A controversial BBC film on assited suicide entitled ‘Choosing to Die’ has renewed the debate on the right to live versus the right to die or sanctity of life versus dignity of life. ‘Choosing to Die’ traces the life of a man diagnosed with motor neurone disease, his decision to end his life and the process at Dignitas in Switzerland. Sir Terry Pratchett, who has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, made this film to determine whether he’ll be able to die in a way and at the time he wants to.
The film has been criticised for being biased and for furthering a ‘pro-suicide’ propaganda while the BBC has been defending itself by saying that the film is an ‘exploration of a sensitive issue’ and is sparking a constructive debate.
Some of the most vehement criticism has come from disability rights activists revolving around the ‘price’ and ‘worth’ of lives and the implications of valuing different lives differently. This cartoon by the disabled cartoonist Dave Lupton, aka Crippen, spells out the resentment towards the film.
What are your views on this issue?
Some people seem to assume that all disabled people will / should be opposed to “assisted suicide”, but that is not the case. I am one of those who wants the option of taking her own life, when the time comes. The reason for this is that, to me, it would be torture to be forced to stay alive beyond the point at which I wish to die.
One of the difficulties of this debate is that one cannot prevent some of the speakers from sliding from talking about “assisted suicide”, where ultimately the decision to die is in the hands of the disabled person and others only facilitate the process by providing the means of action, into talking about “voluntary euthanasia” and “involuntary euthanasia” where some person other than the disabled person may make the decision and / or take the final action.
Whilst I understand the natural concern about voluntary and involuntary euthanasia, I believe that it is unfair to mix up these issues, which are actually quite different from one another.
Hi Deb,
Thanks for your comment. I do agree that there is a need to not muddle up what are two different issues.
But there’s another aspect to this debate – the question of how ‘individualistic’ a decision can be? So, for example, a disabled person wants to die because they are unhappy with the way they are living. Is that unhappiness caused by lack of adequate services or negative attitudes or something else? And in that case, is it not more sensible to focus on providing a good quality of life to everyone (through services, facilities and positive attitude) than making assisted suicide legal?
I am just putting up a question here, it’s not my opinion. Would like to know what others think about it.
Asiya
Deb – that’s so true, and so often forgotten. Sometimes I feel that the complexity of the issue is lost.
Asiya – you wrote ‘is it not more sensible to focus on providing a good quality of life to everyone (through services, facilities and positive attitude) than making assisted suicide legal?’ – of course it is more sensible, and the two aren’t mutually exclusive. However; given the rapid erosion of social care and support happening all around us at present, surely this needs to precede any change in the law regarding assisted suicide?
Yes, I agree with you, Kirsty – it is imperative to ensure that everybody has access to a good quality of life (which may mean providing additional services for some) before making assisted suicide legal.
Thank you Asiya for inviting me to share the reactions to your blog. As I’ve discovered from reactions to my own blog (http://www.disabilityartsonline.org.uk/?unique_name=crippen-blog&offset=0) this subject touches something different in everyone and is often biased towards reflectling these individual experiences and involvements. Also, as one of your reader’s commented, it’s important that assisted suicide, voluntary euthanasia and involuntary euthanasia are seen as seperate issues within this debate.
Thank you for your comment, Dave. You are right – it does seem to strike a different chord in each person. And that’s the very reason it needs to be debated – it’s good that your cartoon has been initiating that debate.