-SOCIETY MUST VALUE LIFE OVER DEATH
by Todd Hauptman
Langley Times, June 4, 2009
Editor: On May 13 a Bloc MP introduced a private member's bill that would seek to legalize euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide, and now is the time for our society to take a stand and say we value life over death.
I am a 22-year-old student who has been on dialysis for two years. I do not want this proposal to pass for numerous reasons, the least of which is that our society should value the life more than the costs of health care. Health care and the very philosphy it governs by is life-affirming. However, if this bill were to pass, it would result in a major shift in health care's whole focus.
Life is a gift from God so, let's start treating it as such. It would change from protecting life to ending life whenever a patient no longer wishes to live. This legislation would lead to a major slippery slope, especially for those medical conditions that include mental.
For instance, if this legislation were to pass, what stops a depressed individual from convicing his or her doctor to provide an assisted suicide because they no longer care to live? I would encourage everyone reading this letter to write or call their MP to tell them they do not want this bill to pass.
I realize there are some desperate and terminally ill people who would appreciate this type of legislation, but there are compassion programs and measures that can be implemented. Perhaps our governments could provide better support for pallative care. This proposal is not compassionate, but short-sighted.
Above all else, life is precious, life is worth fighting for, life is a gift, life is from God. To pass such legislation is to say that as a society, we devalue life so much that we are willing to let sick people die.
Are you OK with that?
I'm not. If you're not, stand up and contact your MP. Not tomorrow, today.
Choose life, please.
