Assisted suicide is the act of aided suicide whereby an individual can choose to end their own life with the help of a health care professional. The difference between assisted suicide and euthanasia is that euthanasia is administered by the health care professional; assisted suicide, however, is where the health care professional provides the individual with the means to carry out the act of suicide. The method for this is usually the administration of a lethal drug. (Government of the Netherlands.) Switzerland first decriminalised the act of assisted suicide in 1942 for situations that acquired no selfish motives. (MJA, May 2017). In November 1994, the first law in American history allowing assisted suicide was passed in Oregan, (Oregan Death with Dignity Act, 1994). This had a snowball affect on various other countries following its legalisation. Now legal in some parts of Australia, Colombia, a few European countries, Canada and some states in the US, many of these laws now have guidelines as to what conditions make an individual eligible for assisted suicide. Canadians, for example, only qualify for assisted suicide if they are a resident of Canada, above eighteen years of age, have a ‘grievous and irremediable medical condition’ causing them suffering and have their natural death in the foreseeable future. (healthydebate.ca, Aug. 7, 2014). Currently illegal in the UK, partaking in assisted suicide can lead to imprisonment of up to 14 years. Despite efforts from pro-euthanasia and PAS (Physician Aided Suicide) groups, parliament are resistant to change the law.
In the UK alone, 6,507 people committed suicide in 2018 (Samaritans, 2019), it can be argued that assisted suicide can provide a safe environment for an individual to carry out their end of life wishes. From the figure given, it is unknown how many of those were suffering with a terminal illness however, giving an individual the choice to die in dignity can allow them to feel some form of control over an illness that has, for the most part, taken control of them. The act of assisted suicide alleviates the pain and suffering for many, it brings an end to the difficulties they have faced. Like the abortion debate, many believe people should be able to have the choice in how their life ends. (The World Federation of the Right to Die Societies).
An advantage of assisted suicide is that it cannot be accessed by anyone, there are guidelines that need to be met in order for someone to go through the process. An individual suffering with mental illness will not be eligible for assisted suicide as this is not covered under the act – aside from dementia in which there are special circumstances set out (Government of the Netherlands). Mental illness is treatable, and people are able to recover from them; when looking at the case of Kevin Hines, Hines demonstrates through his personal experience that recovery from mental illness in indeed possible. After attempting suicide in 2000 when he jumped from the Golden Gate Bridge, Hines stated that the minute his hands left the railing, he regretted his decision and wanted to live (Psychom, September 2019). In relation to assisted suicide, it is terminal illness that the act focusses on. Mental illness may not be permanently cured however, through the use of therapy, counselling and medication, it can be helped – it is not a death sentence. Terminal illness does mark a time limit on an individual’s life, the likelihood is that the individual knows they are going to die in the near future due to that particular condition and what assisted suicide can do is provide them with the control and choice in regards to the end of their life.
The problem with assisted suicide is that although it doesn’t cover mental illness, what if an individual with a terminal illness also presents with depression? Rosenfeld (December, 2000) found that those not taking antidepressants had a stronger desire to die than those who were taking the medication, therefore it can be argued that depression can lead to an irrational haste to end one’s life. This argument creates a lot of loopholes in the assisted suicide debate making it harder for it to become decriminalised. It highlights the grey areas within each situation suggesting that assisted suicide could benefit from being considered on a case-by-case basis. A disadvantage of assisted suicide is that it could be suggested that it is the start of a ‘slippery slope’ (James Mildred, Christian Action Research and Education, 2018) showing that the number of those who died from assisted suicide increasing from 43 in 1998 to 1000 in 2015. It suggests that the act has the potential to progress to the deaths of those who are not suffering from mental illness; this could be done through unregulated practise which would not only be illegal but dangerous to those involved.
Although assisted suicide is considered to be a peaceful method of passing – it doesn’t come without its complications. A study conducted in the Netherlands in 2000 found that 3.7% of euthanasia’s and 8.8% of assisted suicides resulted in nausea, vomiting and muscle spasms prior to death (MJA, 2000). This suggests that the individual experiencing the lethal dose of medication may not get the passing that they had hoped for and this can be distressing – not just for the patient, but to the family accompanying them. In some cases, assisted suicide may be seen as an unnecessary measure and that the real issue that needs to be addressed is the improvement of palliative care. With palliative care available in the UK, it can be argued that ensuring someone is comfortable and without any pain in the lead up to their natural death rules out the need to end their life prematurely (The World Federation of the Right to Die Societies). Capacity becomes an issue when an individual is no longer capable of having the mental stability to make appropriate decisions for themselves. This can open a whole new realm regarding the aftermath of a person’s passing. Families may be tempted to coerce their terminally ill relative into agreeing to assisted suicide for selfish motive; although this is highlighted as a reason assisted suicide would not be carried out, it can be difficult to prove.
Regardless of whether the act of assisted suicide gets passed in parliament, it will not stop the attempt of those wishing to end their lives. Those who want to control the end of their lives currently face the choice of travelling abroad to a country where assisted suicide is legal or they find other means to end their life; this can result in potentially painful and distressing situations for all parties involved. “If someone acts out of compassion, they are still left with their home being declared as a crime scene.” (Norman Lamb, Liberal Democrat MP) Research shows that 44% of people would assist a relative in committing suicide knowing they would be breaking the law (Populas, March 2015). That is nearly half the population willing to risk a prison sentence to help grant a loved ones wishes, making it questionable as to why the law continues to be so heavily debated. With palliative care improving and the possibility of error within the practise of assisted suicide, it is understandable as to why health care professionals and parliament may be reluctant to decriminalise the law surrounding assisted suicide. Granting an act that has the possibility to have so many varying circumstances contributing to eligibility would undoubtably cause uncertainty as to where the guidelines lay. Still argued in parliament, it is unknown whether the law is going to be passed in the foreseeable future however, with further research and observations of partaking countries it is possible that the UK may one day legalise the act of assisted suicide.
Terry Pratchett’s ‘Choosing to Die’ is a great documentary that highlights the impact debilitating diseases has on human beings and follows the journey of one man in particular as he travels to the Dignitas Clinic in Switzerland to take his own life. The underlying fact regardless of whether assisted suicide is legalised is that suicide will undoubtedly continue, it’s just whether or not the government choose to create a safe space that allows an individual to carry out their wishes. I feel that without this choice, the stigma surrounding suicide will continue and it will remain a taboo subject. It’s a topic that makes people uncomfortable and yet we all suffer with mental health so why is it not talked about more? To some, poor mental health is terminal and once someone has exhausted all of their options in getting help, why should they be denied the choice to end their suffering?
I believe there is still a lot of grey area that needs to be explored. There’s a lot of details that require questioning and consideration before laws begin to change. Where do we draw the line in regards to age? Or even reasoning – is it fair to decipher someone’s future and their outcome on the basis of a factor that is completely open to an individual’s interpretation? At what point does it become someone’s ‘professional opinion’ rather than their ‘individual beliefs’.
Mental health support is out there. There just isn’t enough of it. The NHS is drowning and there is not enough funding to support the influx of referrals – especially since the beginning of the Pandemic and isolations. This is the root of the problem and although acknowledging this and putting processes in place – it will never stop suicides completely, we can only hope that the increase in support will decrease the chances of individuals feeling like it is their only option.
‘Even the darkest night will end and the sun will rise’
Char’s Code 