tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2654455663519806899.post2485994188615168508..comments2023-11-09T02:43:59.293-08:00Comments on Christian Medical Comment: My letter to Jeremy Hunt about BBC media portrayal of suicidePeter Saundershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17222354018504253042noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2654455663519806899.post-14086281000192137222011-06-23T05:17:47.511-07:002011-06-23T05:17:47.511-07:00Tomo, I think your example of abortion is a good r...Tomo, I think your example of abortion is a good reason why assisted suicide should NOT be legalised. Abortion was brought in for the extreme cases and to protect women. But as we know the law now allows the majority of abortions for social reasons. I fear a similar escalation if assisted suicide was made legal. Legality gives a stamp of approval and we would see human life further devalued. <br /><br />Waldorf WorthingAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2654455663519806899.post-67728205829679370282011-06-20T14:06:15.752-07:002011-06-20T14:06:15.752-07:00This was a post about suicide contagion. For discu...This was a post about suicide contagion. For discussion of the issues you raise see the cnk q&a at http://www.carenotkilling.org.uk/?show=195Peter Saundershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17222354018504253042noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2654455663519806899.post-78805060130378464232011-06-20T08:42:18.238-07:002011-06-20T08:42:18.238-07:00How about you offer some kind of argument against ...How about you offer some kind of argument against offering the choice?<br /><br />I noticed that in the debate after Terry Pratchett: Choosing To Die there were no arguments whatsoever put forward against the idea of offering the choice to mentally able individuals.<br /><br />The Bishop repeatedly told the story of his daughter - very sad, but irrelevant. She presumably doesn't want to die and isn't considered legally able to take her own decisions anyway.<br /><br />Liz Carr said that there was a risk that people might be forced into it - this is true, and means that good legal protection is required.<br /><br />Very worryingly, she also said that we shouldn't make changes to the law simply to help a minority. I can't understand how anyone could say that with a straight face.<br /><br />You are clearly very much against the idea - would you care to explain why?<br /><br />The only thing you seem able to bring up is 'copycat suicide' - this is totally irrelevant.<br /><br />All the prople arguing for making assisted-suicide available have always said that there must be checks and balances.<br />Those checks have always included:<br /><br />"Is this person really, really, really certain that they want to do this now?"<br />"Is there any evidence that this person is being coerced into this?"<br /><br />For the last 1000 years or so there has been an extremely vocal "Anti-suicide" lobby - until very recently, it was actually against the law to commit suicide and one could (in theory) be prosecuted for it.<br /><br />You appear to be arguing that we should not even discuss this!<br />- Many years ago abortion was such a taboo. The actual result was women dying due to botched abortions in 'backstreet clinics'.<br />One clear result of illegal assisted suicide is that the very few who want to undertake it go to Switzerland much earlier than they otherwise would.<br /><br />Do you really believe that someone who is suffering the most horrendous pain should be dosed up to the eyeballs with morphine such that they cannot do anything, and then allowed to slowly die of dehydration?<br />Simply to make *you* feel better?<br /><br />What kind of person forces that on someone else against their express wishes?<br /><br />You may prefer that end for yourself, but why should you be able to force that upon another?Tomonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2654455663519806899.post-59227813087035459122011-06-20T06:33:15.837-07:002011-06-20T06:33:15.837-07:00Well done Peter!
The pro-assisted-dying lobby i...Well done Peter! <br /><br />The pro-assisted-dying lobby in the BBC and Parliament is unfortunately very strong. Furthermore, most people are passive on this matter having no strong ethical basis from which to argue against it; the commonest 'public' view seems to be 'why not, if it's their choice?'<br /><br />I am glad therefore that you have argued from a practical, not an openly Christian, stance (though I know that's where you essentially come from). <br /><br />Keep up the good work.<br />Keith JudkinsDr Keith Judkinsnoreply@blogger.com