Dignity for the Dying?
There were many reasons put forward as to why Sky's airing of The Suicide Tourist - a documentary that showed the moment of death from physician-assisted suicide of Motor Neurone Disease-sufferer, Craig Ewart - was not a cynical attempt to secure viewing figures but a service to society. Writing in the Independent, Mary Ewart, Craig's wife, said it was her husband's desire to elicit more public engagement with the issue of mortality:
'...death is hidden and private, people don't face their fears about it. They don't acknowledge that it is going to happen, they don't reflect on it, they don't want to face it. That's the taboo.'
It's an admirable sentiment, but aren't we constantly reminded of death's presence amongst us by reports of global famine and disaster? And when so many families experience loved ones suffering debilitating diseases, do we need television to make us aware of the fragility of life? And what of the millions who don't have the wealth for such health 'care', or who have no say over when or how they die, be it from disease or tragedy? What does this teach them?
John Zaritsky, the director of the documentary, defended his decision to show the last moments by saying that, had he not, people may think that physician-assisted suicide (PAS) might cause discomfort and pain. As it was, Craig's passing was peaceful. Of course, this reveals a pro-euthanasia agenda, for I doubt Zaritsky's next documentary is going to follow someone passing away peacefully from natural causes after receiving palliative care.
The truth is that for the hundred or so British people who have made the journey to Switzerland over the past five years for PAS, there have been 3 million deaths back home. So it is only a small minority who demand this course of action. But as this issue is not going to go away, it's vital to make our response not simply one of protest, but also of supporting the work of organisations such as Care not Killing who, although committed to campaigning against euthanasia and PAS, make their primary aim the promotion of holistic palliative care - an initiative the Government is currently backing.
In the celebration of communion we have a reminder; not of how fragile life is, but of how powerful the life-giver is. We know that one day the 'sting of death' (1 Corinthians 15:55) will be removed forever. Until then we have a mandate to care for the weak and needy, to visit those who are sick and to provide dignity for the dying.
Jason Gardner
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