We claim to be a civilised country, progressive and modern, but sometimes I really do question that.
Yesterday, yet again a judge and the English legal system made the decision that a paralysed man does not have the right to end his life (with assistance).
He believes (and i believe that it is truly no one else's call) that life is not living in a body that no longer works - and due to his paralysis he can't take his own life without the help of doctors. Like previous court cases, this one was brought in an attempt to make sure that whoever helped him would not be prosecuted.
How can we allow this to continue, people like him are clearly able to make the decision for themselves, there can be no doubt of his wishes, yet the courts condemn him to years of living hell as they fear 'making a major change in law'.
Come on people, get with the programme - we shoot horses who break their legs (an injury which they can easily recover from), or put down pets when they are 'in pain' (how do we know?!?) - yet people are left to suffer whilst medicine keeps them alive in a body that has all but shut down.
I'm not calling for a blanket change in the law, but case by case review by a qualified panel or something similar - I'm not qualified to comment really, but I do think this is something we should be discussing as a nation (but politicians seem terrified of it, and unfortunately they are the only ones who can change things).
My biggest fear is a stroke or accident which leaves me reliant on others and unable to look after myself - I hope that my family would make the right decisions if it came to it (turn off the machine and donate my organs).
Postscript (22nd August) - it's just been announced that the man in question has passed away. After the court ruling he stopped eating, and today died of natural causes (although I hazard to guess that it wasn't a pleasant death for him). How sad.
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