View from the Cheap Seats is kind of an extension of the newsroom. Whenever our three regular reporters, Calvin Daniels, Thom Barker and Randy Brenzen are in the building together, it is frequently a site of heated debate. This week: Should assisted death be legal in Canada?
Limited use
Doctor assisted suicide.
That’s usually a topic that I wouldn’t touch with a 10 foot pole.
However, that is the topic for this week’s ‘Cheap Seats’, and therefore it gives me an opportunity to voice my opinion.
And my opinion is: I think doctor assisted suicide is a good thing… in certain cases.
For example, I don’t think doctor assisted suicide should be a valid option for someone who simply can’t be bothered to take care of or look after someone who really needs their help (see extremely handicapped people, mentally or physically).
I do, however, think it should be considered in cases where someone is suffering from an incurable disease and knows that the only thing they have to look forward to is pain, loss of mobility and death.
If someone is of sound mind, yet is suffering from, let’s say, Lou Gehrig’s disease, AIDS or terminal cancer, who are we to say ‘no, you have to live’?
Why make them go through all the pain and suffering when they could very well end things on their own terms and go out ‘on top’, instead of letting their disease slowly eat away and kill them?
If they can make that decision after thinking about it long and hard, then a doctor should be very well able to help them with their choice without being persecuted or dragged through the mud.
While it is most definitely a touchy subject, I’m sticking to my guns and saying doctor assisted suicide should most definitely be an option.
But only for terminal cases.
-Randy Brenzen
For dignity
The issue of doctor-assisted suicide has been one which has percolated to the top of public discussion a few times, and is back in the public eye as it was recently before the Supreme Court.
There are those entrenched on both sides of the debate, although I cannot fathom why anyone would oppose something which is designed to end pain and suffering for those who have no prospects of either ending until death takes them.
To me I believe we as individuals deserve the right to determine when we chose death. I see it as fundamental to being an individual, picking a religion, deciding whether we smoke, drink, marry and thousand other choices we are allowed to make.
In situations where the individual is past being able to make a decision themselves, then I see it as something which the family should be open too.
It is often said by a parent they would do anything for their children, especially when it comes to ending sickness and pain. There are times a comfortable death is doing just that.
We all know of those who have had the news from their doctors that the cancer is beyond treatment. It no longer a question of whether the person will die from it, but when. The path to the moment can be a long one of pain, drugs, and heartache for both the patient and family.
There is no reason to deny that person the right to die with dignity, on their terms.
It is somehow strange that we will take a loved pet to a veterinarian to be put ‘to sleep’ to end its perceived suffering, yet if it is a loved one who can tell us directly they hurt, that they are ready to escape through death, people balk at the idea.
Surely we owe ourselves that final choice.
-Calvin Daniels
Canada ready
It is rare that we take on controversial subjects from the cheap seats and this week is no exception.
At least assisted death should not be controversial. According to an Ipsos-Reid poll from last October, 84 per cent of Canadians are in favour. The highest rate was New Brunswick at 89 per cent and the lowest Saskatchewan and Manitoba at 79 per cent. In the world of public opinion, 79 per cent is still virtually unheard of.
Furthermore, despite the official position of many religious denominations, the poll indicated 80 per cent of Christians and 83 per cent of Catholics support it. Not really surprising since somewhere in the neighbourhood of 70 per cent of Canadians claim Christianity/Catholicism as their faith so an overall 84 per cent approval would require a very high number of Christians to be on board.
On top of that, the recent Supreme Court decision was unequivocal and unanimous.
Why the subject still appears to be controversial is puzzling, but seems to emanate from a very small, very vocal group of fundamentalists; the false equivalency the media gives the views of this minority; and politicians’ apparent reticence to piss them off even though the political fallout should be negligible.
In any event, that ship has sailed; it is time to get down to the business of drafting a new law that respects the Constitution while safeguarding the vulnerable.
I hope it also creates some serious impetus for improving palliative care so that most people will never feel the need to exercise their right to assisted death.
-Thom Barker
