4/21/2011
Death With Dignity
The question for every one of our legislators and each of us is, do we believe the state should endorse assisted suicide officially by codifying it in the law? We don’t, and not for the usual moral and/or spiritual reasons given, but because doing that is not necessary and would set a dangerous precedent. The bottom line: We trust government and its bumbling bureaucratic minions far less than the compassionate doctors and palliative caregivers who stand capably on the front lines of end-of-life issues.
We have seen all too often how laws have been stretched by those who don’t think they go far enough, and even more, by beetle-browed bureaucrats who use their minuscule powers to become omnipotent applicators of the law. Consider the aberrations of Germany last century, by first making innocuous-sounding laws, then extending them to cover killing millions upon millions of Jews, gypsies, physically and mentally damaged people, offensive (to them) nationalities and finally, just about anybody they pleased.
Watching the death of a loved one is difficult — made more painful when they are perceived to suffer. These moments, however, should remain entirely private — far outside the purview of the state. With rare exceptions, our compassionate caregivers know just what to do to ease the pain and suffering. It’s the last place in the world the government and its minions should enter. Their participation is unnecessary and dangerous.