|
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.
|
|
