The "case" of Sir Edward and Lady Joan Downes has fascinated and bothered me since I first read about them in 2009. Sir Edward, 85, and Lady Downes, 74, were devoted to one another. For half a century they had been an inspiring influence on the cultural life of Britain's orchestras.
Then, the children sent the following to the local press:
"It is with great sadness that we announce the death of our parents, Edward and Joan Downes, on Friday, 10 July. After 54 happy years together, they decided to end their own lives rather than continue to struggle with serious health problems. They died peacefully and under circumstances of their own choosing, with the help of the Swiss organisation Dignitas, in Zurich... They both lived life to the full and considered themselves to be extremely lucky to have lived such rewarding lives, both professionally and personally. Our parents had no religious beliefs and there will be no funeral." [1]
Lady Downes had advanced cancer. Sir Edward had lost his eyesight and was almost deaf but, other than that, he might have lived for many more years. And yet, he chose to die with his wife. Was it because he loved her so much that he could not imagine life without her? His wife had been caring for him since his loss of eyesight and hearing. Was he fearful of living in a world without sound and sight on his own? Their children were grown and living their own lives. Was he worried that he might become a burden to them? These are some of my questions. You may have others. They are questions to which we will never know the answers. But, there is another, more global question that has been raised by some people. Should Lady Downes have been able to die in her home in England instead of having to travel to Dignitas in Switzerland?
Euthanasia is illegal in England, hence the Downes' traveled to Switzerland. There was an investigation by Scotland Yard. No charges were filed against their son, who had assisted his parents in traveling to Switzerland, because "there was sufficient evidence to prosecute him for assisting his parents' suicide but it was not considered to be in the public interest to do so."[2] This action by Scotland Yard follows the changes in the law lords guidelines, which had changed because of Debbie Purdy. Ms. Purdy, who has multiple sclerosis, wanted to know whether her husband would be prosecuted for helping her to end her life. She went to the House of Lords which ruled that "it is a breach of her human rights not to know whether her husband will be prosecuted if he accompanies her to Swiss clinic Dignitas where she wishes to die if her health worsens.[3] Because of her question the guidelines were changed. "The guidelines state that anyone acting with compassion to help end the life of someone who has decided they cannot go on is unlikely to be charged."[4]
The strong desire/demand for people to be able to take control of the end of their life is not likely to be settled in my lifetime. There are too many legitimate concerns that people have that it will be used in a way that is counter to what the law would allow -- including possibly beginning a slippery slope to those who are living with disabilities, with others determining that they should not continue to live, even if they consider their life worth living.
My reason for writing this blog, though, is not to take sides one way or the other. What has continued to both fascinate and bother me is the last sentence of the press releases release issued by the family: "Our parents had no religious beliefs and there will be no funeral." I wonder if they would have chosen to go to Dignitas had they had a religious belief. Would their faith have given them the strength to go through a "natural" death?
Do you think that your faith would assist you in handling the pain and loss of control so that you would die a "natural" death? Do you think your faith would keep you from considering dying in the way that the Downes' chose to die? While I know that until one faces these kinds of situations there is really no way to know how you might really react, I believe it is important to consider situations such as these. They help to sort out what our values and beliefs are and how they affect how we live and how we die.
[1] http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2009/jul/14/edward-downes-assisted-suicide-law
[2] http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/crime/article7069252.ece
[3]" http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2009/jul/30/debbie-purdy-assisted-suicide-legal-victory
[4] http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/crime/article7069252.ece
Euthanasia - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
It's not "courage" to go through that to the end, it's just mindless self-torture, because this prolonged and painful life is not dictated by any god, but by humans using modern day medicine. So by ending it, you don't defy a god, but your doctor. Keep that in mind.
I am also a Christian, devoted to the One who has filled me with His grace and Spirit.
I have also considered, many times, ending my life because of pain and sickness. I have made numerous plans for an easy suicide. Am I a coward? Am I faithless? Have I not cried out to God for help? Do I not have the prayers of many righteous souls? Have I not wept enough from pain?
"I might not go to heaven if I take my own life." Is this not the worst kind of selfishness in a religion in which we are called to be selfless? What about my wife and two adult children? How selfish would it be for me to require them to see to the needs of an eventual babbling incontinent? How is that merciful to them?
