She's Back Again: Euthanasia
Lorraine Roxon Harrington writes about an escape from the bleakness which some experiene in old age.
I live in Australia and we have a doctor who advocates euthanasia. He lives in the Northern Territory .
A few years ago the Northern Territory had passed a law which made euthanasia no longer a criminal offence. Many elderly and sick people went to the Territory hoping to be helped to die, but the law was changed again after some of their stories were given publicity..
The doctor involved still holds meetings and gives talks to the elderly, showing them how they can die without pain.
Recently a television program with a high reputation for reporting events in an unbiased and intelligent way - it deals mostly with religion - featured a woman of seventy nine , a past University Lecturer with all her wits about her .
She was not in pain, had no illness and had decided that she did not want to be eighty and take the chance of getting Alzheimer’s or any illness which would involve the loss of her dignity and the quality of her life.
She said she had travelled and enjoyed her life, had never experienced pain, had been married and divorced and had enjoyed the company of men in her life
She discussed the medication she was going to take and laughingly told the doctor who she had been in contact with, as she wanted to know if she had sufficient medication that she would have a vodka with it. . ,
He asked ‘Is that your drink then?' She replied, "No. I like a gin and tonic, but I think the tonic might dilute the drugs.''
He told her she had enough for three suicides.
She took her life and died as she wanted to and left a letter showing she was of a clear mind.
The program did not make me feel sad. I knew and understood how this intelligent fine woman felt. I am a seventyeight, afraid as she was of living to a ripe old age.
I watched my mother, a proud woman who lived until she was ninetyfive, cry and beg to die. Not because she was in pain, but because she had lost her dignity.
I see the mothers in nursing homes, after their daughters have looked after them for years and have to unwillingly let them go because it became all too much for them to cope with .
These daughters had done more than enough, but sadly the guilt they feel remains with them.
They visit and make sure their mothers, or fathers, are being looked after as they should be. And the parent waits, hoping that one night they will sleep the long sleep.
As you grow older, and old age is a certainty for most of us, you do not think about dying. You accept it. It is a fact. But you do start to worry about the way you will die.
I visit elderly people and am afraid when I see the vacant glassy look they give me through their watery eyes. The look that shows they do not know me, or what I am talking about.
The look of despair. Of no hope. That makes me sad.
I see old men and women in wheelchairs, their legs ulcerated, unable to look after themselves, all dignity gone.
They wear clothes that do nothing for them. I am sure most of these people would have once been very concerned about their appearance.
It is a tragic to see and know that this is happening and nothing is being done to give the person the right to die as they choose.
I would like to end this sad story on a lighter note. Euthanasia, I understand, is allowed and practiced in Holland. A friend of mine was on her way to visit friends in that country.
She phoned from Germany, saying when she would be able to get to Holland, and was told by her friend “Please try to get here in time. We are having a euthanasia party.''
My friend replied “Oh yes, I will come I would not want to miss that,''
She thought it was something to do with ‘Youth in Asia’.
