Lately I've been reading dozens of articles every week on physician assisted suicide because it’s a battle we’re facing in California right now. This one, however, was especially touching and especially well written.
“In Oregon, studies show that the biggest reason that people use the assisted-suicide law were loss of autonomy, decreased ability to enjoy life and loss of dignity, while inadequate pain control ranked low on the list. People with disabilities, who face daily a loss of autonomy, would argue that dignity has little to with the care one needs and more to do with societal attitudes and a lack of access to enjoy life. They are daily proof that these are invalid reasons to seek suicide. They deal with it. They find strength in those who support them. They live, they love, and they work and play because they must. There's no easy way out.
The flaw in the tale of ‘Million Dollar Baby’ was in the contrast between the character's ability to fight the odds when she was in top physical shape but her inability to fight the odds to redefine herself when her life was changed by disability. Instead, she let society define her and submitted to that definition.”
To read the entire article, go here to the S.F. Chronicle.
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2 comments:
A great article by Peggy Noonan: http://www.opinionjournal.com/columnists/pnoonan/?id=110006442
Your timing is impeccable. Just read that ten minutes ago and totally agree.
-AK
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