I practice spiritual fellowship with God, every minute of every day. God is much more concerned with my spiritual comfort during periods of desperation in life than in how it will end. I often receive his grace - even his joy, and when it comes to the end, no matter how it happens, I am of full faith that I will stand before my God, clothed in the righteousness of His eternal Son, justified, sanctified, glorified.
A free human being should be able to drug himself, kill himself, or maim himself all he wants. There are exceptions of course, but not enough to say with general confidence that my business is not your business in the least.
Sometimes it takes courage to keep living, and sometimes people keep living (or try to keep others 'alive' ) because they fear death, (religiously or not.)
My own Pagan faith's gotten me through keeping on living, really helped me through ailing badly, actually (Briefly, obviously) dying when it was time for that, and I suppose had a lot to do with coming back for some overtime. :)
Part of the problem of trying to treat everything as some 'sin/crime of suicide, whatever the circumstances' is that it detaches living and dying *from what's actually going on,* and it does remove the dignity of self-determination about either.
In my faith, we generally see death and between-life and rebirth as fairly temporary circumstances in a spiritual sense: it's somewhat less existentially-'loaded' for us than those who believe in eternal judgments or eternal oblivions. I think it has the advantage of letting one really see what a given life has, and is, (not to mention what's really mortal/irreplaceable *about* a given lifetime. ) And also when it's time to let go.
So, go now and avoid the wait.
For people who think the hereafter is so wonderful, they sure do their best to stay here as long as possible. And to prevent others from leaving in a manner which they should be able to decide for themselves.
Go figure.
It's kind of supposed to be scary in those ways, for them.
For Pagans, this life is a chapter in a longer story, we're generally not spooked about afterlife-judgment, but also think copping out on lessons to be learned only means you'll have to repeat the course. (This doesn't particularly mean extended pointless suffering is a virtue for its own sake. :) ) Traditionally, it's even a little dangerous to experience the Otherworld, kind of because it's pretty nice. You could end up pining away for it, and that's not living, either. :) )
But it's seen as a place of regeneration and rest between lives, and somewhat timeless of its own self, ....and it also means there's no real hurry to get there. :)
I think a lot of the issue here, particularly when it comes to people restricting/taking away other people's choices, can be the way this is treated as a 'Big Question About Your Eternal Fate' ...and with some notion that it's more important to 'know the truth' (Likely for a sense of control) than to live like life's important, however temporary, ....we generally don't pass quite the same way twice, after all. :)
The answer is, unless your faith strips your last shreds of dignity and humanity, NO.
I cannot imagine any God wishing me to turn into an unconscious vegetable and keep me like that for years, to the torment and disruption of the family I love. There is no lesson to be learned there.
Something is messed up with our priorities.
That way good people would be able to live and die as they see fit.
I have a very strong belief - to me it is knowledge - of a joyous life to come. I too will make this decision if it is needful and possible when the time comes.
It is also NOBODY ELSE'S BUSINESS what anyone decides about how they leave this life.
My religious faith tells me, Whatever the cost, life is worth it. But that is not a judgment for others to make. Yes, I should hope to be able to choose my death. Except for those closest to me, however, I don't give a hoot what anyone else thinks--especially those looking to judge me.
Isn't this a useless question if you have no choice in the matter? In case you forgot after only one paragraph, it is illegal, so you have no legal choice in the matter. What you are contemplating is breaking the law.
Perhaps if it was legal, it would make sense to ask the question, yes?
Now let's think about this: just because people lack faith in God (which often has more to do with a reaction to institutional religion than to God himself) does not mean that He is lacking in love for them. To each according to his need, right? These people had lived apparently generous, upright lives dedicated to enriching the world with music. Perhaps Dignitas was his gift to them: a death in keeping with their approach to life: brave, unflinching in the face of reality, and together.
There are more things in heaven and earth than are dreamt of in our small philosophies these days. And God moves in mysterious ways. Dignitas certainly does not lack for compassion.
As for those of us who, through guilt and pride, feel we must not only put ourselves but everyone who loves us through hell to get to heaven...well, to each his own.