THE DEBATE
In recent weeks, there has been a fresh push for the legal right for certain people (specifically doctors) to be able to kill an individual when that is what the individual wants.
There is a fine article in ‘Eureka Street’ magazine published by Jesuit Communications by John Kleinsman, Director of the New Zealand Catholic Bioethics Centre. The whole article is available http://www.eurekastreet.com.au entitled ‘Resisting the duty to die’.
The push for assisted suicide has arisen only in the affluent western societies where there is an opinion that the world belongs to those who are independent, strong and productive. It follows that in a society in which the sick, dying, disabled and elderly are undervalued, the ‘right’ to die will all too quickly become a ‘duty’ to die. People who feel
neglected, undervalued and invisible will understandably think they are a burden and will want to do the ‘right’ thing.
With our increasing ageing population, we need to give more support to help people accept greater dependence with age. Modern medicine can deal with pain generally and specialist care through the hospice movement is available. To protect the vulnerable members of our community, let us not legalise assisted suicide, but deal with any deep seated fear of the dying process.
As Christians we are blessed to have our faith that ‘if we die with Christ, we will rise with Christ’ (St Paul).
Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish Sunbury 