Euthanasia

Feb 11, 2015

February 6 was a black day for Canada when the Supreme Court of Canada decided that murder is the solution to pain and suffering, and struck down the laws against "assisted suicide". Sorry to disappoint the honorable judges, but no amount of suicide, "assisted" or otherwise, will solve the problem of suffering.

Every day around the world thousands of people face death with courage and are given the highest care as they die. Presently, families place beautiful memorials in newspapers in memory of their loved ones.

Though we know that no one reading this has ever seen nasty fights over estates, or heard of elder abuse or of people being bullied into suicide, let us imagine how a memoriam in a Brave New Canada might read if Parliament does not prevent killing from replacing care (with apologies for the bad rhymes):

In tears we watched you sinking

Our hearts were broken and sore

So we decided to "help" you,

Your suffering wouldn’t bother us any more.

Your groaning was so noisome

So we filled a syringe with some poison,

It was the finest kind.

Didn't have to sterilize the needle

You were so helpless and feeble

We dispatched you to your just reward

Was that the act of a coward?

But we never would complain

Now our inheritance isn't going down the drain.

Of course we know that the court did a thorough study interviewing people who have died to make sure that death by poisoning is somehow better than other forms of deaths. After all, beheading is a lot quicker than poison - and maybe cheaper.

Canadians need to fight this; they need to contact their MPs. Doctors, hospitals and nursing homes need to put up signs that say “No euthanasia here”. Pharmacists would be affected too as they would be required to dispense the poison.

Jule Koch Brison