By Alex Schadenberg, Executive Director – Euthanasia Prevention Coalition
Claire Freeman
The New Zealand government is now officially debating a bill to legalize euthanasia. Recently Stuff News published an excellent article by Claire Freeman, who writes from the disability perspective.
Freeman opposes euthanasia based on her personal experience. Freeman notes that the bill is not limited to people who are terminally ill. Freeman wrote:
However, the bill contains another clause which states that anyone with a grievous and irremediable medical condition will also qualify for euthanasia. This is a very important aspect but seems to be often omitted.
This “grievous and irremediable” definition covers many people, especially those with severe disabilities, and this is where my concern lies.
Freeman wrote about a time in her life when she was suicidal.
As someone who has attempted suicide more than once, I know at first-hand how it feels like to be in a state where death seems a legitimate and desired option.
I blamed my condition – tetraplegia – for my poor mental health at the time, but in hindsight it was my misguided coping mechanisms that were the problem, along with a very stressful and unsupported lifestyle and work environment.
I was driven to explore the option of euthanasia in other countries but the cost was prohibitive. Had that option been available in New Zealand, I would very likely have qualified because of the severity of my injury.
At that time, I perceived that my life was not worth living, but that perception changed.
Freeman then tells us how her life has changed.
Since changing my lifestyle completely and getting the support and sleep I so desperately needed, I am now in a really good space and have been for the past two years. I am studying towards a PhD, and through social media I believe I am making a positive difference in the lives of others facing similar problems.
My life has new meaning and purpose and I have never felt happier. Realising my spinal injury or tetraplegia were not the cause of my mental health problems was a groundbreaking moment for me and I am so thankful that euthanasia or assisted suicide was not an option available to me in New Zealand.
I think most of us underestimate what kind of hardships we can cope with but we are adaptable and find strength to battle on – even with a serious injury like paralysis.
The silver lining to my injury is that it has made me more compassionate, humble, creative and adaptable. It has also made me more fearless. I have travelled to Europe, Japan, Canada, China and the United States, and if something does go wrong I know it’s OK, because I’m alive, I’m experiencing life and seeing it through new eyes.
Freeman ends her article by restating why legalizing euthanasia implies that her life is not worth living.
In one sense, I’ve been given a second chance at life.
While it is commendable that we are discussing euthanasia, we need to be extremely careful not to make assumptions about the quality of life of others like myself – people with grievous and irremediable medical conditions.
When the majority of health professionals believe that lives like mine are not worth living, we have a problem.
From my own personal experience, during my darkest moments, I was encouraged to seek overseas euthanasia options from medical professionals so it comes as no surprise this clause has been included in the bill.
What message does this bill send to those with disabilities if we decide it is acceptable to end one’s life without any real understanding of those lives? Because I believe my life is of value.
Editor’s note. This appeared on Mr. Schadenberg’s blog and is reposted with permission.