Behind Closed Doors
In the U.K. assisted dying is not legal, yet instances of it are known to have occurred. Sabine Michalowski, Law Professor at the University of Essex, is in favour of some degree of legalisation to allow “assisted dying.” In an Al Jazeera interview, she explains how attempted suicides are happening behind closed doors. She states how this is seen by some as a viable reason to allow “compassionate assistance to die” (Aljazeera.com, “Who decides when it is time to die?” January 31, 2014), but simply making something legal in a court of law does not necessarily change inherent moral and ethical facts.
Categories of Dying
The Al Jazeera broadcast goes on to state that “assisted dying,” where terminally ill patients have the right to self-administer life-ending drugs, is already allowed in four U.S. states. “Assisted suicide,” where an individual is not dying but suffering chronic pain or is disabled, is allowed in Switzerland. “Voluntary euthanasia,” wherein a doctor is allowed to administer life-ending medication, is allowed in Belgium and the Netherlands. Lastly, “euthanasia” is when a third-party administers life-ending medication, sometimes without the consent of the individual. Dignitas, the Swiss company, actively takes part in the termination of life for those with “an illness which will lead inevitably to death, unendurable pain or an unendurable disability,” according to their Web site. They carry out the instructions of terminally ill persons, accompanied by a family member or friend, to end their life. For those who use the Dignitas organisation to perform the assisted suicide, there is risk. At this time, the laws in the U.K. state that assisting others with suicide is not allowed. In fact, prosecution for being an accomplice to homicide—murder—can be the result; however, to date, no one has been prosecuted for this capital offence. –