UK Couple Commit Assisted Suicide
July 14, 2009 by Marijke Durning, RN
Filed under Diseases & Conditions
Assisted suicide – not the same thing as euthanasia – is a controversial topic for some and quite straight forward for others (UK Debating Assisted Dying Again)
But, while people – politicians, ethicists, and just about everyone – debate it, others are finding themselves in the position of having to make that decision, with or without legal blessing. This is what Sir Edward Downes, a renowned conductor, and his wife Joan did after traveling from their home in the United Kingdom to an assisted suicide clinic in Switzerland.
Sir Edward was almost blind and deaf and Mrs. Downes had terminal cancer. The couple had been married for 54 years. They ended their lives, dying hand-in-hand with their adult children at their side.
The Downes’ and their family had to make the trip because assisted suicide, the way they chose to end their lives, is not legal in the United Kingdom. You can read the story of their in this article, Musician and wife commit suicide.
What do you think? Should it be legal? Do you think it’s a good idea? Or is it a slippery slope to who knows what?
~~~~~
.Image courtesy PhotoXpress.com
That’s a very thorny topic! As I see it, one of the problems is that it’s unusual for both partners to be terminally ill and even though one may think they don’t want to live without the other, they could rebuild a meaningful life later on. It’s hard to see someone without their soulmate (in my case, my mother), but there often IS life for the person left behind, whether they find solice in family members, a cause they’re passionate, or perhaps a new partner. But for this couple, it sounds like a touching way for them to depart together. I’m sure it was a difficult and bittersweet decision and tough for their family members to deal with.
I’m absolutely in favor of assisted suicide and even unassisted suicide being legal. I think people should have the right to end their own lives at any time. I don’t think suicide should be criminalized. Why are we so much kinder to animals than to humans? That we would judge people for wanting to die because their quality of life has gone down really baffles me.
this is very thorny topic that two of life partners have taken this step .it is a tough for family member to accept this .
Which is more cruel, assisted suicide or living a poor quality life because medical technology can keep you alive? If someone chooses to end their life rather than waste away, it’s not for me to judge. I wish we respected the right for life to end.