It's how we frame the issue of euthanasia

As usual, and as expected, my letter to The Straits Times Forum page was not published. Fortunately, Blogger exists, so here it is.

I refer to the letter “Consider legalising euthanasia” by Seah Yam Meng (The Straits Times, 1 Aug), and wish to contribute just one point to the discussion.

Some objectors will base their objection on the claim that putting someone to death is murder – the worst and most immoral thing one person can do to another. I wish to question this claim.

There is a fate worse than death. It goes by the name “torture”.

Imagine a patient suffering a painful terminal illness, while undergoing costly and hopeless medical procedures, and who knows he is burdening his family with financial and emotional distress, while being personally unable to contribute anything meaningful or useful to anyone or anything. He cannot see any justification for his continued existence.

When we deny this patient the facility to be put to sleep (let’s use the humane phrase here, the one we use when we do the same thing for suffering animals), we can reasonably be described as forcing this patient to suffer torture – until he dies of bodily damage or exhaustion. And then we heave a sigh of relief – glad that he is now “at rest”.

I believe that when the issue as framed as “put to sleep” versus “torture”, we will react differently to the suggestion of legalising euthanasia.

END