talk till morning
For the Love of Ideas
Sounds like a daft question but in reality, it is anything but.
Assisted dying gives terminally ill people (diagnosed with six months or less to live) the right to attain medical assistance to die before they naturally would. The lack of it can lead to expensive and stressful trips abroad, gruesome home suicide attempts, and unnecessary extensions to suffering.
Currently, it is illegal in the UK.
should you have the 'right to die'?
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Support through tough choices
Two bills have been turned down in England's Parliament in 2014 and 2015, and one in Scotland's in 2013. Globally however, this failure is not the case. California, Oregon, and Washington state have all legalised assisted dying alongside Switzerland and Canada. The infamous Dignitas in Switzerland has been the resort of over 350 Britons to carry out their final wishes thus far. Aside from the journey's costs, terminally-ill people must undertake it early as they have to be fit enough to travel; shaving precious time off lives already too short.
The loudest calls on this side of the debate arise from an organisation called Dignity in Dying (DiD). DiD argue the life of an individual should be placed solely in that individual's hands. Given assisting another in their own suicide is frequently criminalised in the UK, DiD also argue on behalf of an individual's loved ones. In order to empower them in carrying out their dying loved one's final wishes.
Think for a moment; what would do were it your parent,
child, or friend?
On the other hand, those opposing the 'Right to Die' wield several strong counters. The principle opposition is a group of disabled activists called Not Dead Yet UK (NDY). Objection number one is ethical and takes issue with the name 'assisted dying'. NDY claim this title distills the moral decision down to a medical one.
Further objections come from the idea of it becoming solely medical. NDY argue it would ruin the patient-doctor relationship, undermine the Hippocratic oath, and reduce the public's trust in practitioners' decision making. Plus, it can often be difficult for doctors to assess life expectancy accurately.
Dignity in Dying supporters campaign outside of the High Court
A faulty diagnosis here would not lead to unanticipated extra lifetime, as it might without the availability of assisted dying, but to an early grave.
Wrongful deaths would also occur if an ill or disabled individual felt pressure to take the decision; especially as the practice became more normalised.
As Dignity in Dying only fight for 'mentally competent' adults to have the 'Right to Die', how can doctors reliably assess the 'competency' of an individual to know exactly if that person's choice is theirs alone?
And to this organisation's claims that the current laws punish suicide, NDY maintains it only punishes those who aid suicide, not those who commit it.
Not Dead Yet UK supporters protest outside the Houses of Parliment
All of these issues make up the crux of the programme. Both sides of the debate offer their conflicting views on these issues and try to justify what they think should be integrated into UK legislation.
Music by: Lee Rosevere