Assisted Double Suicide Sparks Debate

As we continue to have conversations about reforming the way we cover our health care expenses, especially huge, end of life costs, the following story about euthanasia seems very topical.

From Wall Street Journal:

British conductor Sir Edward Downes, a longtime stalwart at the Royal Opera and maestro of the first-ever performance at Sydney’s iconic Opera House, has died with his wife at an assisted suicide clinic in Switzerland. He was 85.

The couple’s children said Tuesday that Sir Edward and his 74-year-old wife, Joan, died “peacefully and under circumstances of their own choosing” on Friday at a Zurich clinic run by the group Dignitas.

“After 54 happy years together, they decided to end their own lives rather than continue to struggle with serious health problems,” said a statement from the couple’s son and daughter, Caractacus and Boudicca.

What’s more, this is actually illegal in the UK…

Sir Edward’s manager, Jonathan Groves, said he was shocked by the couple’s deaths, but called their decision “typically brave and courageous.” The deaths are the latest in a series of high-profile cases that have spurred calls for a legal change in Britain, where assisted suicide and euthanasia are banned.

Despite the law, British courts have been reluctant in recent years to convict people who help loved ones travel to clinics abroad to end their lives. London’s Metropolitan Police said it had been notified of the deaths, and was investigating.

So, some questions…

1. If you’re nearing the end of your life and the quality of it has diminished to the point that you’re in constant pain, then why continue it? After all, from what I know about end of life issues, doctors usually medicate people into a death spiral anyway.
2. Isn’t assisted suicide preferable not only for those who are choosing it, but also family members who can plan to cope with somebody’s death? In other words, would you rather know when somebody is going to die or simply have it happen out of the blue one day? In my mind, being able to have a final goodbye and tell somebody how much I loved them would definitely be something I’d want to share with my loved ones and offer them if I had the choice to end my life on my terms.
3. If assisted suicide were legalized, what would be the circumstances? Chronic disease? A doctor’s opinion that somebody didn’t have much time left to live? How would it be defined legally?
4. Is there an appetite for a serious discussion about this in the US right now? Looks like some high profile cases have put this on the radar in England, so is that what needs to happen here for it to pick up steam?
5. Last, but certainly not least, do you favor something like this?

I welcome your thoughts.

(Photo: Impact Lab)