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Letters
OIREACHTAS COMMITTEE ON ASSISTED DYING
LEGISLATION AND ETHICAL AND MORAL CONCERNS
Mon Mar 18 2024 - 00:08
A chara, – “You matter because you are you. You matter to the last moment of
your life, and we will do all we can, not only to help you die peacefully, but
also to live until you die.” These words of Cicely Saunders tell of a vision and
challenge of what “assisted dying” can be: the radical alternative to the
“assisted dying” envisaged by the Oireachtas Committee on Assisted Dying.
It is an integral part of “assisted living”. Whatever the outcome of the care
referendum, we all depend on the care and assistance of others from the first
moments of our lives. Depending on others takes nothing from our human dignity.
Rather, it is an essential component of the dignity that is inherent to each and
every human being. Nothing can deprive any person of that dignity. We may and
do, however, fail to recognise that dignity in practice in many ways.
The Preamble to our Constitution puts the challenge: “seeking to promote the
common good, with due observance of Prudence, Justice and Charity, so that the
dignity and freedom of the individual may be assured”.
The Preamble to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights echoes this:
“recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of
all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace
in the world.”
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We abolished capital punishment as a penalty for crime. We lament and protest
the deaths caused in wars and famine. We have a long and proud history and
tradition of caring for the sick and dying.
Are we now going by a back door to reintroduce deliberate action intended to
cause human death as a pretext for promoting human dignity, in place of ensuring
the true care which is in our power to give? – Is mise,
PÁDRAIG McCARTHY,
Sandyford,
Dublin 16.
Sir, – Frank Browne and Prof Tony O’Brien (Letters, March 9th) correctly
highlight the need to proceed cautiously in legislating for medical assistance
in dying. Mr Browne mentions concerns around people with disabilities or elderly
relatives being pressured into medical assistance in dying unjustly, in
particular. I share those concerns and believe any legislation must protect
these groups.
Thankfully, we have a growing body of research from the dozen or so countries
where similar legislation already exists. The data actually shows the vast
majority of patients accessing medical assistance in dying services have been
college-educated, from higher socio-economic groups and without pre-existing
disabilities. This may be for socio-cultural reasons but could also suggest
inequities in accessing such services.
Concerns were also expressed around the “slippery slope” of legislation becoming
progressively more liberal following introduction. I believe with the correct
checks and balances, this can be prevented. Further medical assistance in dying
iterations would be for future legislators to debate, however, and is not a
reason to block its implementation in any form.
Terminally-ill Irish patients already access assisted-suicide, of course. We
just criminalise them for it or force them to travel abroad, provided they have
the physical capability and financial means to do so.
We have a wonderful, undervalued palliative care service in Ireland but this is
not enough for some unfortunate patients with grievous life-limiting diseases,
sadly.
As a physician, I would support my patients who are suffering from serious,
irremediable illnesses, having the choice of a dignified death through medical
assistance in dying.
They should be able to access this service on their own terms, in their own
country and it should be delivered in a measured, safe and compassionate way. –
Yours, etc,
Dr NIALL FEENEY,
Dublin 18.
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© 2024 The Irish Times DAC
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