tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9216787076261944467.post8228675336582385524..comments2024-03-28T13:26:59.030-04:00Comments on Euthanasia Prevention Coalition: Assisted suicide for disabled people – democracy in Britain?Alex Schadenberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07649977828342637842noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9216787076261944467.post-91300144511846623312015-06-30T08:33:34.913-04:002015-06-30T08:33:34.913-04:00By all means create extra support for suicidal peo...By all means create extra support for suicidal people, I can't deny that I would feel happier if such a thing existed, regardless of the availability for assisted dying.<br /><br />But to believe that everyone's problem would be solved by mere support is hogwash of the highest order. I have seen my mother and my stepmother both die of cancer in hospital - with lots of loving family members visiting them every day - and I am absolutely resolved that I do not want that for myself.<br /><br />I spent 16 days in hospital following heart surgery and was incredibly glad to get out - I just loathe hospitals, despite the fact that every nurse and hospital member was lovely and a credit to their profession.<br /><br />As a result, I have determined that should I be terminally ill, I will discharge myself from hospital, refusing in advance all re-admission. Knowing that there are circumstances where I would be unable to look after myself, I want the option - like in Oregon - to have suicide pills, so I can die in my own garden, with the sun on my face.<br /><br />Believe me, there is nothing you can offer me in terms of support that would make me change my mind. Indeed, I would loathe you for pressuring me to stay alive because that would be what YOU wanted, rather than what I would want.<br /><br />Having said that, I know that some disabled people accept the need for care and believe their lives to be rich. Never in a million years would I dream of taking away their choice to do this. I just want my choice to be respected too.<br /><br />And ask yourself this - can you really respect yourself for believing that the only way to keep the choice of people in your concern is to utterly deny the choice of others? You believe you are protecting the vulnerable, when in reality you are sacrificing the autonomy of one individual group to protect another from even being offered a difficult choice. <br /><br />I cannot say I feel safer because of groups like yours. I would rather have the choice than have it decided in advance as a "one size fits all" solution, justified by the dubious idea that I can't decide for myself, that I am too "vulnerable" and must lose my autonomy.<br /><br />Find a better way to protect the disabled.<br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05954799230233277833noreply@blogger.com