Doctor Assisted Suicide
A Look at Doctor-Assisted Suicide Civil rights and law have not always gone hand in hand, that is why it is an extremely refreshing victory for the people of Canada, that active, voluntary euthanasia is soon to be legal. This newfound outlook on doctor-assisted suicide, however, raises the question, what circumstances is euthanasia to be permitted under? Recently, a parliamentary report was published, suggesting 21 recommendations regarding doctor-assisted suicide. Although, all 21 recommendations are important in creating guidelines surrounding euthanasia, there are four particular ones that will be addressed in this work; including, whether or not euthanasia should only be available to those suffering from a terminal illness, whether or
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Surely, the criteria should include competent, “mature minors”. What might define a competent, mature minor, should be decided by studies and research, but this category of people should not be exempt from the criterion. It is important to recognize the tremendous suffering children often experience, and the fact that sometimes children lack the opportunity to live their life. As an example, though it is rare, is Batten disease. Batten disease primarily begins between the ages of five and ten, and causes the loss of vision or seizures. As time passes, brain tissues wear down and muscle control is lost; also, dementia develops and gradual loss of vision occurs. Above all, Batten disease is incurable, and there is no way to delay its progression; the disease itself, always resulting in death. Hence, children who are affected by Batten disease, will die anywhere between their late teens to their early twenties. Thus, it is not unreasonable to allow a minor to choose to end their life, especially under severe circumstances, like the ones identified with Batten disease. What is unjust is to subject a child to such suffering, without the option of a doctor-assisted suicide. These children are not granted the opportunity to live a life that is enjoyable, but are rather forced to live a life that isn’t really a life at all. Though it may be considered controversial, it is only fair that competent, mature minors have access to doctor-assisted suicides, under certain
Surely, the criteria should include competent, “mature minors”. What might define a competent, mature minor, should be decided by studies and research, but this category of people should not be exempt from the criterion. It is important to recognize the tremendous suffering children often experience, and the fact that sometimes children lack the opportunity to live their life. As an example, though it is rare, is Batten disease. Batten disease primarily begins between the ages of five and ten, and causes the loss of vision or seizures. As time passes, brain tissues wear down and muscle control is lost; also, dementia develops and gradual loss of vision occurs. Above all, Batten disease is incurable, and there is no way to delay its progression; the disease itself, always resulting in death. Hence, children who are affected by Batten disease, will die anywhere between their late teens to their early twenties. Thus, it is not unreasonable to allow a minor to choose to end their life, especially under severe circumstances, like the ones identified with Batten disease. What is unjust is to subject a child to such suffering, without the option of a doctor-assisted suicide. These children are not granted the opportunity to live a life that is enjoyable, but are rather forced to live a life that isn’t really a life at all. Though it may be considered controversial, it is only fair that competent, mature minors have access to doctor-assisted suicides, under certain