South Australian Voluntary Euthanasia Society (SAVES)
The following article is from the SAVES newsletter, The VE Bulletin, Vol 14 No 3, Nov 97
The Right to Die and the Right to Life
Some 35 Societies in 22 countries are members of the World Federation of Right to Die Societies. Yet the concept of a right to die is, on
the face of it, absurd. As death is inescapable there is no sense in claiming it as a right. The term is, of course, a convenient shortening of
"the right to die with dignity", or "the right to die by choice". Even so it is questionable, since death with dignity and respect for patients' wishes are not exclusive to voluntary euthanasia, but are also principles of palliative care.
Voluntary euthanasia is strongly opposed by self-styled Right to Life Societies, another inappropriate title. In terms of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the right to life is inalienable - no one can take that right from us nor can we surrender it to others. To have such a right we must own our lives, for we cannot have an unfettered right over what we do not own. Ownership of life is the basis of personal autonomy, implying a right to self-determination which can legitimately include seeking an end to life when it can no longer be lived in a manner meaningful to the owner. This is the right which a voluntary euthanasia law would recognise.
Human life has been characterised as "an awareness of oneself as a unique individual with the ability to love, learn and laugh, remember yesterday and plan for tomorrow". As Episcopal Bishop Shelby Spong said in a speech at the 1997 Catholic Press Association Convention: "Life must not be identified with the extension of biological existence .... My personal creed asserts that every person is sacred. I see the holiness of life enhanced, not diminished, by letting people have a say in how they choose to
die".
Right to Life Societies do not uphold life as a right to be exercised, but as an obligation to be complied with, however bitter, or meaningless to
its owner, its end may be. It would in fact be more appropriate for Voluntary Euthanasia Societies to be called Right to Life Societies. Right to Life Societies might then become Obligation to Life Societies. It won't happen, of course, but the present titles certainly present an unfortunate paradox.
Eric Gargett
Further information on these and related issues is available from the SAVES.
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