tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-535418838787372965.post4901315834636994486..comments2023-02-21T00:58:52.368-08:00Comments on SOCIAL HORIZONS: Lord Falconer's BillJanet Hendersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00663828975134608297noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-535418838787372965.post-38255906088680136982014-07-10T23:37:01.636-07:002014-07-10T23:37:01.636-07:00The issue with legislating for assisted dying is t...The issue with legislating for assisted dying is that the burden for the act is placed on a medical professional, whose oath of office is for the preservation of life and healing where possible. It wouldn't be possible to legislate that anyone could be nominated for the task, because it would open up the prospect of a huge misuse based on someones subjective opinion that they were doing it for the right reasons?<br /><br />I have empathy for those who are suffering, particularly those who view their conditions as a 'living death', those that have featured in recent court cases, which have, so far, not been won, in my judgement, for perfectly justifiable reasons for the protection of the majority. I can't refute their argument that they wish to end their life, but are incapable of doing it themselves. They still have the option of going to Switzerland if they wish, albeit, many wish to die in their own home with their family with them. This is a situation where empathy turns to pity, but a powerless pity that doesn't overcome the objections for people being giving the legal power to end a life.<br /><br />There are some powerful voices speaking up for the Bill, including some within the Church, no doubt in good faith, but I' troubled by overt and strident support for the bill from within the Church, which seems to contradict the very principle that life itself is precious - and ending it prematurely amounts to murder.<br /><br />I'm glad that suicide is no longer classified as a sin, which shows that the church has moved hugely in terms of compassion and understanding, but supporting legislation like the current bill, which is ill researched, and is being put through on a point of principle of peoples rights to have the decision on when they live or dies, seems to me to preempt that decision which lies in God's hands, not ours.<br /><br />UKViewerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18114944341930758335noreply@blogger.com