When does euthanasia begin? Does it begin when the patient decides that he or she wants to die? Does it begin when the doctor administers that lethal dose? No!
It begins when a 90-year-old falls in a retirement home with no nurse on duty to assist them.
It begins in the hospital when they are looked upon as frail and old, and they are going to die anyway. It begins when dirty diapers are left lying on the floor or in an open bin.
It begins when the retirement home does not want them back. It begins when the hospital decides they can’t do any more for the patient and start charging that weak and helpless human being $56 a day.
It begins when that frail senior citizen is in limbo with no beds available in the nursing homes.
Today, society demands doctors end a patient’s life and we call it, “dying with dignity.” We forget the patient lived a full life, contributing to society and making our world a better place to live.
Dying with dignity does not mean terminating someone’s life. Dying with dignity means we look up to that frail, helpless senior and recognize they are human beings deserving of the utmost care we can provide.
Euthanasia begins with the absence and deficiency of love in our society. It begins with a lack of feeling or emotion. It begins with no charity or love towards those that are weak and frail.
Tony Sottile
Sudbury