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My perspective- Where do I draw the line?

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My perspective- Where do I draw the line?

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I believe euthanasia should be legalized in Australia, however, I draw the line when it comes to involuntary use. In accordance with my own conducted background research, I found that most people who work around those terminally ill observe the struggles and challenges to do daily activities e.g. going to the bathroom is deemed difficult and painful. By seeing this side of the argument, it highly persuaded my perspective as it is just like putting-down animals to end their suffering and send them to a better place, well then why can't human beings be given the choice? I think that the Australian laws against euthanasia are useless as those who are deciding to go through with it and are supported by their family and friends are travelling overseas to seek help somewhere else instead of Australia. In Andrew Denton's interview podcast, a quote that really stuck out to me was that a doctor said to a patient that if he assisted her in suicide then, "I have failed at my job.". I highly disagree with this statement as doctors are supposed to help patients live a quality life and die in peace and comfort. Rather than live for a long time but be in pain and suffering the whole time, letting family and friends dwell in the morning as they watch the slow and excruciating death of the person. I understand and respect that it is a Catholic Social Teaching about human dignity and that all life is a gift from God and it should be cherished. However, it is also expected that we respect each other's decisions and choices, so shouldn't we be understanding to those who have come to this conclusion and not judge them upon that. Finally, no country as free as Australia should stop people from making informed decisions like this that only impact themselves not the whole of Australia.

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Public/Political perspective: Andrew Denton- ABC host for podcast interviews

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Public/Political perspective: Andrew Denton- ABC host for podcast interviews

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Our world is constantly changing whether it be lifestyle, technology or social expectations, the modern mindset is revolutionising, so why can’t the laws change accordingly? Just like the podcasts that I publish, you need to evolve with your audience if you want them to listen and follow along. Which leads me onto another concern, who decides who goes and who gets to stay? What I mean by this, is that when it comes to a point of pain for an animal, why is it the vet who decides to put down the animal, and not the owners? Why is it the doctor that decides to turn off the life-support and not the family? Why are some people’s morals more important or valuable than another’s? These are the unanswered questions of society. Morals are bias, so then why do we listen to the professionals more?

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Family/Social perspective: Angie McLaughlin- son used euthanasia

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Family/Social perspective: Angie McLaughlin- son used euthanasia

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To begin I would address the proposal of creating restrictions for anyone to travel overseas and receive assisted-suicide medication. Then I would commend the Government for remaining in their strong stance when it comes to drawing a line. This is because it would be difficult to stick to their morals and ethics and use that judgement to better protect their country and their people. After reading the Euthanasia Law Act 1997 it was clearly evident that no subjective opinions were added and no evident bias. I think that this is important particularly for those who are for euthanasia as they tend to believe that those who are against assisted-suicide don’t understand and haven’t got thorough concepts. Whereas fortunately, this law act proves that the against side can be well-researched and well-rehearsed in response to this debatable topic.

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Scientific perspective: President of the AMA, Doctor Michael Gannon- Healthcare professional

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Scientific perspective: President of the AMA, Doctor Michael Gannon- Healthcare professional

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Again, I would say that I am speaking on behalf of the healthcare industry, and that the struggles I would also talk about the struggles that not only do the families and friends go through but also the regrets some nurses and doctors have, especially when it comes to thinking “what if there was something more I could’ve done to save them.” Or quite simply the fact that they have seen more of the suffering from patients then the families would ever know. From a survey of 4000 medical professionals showed that 50 per cent of doctors said medics “…should not be involved in euthanasia or physician assisted suicide, 38 per cent said they should be and 12 per cent neither agreed or disagreed.” (Julia Medew, 2016). This statistic shows that morals vary and that they world is changing, and more people are starting to support Euthanasia, more than they ever have before. We also need to consider that the statistics can change dramatically when factors are considered like, religion, where they grew up (city or town) and if they were answering the survey according to their personal beliefs or if they were adhering to the Australian laws.

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Catholic perspective: Clare Johnstone- Nun

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Catholic perspective: Clare Johnstone- Nun

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Firstly, I would let them know that the Catholic Church thanks them and appreciates their support in banning Euthanasia. It is very important that everyone helps and supports each other in keeping a strong faith and helping each other through tough times especially when it comes to babies and those terminally ill. It is important that we constantly remind ourselves to be grateful for this gift of life that we have been given and to live it out fruitfully. It is also important to protect each citizen from putting themselves or other in harm’s way. To do this we need to continue banning imports of lethal medication and stop Australian doctors from being able to have access. This will be in hope to one day persuade the United Nations to put a stop to assisted-suicide throughout the world, not just Australia.

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Question 4- If you were given the opportunity to speak personally with the Australian Government, what would you address?

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Question 4- If you were given the opportunity to speak personally with the Australian Government, what would you address?

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Public/Political perspective: Andrew Denton- ABC host for podcast interviews

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Public/Political perspective: Andrew Denton- ABC host for podcast interviews

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I once interviewed a young Australian woman, whose name is anonymous, where she’d experienced many different life-threating diseases including 4 types of cancers. She knew that her only alternative was to seek help from doctors and receive the needed euthanasia medication, which her family was supportive of. For this approval she needed acceptance from as many doctors as she could. In this search for help many doctors fortunately agreed, while many disapproved and refused to help her. An interesting point she said during my podcast was “I’m not choosing to die, cancer decided that for me.”. Which proves an excellent point, that yes euthanasia is categorized into voluntary and involuntary use, but pain and suffering is not voluntary, it just helps the patient get a bit further. So if it were legal I feel the patients from all over Australia, would feel that they are supported and their decisions are accepted, giving them a sense of human dignity.

