The Following letter to the editor was written by Arlene Vane and published in the Abbotsford Times in BC. Thank you Arlene for sharing your experience as a licensed practical nurse.
Assisted suicide should not be legal because older people are at great risk for abuse. In my experience as a licensed practical nurse working with older people in home care, I have come across many concerning situations.
I have seen firsthand a family fighting over the will of their parents while they are still alive.
I see that this greatly affects the way the parent feels as they grow older.
They feel as if the family wants them to die so they can have their money.
Some express the pain that they feel when they see loved ones discussing their money as if they have already passed away.
If assisted suicide was legal, some older people would feel the need to say yes - to die - because they are given the message that they are a burden to their family. Some of these older people can be easily convinced and put their trust fully in their caregivers and families.
If assisted suicide were legal, then some would really not make the decision, but let someone else make the decision for them. How is this right?
Especially if older people have money or real estate, our laws against assisted suicide are there to protect them.
Changing the law to allow assisted suicide would violate their right to be protected in this way.
Arlena Vane Aldergrove
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