Idea Club: Is 'Death with dignity' simply suicide?

Nov 05, 2008

Photo by John Froschauer, AP: John Peyton, who has Lou Gehrig's disease, talks with his wife Patricia at their home in Kent, Wash., in June. Peyton opposed the "death with dignity" initiative.



Welcome to Idea Club. For newcomers, this is a weekly question, drawn from the news, where we open debate to all.

Idea Club was my original blog, where I began posing questions such as, "When does life begin?" or "Would you listen to Rev. Jeremiah Wright?" Now, you can find it on the religion page as always, and here at F & R, too.

The rules are simple: All views, respectfully presented, are welcome. And don't be surprised if it turns out I have more than one question on the same topic. (It's congenital -- no one in my family can ask just one question at a time. My last words will probably be, "Can I have a follow-up question?")

Now, for this week's question, diving into the end of life debate: Is "death with dignity" simply suicide?

Yesterday Washington State voters overwhelmingly agreed to follow Oregon in allowing doctors to assist terminally ill patients in dying.

Supporters call this "Death with Dignity" -- the name of the initiative on the ballot. It will allow physicians, under very specific guidelines, to write prescriptions for lethal medication that a dying person may choose to take.

Opponents say it is simply suicide by another name and physician assistance is morally wrong.

That's a tough one to call: Both terms are loaded with moral judgments.

"Suicide" might usually be associated with the mentally ill or even an unhappy teen jilted by a romantic crush, but it can also be linked to someone in unremitting pain facing death from a dreaded disease or injury. Some would argue that if you're choosing to die, that's suicide, plain and simple.

Death with dignity implies that a dying person is still an autonomous person in control of his or her destiny and should be able to make the decision on when and how to to end life.

Underlying this is a difference of opinion on whether this is all a matter that should be left in the hands of God. (Note: Many of those who chose assisted dying, as it is called in Oregon, have described themselves as religious people. )

Would you vote for a "death with dignity" initiative in your state? Why or why not?



http://content.usatoday.com/communit.../11/58059770/1