What would you do if your loved one was in a vegetative state for more than a decade? This is exactly what happened to Vincent Lambert in France. His relatives were torn between letting him live and letting him die. Although his wife and some relatives wanted him to die with dignity, his parents and other relatives vehemently disagreed. They called it ‘murder’. Doctors at the hospital had made five attempts to remove life support before being forced to reinstate it following court rulings. Even President Macron weighed in to say that it isn’t up to him and the case went as far as the European Court of Human Rights. Sadly, he passed away.
It is just as complicated as it sounds.
First of all, why would someone want to end their life? Some do not see the point of living through life if it is not of good quality. And what authority do we have to dictate just how much that person is suffering? For most, death is a bad ending. However, if the patient is suffering unbearable pain 24/7, that not even the strongest painkillers can subside, something like euthanasia is a relatively painless way out. Euthanasia is a crime that is punishable in England by up to life imprisonment, which means that it is not an option for people here.
Moving on from a patient’s perspective, let’s look at this issue from a doctor’s perspective. All healthcare professionals enter the sector to make people feel better. So, on that basis, they don’t have the right to effectively ‘kill’ their patients. But, if making people feel better is letting them die, then is it ethical for them to do so? Another advantage for doctors, and their medical budget, is saving money to be used on other patients who are in desperate need of medicine and care.
But despite there being global support for euthanasia, there is also widespread backlash. One argument against this is that it seriously devalues human life. For some, dying, despite its legality in some countries, is not dignified, and is a weak and damaging perspective of life. This is not just for the patient and their family, but for society at large.
Maybe our natural aversion to euthanasia is because of its notorious link with the Nazis. During World War 2, they decided to ‘cleanse’ German society, and this included euthanasia of children who showed signs of severe mental or physical disability. In late 1939, authorities advised parents to send their children to special paediatric clinics if they were disabled. And so, many did, but they never saw their children again, as they were killed. Campaigners also say that this is another reason that it should be avoided.
No-one wants to hear that something like euthanasia was legalised in order to save money. The needs of the political party in power might come first, leaving patients’ needs in second place. It is highly unlikely, but it is a future possibility.
In the heart of all this, is the patient themselves. The patient’s wishes are the most important. You do have to be careful, because whatever you think, I’m sure you’d agree that euthanasia is irreversible.
An Insight Into Society 