Canada introduced medical assistance in dying (MAiD) in 2016, and just a few years later, it’s become a significant concern. Shockingly, this trend has resulted in 1 in 20 deaths in Japan. The swift expansion of this practice raises fears that the so-called “right to die” could soon morph into a “duty to die” once it’s legalized.
Assisted suicide laws often become a slippery slope. After being enacted, they tend to broaden. In Canada, recent changes now allow individuals with mental illnesses like PTSD and depression to access life-ending medications. A recent investigation in the Netherlands uncovered alarming cases where doctors administered lethal injections to patients without their consent, involving vulnerable groups like children and those with dementia.
In 2016, Colorado voters passed the End-of-Life Options Act, allowing physicians to prescribe lethal substances to adults with specific Terminal diagnoses. Last year, the state updated the law to let certain registered nurses prescribe these medications as well, reducing the mandatory waiting period from 15 days to just 7. This year has already seen lawsuits illustrating how quickly these laws can take a troubling turn.
One lawsuit aims to challenge the residency requirement of Colorado’s law, with an organization called Compassion & Choices arguing it discriminates against those from out of state. If this lawsuit succeeds, it could transform Colorado into a destination for what’s being referred to as “suicide tourism.” On the other hand, another lawsuit seeks to address the disturbing notion that lethal prescriptions are being offered to patients with severe eating disorders, under the guise of “terminal anorexia.” Some doctors argue these patients have lost the will to live due to prolonged malnutrition.
However, Dr. Patricia Westmoreland, a psychiatrist based in Denver, asserts that anorexia is a mental health condition that is treatable, not terminal. She emphasizes that patients dealing with extreme anorexia aren’t in a mental state to make such grave decisions.
Despite the assurances of safeguards like consent accompanying physician-assisted dying, such protections can easily erode. The definition of what constitutes a “terminal” condition seems to shift, and Colorado appears to be mirroring worrying patterns observed in other regions where assisted dying is permitted.
Disability rights advocates, represented by the Patient Rights Institute, are also involved in challenging Colorado’s assisted suicide law. They argue it discriminates against people with disabilities, particularly those dealing with mental health challenges, by offering them options for suicide rather than necessary mental health care and support. This raises significant ethical concerns about the message it sends—implying some lives are less valuable.
A compelling example is the case of Jane Allen, a 29-year-old who struggled with anorexia. In a vulnerable moment during her mental health crisis, a doctor prescribed her lethal medication for “terminal anorexia.” Fortunately, her father intervened, leading to a court order that ultimately saved Jane’s life. While she made significant strides toward independence, she sadly passed away a few years later from heart disease.
Jane’s experience highlights potential pitfalls in laws governing assisted suicide. These regulations could jeopardize the most vulnerable individuals, strain family ties, and blur professional boundaries in medicine. Rather than fulfilling the role of healers, some physicians could find themselves in the difficult position of deciding who’s life is deemed “worth living.” This isn’t a true representation of care—it’s a troubling deviation from medical ethics.
Every life holds inherent value, something that cannot be altered by lawmakers or medical professionals. It’s crucial for Christians to continue advocating for the belief that all human beings, crafted in the image of God, deserve life from conception to natural death. Additionally, believers should educate themselves about this vital doctrine, resisting the normalization of unjustly taking a life, even when such practices are legalized.
