance it can be expanded further to include those who are sick of life and want out. So I believe other countries have the possibility of doing so provided people continue to advocate for death with dignity. Germany just a month ago or so has lifted the ban on assisted suicide and opened it for clinicians and doctors to practice that for the terminally ill patients which is a major step in the right direction.
