I refer to the letter “Govt should consider tweaking laws on euthanasia” (Sept 25). Relaxation of laws protecting life does not only affect some, but also alters the value of all human life.
In a case in 2002, the European Court of Human Rights declared that the right to life under the European Convention could not be interpreted as conferring a “right to die”.
The progress of a society is seen in how compassionate it is in supporting the terminally ill and their families.
Cancer support groups such as the Singapore Cancer Society and The Revival Connection are created to help address the various concerns of cancer patients and their family members, helping them to ease their emotional burden.
The terminally ill go through five stages of grief: Denial and isolation, anger, bargaining, depression and, finally, acceptance. It is understandable that patients have thoughts of ending their life during one of these stages.
The family caring for the terminally ill also goes through five stages of grief: Crisis, unity, upheaval, resolution and renewal.
A stronger family emerges as they share fond memories with their dying family member, treasuring every remaining moment.
Euthanasia short-circuits the natural process of death and grief.
http://www.todayonline.com/voices/euthanasia-short-circuits-natural-process-death-grief
http://www.todayonline.com/voices/euthanasia-short-circuits-natural-process-death-grief
Original letter: Life has intrinsic value and there are values above and beyond our personal choices. (Govt should consider tweaking laws on euthanasia; 25 September). Mr Teo assumed that the only objections to euthanasia are religious. Objections to euthanasia include the fact that it is contrary to the fundamental right to life, medical ethics and have serious risks of abuse where these practices are legal.
The right to life is a fundamental human right protected by various international human rights instruments as well as our Constitution. In a case in 2002, the European Court of Human Rights declared that the right to life under the European Convention could not be interpreted as conferring a "right to die".
The relaxation of laws protecting life does not only affect some, but also fundamentally alters the value of all human life, especially that of the vulnerable or those who are terminally ill.
Singapore already has the Advance Medical Directive Act, which allows people to reject extraordinary life-sustaining treatment when they are terminally ill and unconscious. During the debates on the Advance Medical Directive in 1996, the National Medical Ethics Committee took the position that euthanasia was wrong and the committee did not condone it under any circumstance.
Despite strict legislative requirements, a 2010 Canadian Medical Association Journal study found that 32 per cent of assisted deaths in the Flanders region of Belgium occurred in the absence of request or consent. The European Institute of Bioethics also released a 10-year study in 2012 that noted several abuses of the law in Belgium, such as ignoring legislation that required a written declaration of a desire for euthanasia by either the patient or a surrogate.
Mr Teo recognized that euthanasia is against the natural order of things when he claimed that some believed that life should not be "interfered with unnaturally". Also, laws cannot and do not "bestow" freedom upon anyone; they can respect or violate human dignity. It follows, then, that man-made laws derive their moral legitimacy from and should conform to the natural law, rather than the mere expectations of society.
The progress of a society is seen in how compassionate it is in supporting the terminally ill and their families. Cancer support groups like the Singapore Cancer Society and The Revival Connection are created specifically to help address the different concerns of cancer patients and their family members, helping them to ease their emotional burden.
The terminally ill goes through five stages of grief; denial and isolation, anger, bargaining, depression and finally acceptance. It is understandable that patients have thoughts of ending their lives during one of these stages. Families would not have the significance they do for us if they did not, in fact, give us a claim upon one another. We are thrown together and asked to share the burdens of life while learning to care for one another.
The family caring for the terminally ill also goes through five stages of grief; crisis, unity, upheaval, resolution and renewal. A stronger family emerges as members learn to resolve longstanding issues, heal wounds and redefine one's role in the family.
They share fond memories with their dying family member, treasuring every remaining moment. Euthanasia short-circuits the natural process of death and grief.
The relaxation of laws protecting life does not only affect some, but also fundamentally alters the value of all human life, especially that of the vulnerable or those who are terminally ill.
Singapore already has the Advance Medical Directive Act, which allows people to reject extraordinary life-sustaining treatment when they are terminally ill and unconscious. During the debates on the Advance Medical Directive in 1996, the National Medical Ethics Committee took the position that euthanasia was wrong and the committee did not condone it under any circumstance.
Despite strict legislative requirements, a 2010 Canadian Medical Association Journal study found that 32 per cent of assisted deaths in the Flanders region of Belgium occurred in the absence of request or consent. The European Institute of Bioethics also released a 10-year study in 2012 that noted several abuses of the law in Belgium, such as ignoring legislation that required a written declaration of a desire for euthanasia by either the patient or a surrogate.
Mr Teo recognized that euthanasia is against the natural order of things when he claimed that some believed that life should not be "interfered with unnaturally". Also, laws cannot and do not "bestow" freedom upon anyone; they can respect or violate human dignity. It follows, then, that man-made laws derive their moral legitimacy from and should conform to the natural law, rather than the mere expectations of society.
The progress of a society is seen in how compassionate it is in supporting the terminally ill and their families. Cancer support groups like the Singapore Cancer Society and The Revival Connection are created specifically to help address the different concerns of cancer patients and their family members, helping them to ease their emotional burden.
The terminally ill goes through five stages of grief; denial and isolation, anger, bargaining, depression and finally acceptance. It is understandable that patients have thoughts of ending their lives during one of these stages. Families would not have the significance they do for us if they did not, in fact, give us a claim upon one another. We are thrown together and asked to share the burdens of life while learning to care for one another.
The family caring for the terminally ill also goes through five stages of grief; crisis, unity, upheaval, resolution and renewal. A stronger family emerges as members learn to resolve longstanding issues, heal wounds and redefine one's role in the family.
They share fond memories with their dying family member, treasuring every remaining moment. Euthanasia short-circuits the natural process of death and grief.
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