Too important to be left to lawmakers
B MERRIOTT (Your Say, October 11) has not given offence, but has clearly failed to understand that we now live in a post-Christian society which believes that gaining your objectives by trickery is clever, moral and a good deal easier than telling the truth.
Politicians would unhesitatingly lie if they believed that the world is overpopulated and that the common good would best be served by compulsory euthanasia.
The problem is that his entire -argument on the subject of killing people who are so ill that they can neither commit suicide nor defend themselves is based on the unthinking assumption that the right honourable gentlemen in the House of Commons can be trusted to draft infallible legislation which ensures that no unwilling person is killed.
I suggest that we should look at the big picture and decide whether we want Parliament to make things worse before we dive into the technical details of a single issue.
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I would very much appreciate the courtesy of a sensible response to my legitimate concern that it is in fact impossible to draft adequate safeguards for the protection of human life once you have conceded the principle of equal protection for all under the law.
I would also appreciate a response to my letter of September 28 in which I suggested that it is not just politicians who fail to act in accordance with their stated beliefs.
If life belongs to the individual, as euthanasia advocates claim, they should be campaigning against abortion because the life of a baby in the womb does not belong to its mother.
B J TOOLAN
Peverell
Comments
by niugnepyzarc
Tuesday, October 23 2012, 12:03PM
“Id ask this letter writer how they can believe its in any way moral to force people in such a situation to live in a state of perpetual agony physical or mental because their personal religions don't think these people should be allowed to end their own lives. These people are the barbarians not the ones campaigning to allow euthanasia, I thought religion was meant to be merciful? wheres the mercy in forcing someone to suffer by making it illegal for them to take the easy painless way out?”
by Nevman
Tuesday, October 23 2012, 11:05AM
“Other countries seem to have achieved the "impossible" and written adequate safeguards into their legislation for limited euthanasia.
And, in the case of abortion, the right to life of the "individual" rather depends on the point at which you think that a foetus actually becomes an individual. Opinions vary, from the moment of conception to the point of birth. It's not as clear-cut as the writer suggests.”
by Foldart
Tuesday, October 23 2012, 9:09AM
“This is a silly letter. Why is it impossible to legislate for assisted dying in the right circumstances? I would think there are far more complex laws in existence. And as for saying that this has any comparison with abortion rights is churlish and simplistic.
A person's right to die if their life has become too painful for drugs to relieve and feels that ending it would be the only dignified option then so be it. The law should change to accommodate it.
The woman who feels an abortion is necessary and, after consultation with doctors, maintains here determination, should be allowed to proceed. The foetus is a part of that woman until birth and is hers solely to decide.
I see no conflict in the two unless, of course, you're arguing from a blind religious faith where reason and rationality don't come into it.”