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Should islanders have the right to choose death when living in physical agony?
The topic was tackled in a piece by Express columnist Jonathan Channing, who flagged his concerns that if the island is not careful in how it applies assisted dying measures, it could lead to "state-sanctioned suicide."
In response to his column, Express reader Tom Binet has penned a letter on behalf of local campaign group 'End of Life Choices' challenging this view, arguing that anyone going through unpreventable pain should be given the option to say 'enough is enough'...
It was with considerable dismay that I read Mr Jonathan Channing’s recent article in the Bailiwick Express, relating to the issue of assisted dying, currently being considered in Jersey.
Of course, it makes sense to take the broadest possible range of views into account when considering an issue of this nature, but in doing so it is vital to evaluate each opinion as critically as possible. In this instance, the views expressed do very little to benefit anybody.
To my certain knowledge, no-one in Jersey (or elsewhere, for that matter) is encouraging the adoption of a law that contemplates permitting ‘state sanctioned suicide’; indeed, the very suggestion is irresponsible, as is the terminology.
Pictured: "There is far more cruelty in forcing someone to go through every pain that death has to offer, rather than ‘allowing’ them to opportunity to determine the point at which they say enough is enough."
What is desirable, and actively sought, by the organisation that gave rise to Jersey’s current ‘Citizen’s Jury’ process (End of Life Choices, Jersey), is a situation whereby every individual (subject to being of sound mind) is permitted to determine the circumstances under which they deem their life to have become intolerable, then seek professional assistance to bring it to a close, in a dignified and orderly manner.
For anyone thinking that option should be reserved, solely, for those with a terminal illness and a 6 month life expectancy, they would do well to study the case of UK resident, Mr Paul Lamb; totally paralysed and in constant pain since a dreadful car accident in 1990.
He describes his existence as ‘permanent torture’, but his condition lacks the terminal diagnosis that would qualify him for an assisted death, even on the terms permitted in the ‘Oregon’ model, which Mr Channing appears to support in his article.
Indeed, Mr Lamb’s situation poses the question, just how lacking in compassion has society already been, in denying him (and so many others) the release for which he has long campaigned? I, for one, have no wish to determine how another human being should die; and I certainly have no wish for the time, place, or method of my demise to be determined by anyone else.
Surely this, the principle of self-determination, should lie at the heart of the current debate; not random ‘tabloid headline’ examples of situations that are far more complex than the few dozen words taken to describe them can possibly convey.
Of course, sensible and well-reasoned safeguards would have to be adopted, if the ‘option’ of assisted dying is to take its rightful place as a logical part of our personal life management. And, if the Citizen’s Jury is representative of Jersey society as a whole, I believe all of these points will be fully appreciated.
It would be wrong to assume any knowledge of Mr Channing’s experience of witnessing the demise of loved ones, especially under traumatic circumstances.
But having been around for quite some time, I can assure him that I have seen all I need to see, to know that (even with the best of palliative care available) there is far more cruelty in forcing someone to go through every pain that death has to offer, rather than ‘allowing’ them to opportunity to determine the point at which they say enough is enough.
Following considerable progress in recent years for LGBTQ and other personal rights, let us hope that the current process sees Jersey establish itself as a compassionate, courageous, forward looking place that understands the need for this long overdue legislation.
Tom Binet
End of Life Choices, Jersey
