Dear Editor:
In her article "Heroes, murderers or something in-between" in the July 26 edition of the Carlyle Observer, Cindy Moffatt appears to be endorsing euthanasia. I find this type of "euthanasia mentality" to be frightening as it does not recognize the ramifications of legalizing this practice.
In any debate regarding the legalization of euthanasia or assisted suicide, the most tragic cases, a couple of which Cindy has described, will dominate the discussion. However, the issues must be considered based on how it will affect society as a whole.
To quote from "The Declaration of Hope" a letter to all Canadian Parliamentarians, (This letter, endorsed by the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition of Canada, can be found at info@epcc.ca) "Euthanasia and assisted suicide are not socially acceptable responses to terminal or incurable illness or chronic conditions. Changing the law may result in some people feeling pressured and thereby consider themselves or their loved ones as 'better-off-dead'. Some people will feel obliged to justify why they want to continue treatment. For many, including attending physicians, euthanasia and assisted suicide would become the unspoken, but ever present, question resulting in a subtle, negative change to the doctor-patient relationship. Will this result in a "duty to die"?"The current laws in Canada protect all Canadians equally. However, euthanasia and assisted suicide will result in the lives of some in our community being considered as "not worth living". Here, I refer to the elderly, the lonely, those living with disabilities, those experiencing chronic illness and those with limited access to good medical care.
To quote "The Declaration of Hope" again: "Legalizing euthanasia and/or assisted suicide is a recipe for abuse. So-called 'safeguards' are an illusion because they are unable to prevent the potential for coercion and abuse." " Euthanasia and assisted suicide could be increasingly adopted as the easier option to the exclusion of genuine patient centered care."We must ensure that all Canadians have access to quality palliative care thatfocuses on providing patients with relief from the symptoms, pain, and stress of a serious illness-whatever the diagnosis. The goal is to improve quality of life for both the patient and the family. More emphasis should be placed on training doctors and nurses in palliative care.
The moral test of a society is judged on how it cares for its most vulnerable citizens; the unborn, the elderly, the disabled, the sick. Shall we kill them or care for them?
Yours truly,
Colleen Reed
Kenosee Lake
