Wednesday, 25 September 2013
The Next Frontier in Choice
Dying with dignity is the next big battle in choice and bodily autonomy. Who better to lead the way than we Boomers?
Kudos to Dr Donald Low, a courageous and public-spirited man to the very end.
Check out Dying with Dignity.
ADDED: CON MP Steven Fletcher backs dying with dignity. That'll get him spanked by PMSHithead who, on this topic, as on abortion, 'does not intend to reopen the debate'.
(Very busy. In the feast part of the Freelancer's Feast/Famine Cycle.)
4 comments:
Just heard Fletcher on "As It Happens" and he's not going to press it with the Harper government - he's hoping the Courts will do the heavy lifting. But I don't think it's because he's afraid to offend Harper (he's already been demoted and left to collect dust on the back benches now that Harper has more Winnipeg MPs to pick from) - I think he's pragmatic enough to know that Harper won't budge.
I don't think the Private Member's bill approach is the best course for this since it's an issue of national concern and should be treated with the same human rights importance as SSM and reproductive rights. This should be part of a host of universal health care reforms that provide greater protection to patients (hint, hint opposition parties in waiting).
What's disheartening is that the same vocal wingnuts that oppose reproductive choice oppose end of life choice for the same excuse - their chosen sky fairy does not approve.
Fair enough, but that's the whole point of "choice". Pro choice people are down with whatever choice people arrive at. Don't believe in abortion, don't have one. Believe in enduring a "natural" death, despite the inevitable prognosis and suffering/pain, your choice. But keep it between you and your sky fairy---don't impose your individual choice onto others.
k'in
A clinic near where I was staying in Portland Oregon did dignity prescriptions. A guy working there told me while people apply for and get them, they often don't fill them - it's just for the peace of mind which he considered to be an invaluable gift to the health of a dying person in itself.
@Alison. Yes, I've read that many such prescriptions don't get filled. "Dignity prescription" is a great phrase.
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