- LETTER TO SUN HERALD- J FERGUSON 06/09/06 -
Dear Mr Ferguson
Ref: Last rites for the euthanasia debate – A dying cause – Article Herald
Sun - pg 21, September 5 2006
When this article was brought to my attention last night, I looked firstly at
the large photo of Senator Kanck, her _expression concerned, then I focused on
yours, looking not unlike that of James Matheson of Australian Idol, with a
look that gazes back at the reader with a slight smile without empathy for the
serious subject which your article addressed. No doubt, a standard publicity
shot used regardless of the subject matter, but it made a difference to me and
set the tone for what I was about to read. A healthy fresh faced young man,
full of the joy of living, but without depth. An article to be produced - a
job at hand to be processed.
Unlike your good self, many people actually involved within the euthanasia
debate in a Pro Choice capacity, treat the arguments for and against it with
respect. Thirty years of talking has been one sided and with an ageing
society, cannot be ignored with suicide possibly becoming the norm for many.
Dying is a very serious business and those who chose to lobby for a better
method of doing it for chronically and terminally ill people are to be
applauded. In your denigration of Dr Nitschke and Senator Kanck you failed to
realise that they are in a position to represent others too ill to attend
rallies or be able to lobby politicians. There are thousands closed off,
unable due to mobility, age and being too seriously ill to take part in active
promotion of the cause for voluntary euthanasia. It does not detract from
their need to be heard.
It is unfortunate Mr Ferguson that suicide loss is treated as more important
than the loss of life due to wars. People die in wars who don’t actually want
to die; suicides on the other hand, make their choice. Senator Kanck was
actually spelling out the levels of actions taken by genuinely ill people.
I feel, your usage of language indicates a lack of professional journalism; a
measured response which doesn’t insult the individual at the expense of
considered opinion would have been perhaps more appropriate.
With the respect accorded to the Right to Life lobby groups, so too should the
Right to Choice be given the same. Your article ridicules association of like
minded people. Welcome to democracy! - The right to hold differing points of
views, and to be able to share those views without discrimination.
When you introduce religion in the same context as voluntary euthanasia,
honesty would compel you to admit the link. As a cancelled Catholic, together
with a life threatening illness, eg cancer, I know exactly how the debate for
offering up suffering at any cost is geared towards religion. And that is fine
for the individual who has the courage and commitment to do that – I don’t. My
body, my choice.
Information does not compel a person to commit suicide; in fact, it may even
prevent it by demonstrating the ugliness involved when others find your body.
Medically assisted dying could make suicide methods more humane and less
drastic for those who have to deal with its aftermath.
Legislative change respecting patient choices by making Living Wills and
Advance Directives legally binding would give security of mind to many.
No one can be held responsible for another person committing suicide and that
includes Dr Nitschke and Senator Kanck. The individual by their actions accept
responsibility for the outcome. It is perhaps unfortunately that no where in
your article did you seriously address why a person would consider suicide as
the only option left open to the individual.
It may be a joke to you to treat the manner of our dying in a cavalier tone,
but there are those of us, for whom dying badly, is a very real possibility.
You may not want that choice yet, but others do!
Parliament is a place for all people to be heard – And its records should not
be selective.
Perhaps your next assignment, Mr Ferguson could include a compulsory stay over
a twenty four hour period in the confines of a nursing home, palliative care
unit ( without the patient being drugged into unconsciousness to relieve your
distress at his suffering) or even a day spent in the home of the frail
elderly dependent on district nursing care. I feel you need to experience the
reality, that for others is their life, before you criticize the work
undertaken by very few intelligent people, which include Doctors and
Politicians, who demonstrate compassion in a way you've yet to comprehend.
Mary Walsh
www.yourchoiceindying.com
September 6, 2006
(This response, originally addressed to the
journalist's email address, was also sent to the Editor's desk of the Herald
Sun).
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