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Family/Social perspective: Angie McLaughlin- son used euthanasia

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Family/Social perspective: Angie McLaughlin- son used euthanasia

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I think the consequences would be something like, a death rate increase, or the leading death cause would be euthanasia. I say this because I believe that if it were legal it would be used too often. What I mean by this, it that it is well and easy to say that you can draw a line so that only deformed babies and the terminally ill will receive this medication. But who creates the criteria? Who is to say well you can get assisted suicide but umm you can’t. But what if someone who is so ill or so drugged up on medication that they can’t say whether they want Euthanasia or not. Or even deformed babies, they can’t communicate what is wrong, let alone know what Euthanasia is. But those who don’t need it will fight for it as a society will lead them to think that it is their right to get a hold of the medicine, and because the law says I can, I will. I just think especially with so many people being diagnosed with depression and anxiety it will become a popular thing to do.

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Scientific perspective: President of the AMA, Doctor Michael Gannon- Healthcare professional

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Scientific perspective: President of the AMA, Doctor Michael Gannon- Healthcare professional

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I highly believe that there would only be positive consequences like the employment rate could increase as they need more staff to cater for the euthanasia process, this would result in an increase in the economy. That’s all the government cares about, right? This also relates to the point I made earlier, that the medical staff would be employed to making people comfortable rather than postponing the inevitable. As my job entails I have the dirty work of telling families that their loved one is in excruciating pain and is suffering like no one can imagine. But I feel that if it were legal it would be so much easier to say yes, they are suffering but it doesn’t have to end this way, there is an alternative that won’t put them in any harm. We doctors and nurses "have an ethical duty to care for dying patients so that death is allowed to occur in comfort and with dignity." (Julia Medew, 2016). So if it were legal I know that we would better adhere to the Hippocratic oath we took before being the professional salvation for many lives.

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Catholic Perspective: Clare Johnstone- Nun

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Catholic Perspective: Clare Johnstone- Nun

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The consequences of euthanasia would be the same as controversial topics like abortion and gay marriage, it becomes difficult, particularly for Catholic schools and education. What I mean by this, is that how could we tell students that it is wrong and it’s not what God wants, when the law says its fine. In our mission we not only aim to enliven their learning environment and help them strengthen their faith but also to help them formulate proper morals, to become better participants within their communities. I believe that a consequence if euthanasia was legal, is that it would sabotage the faith, learning, community that we strive for. Additionally, prevent us and Catholic families from raising future generations believing that murder, suicide and assisted suicide is not okay, and that it is looked down upon. How could they listen to us if the law is influencing them saying that it is acceptable in Australia?

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Question 3- What do you think the consequences would be if assisted-suicide was legal?

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Question 3- What do you think the consequences would be if assisted-suicide was legal?

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Public/Political perspective: Andrew Denton- ABC host for podcast interviews

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Public/Political perspective: Andrew Denton- ABC host for podcast interviews

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I think that what Angie was saying is a fair point that modern society is highly impacted by social media it influences our morals and the perspectives. So, this makes me think, well just because Euthanasia is currently illegal people just assume that it is a terrible thing, but if it was legal maybe people would be persuaded otherwise. So, I believe that if people researched and understood what it is they would certainly be more inclined to make informed judgements and it would change the way people think. Accordingly, I believe it would affect my everyday life by the change in societies attitude and it would help the patients by giving them the support and acceptance that they need to make it easier on them. I would also feel accomplished knowing that no one will have to go through what I watched my father go through.

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Family/Social perspective: Angie McLaughlin- son used euthanasia

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Family/Social perspective: Angie McLaughlin- son used euthanasia

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I dread thinking that euthanasia legalisation is possible, I know that it would affect my everyday life as just like every other controversial topic, it would be all the media would talk about and the families who have gone through those challenging times they will be constantly reminded. I would be reminded. I am also worried that people, well society, will start to think that it is a part of everyday life, when really, it’s not, it is a last resort option kind of thing. I just know that if it were legal in Australia, the views from society won’t stop at being opinions it will become arguments and these arguments will be between people and religions as we are very diverse. With a multi-cultural country, it leads to very diverse morals, so when not, everyone can agree it becomes illegal to have. This can be seen on a small scale where children could be fighting over a toy, so the parent takes it upon themselves to remove the toy so that no one can have it. This is what has been done to help us, citizens of Australia, not have debates on whose morals are more correct.

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Scientific perspective: President of the AMA, Doctor Michael Gannon- Healthcare professional

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Scientific perspective: President of the AMA, Doctor Michael Gannon- Healthcare professional

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Well, the day that Euthanasia is legalised will be the day that us doctors will be able to focus and use our energy towards making the patients comfortable and relaxed as possible. Rather than being employed to focus on extending their life expectancy to make our statistics for healthcare system seem immaculate. I personally can’t wait to see the day that it becomes legalised. Because I feel that when I go to work each day I will feel like I am doing something righteous and humane, instead of watching people suffer just to increase the figure for life expectancy. I know that if this were to happen it would significantly affect my everyday life and improve the work ethic, knowing that I am doing everything that I can to make everyone feel peaceful and at ease, and to be able to make sure that those families and friends aren’t going through a tough time alone.

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Catholic Perspective: Clare Johnstone- Nun

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Catholic Perspective: Clare Johnstone- Nun

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If Euthanasia was legalised in Australia this would, unfortunately, go against God’s teachings and my morals. So, it would affect my everyday life as it would be against my beliefs and make me want to use religion to help persuade others that it is wrong and immoral. Throughout history, we know that Euthanasia began in the 5th century before Christianity was created, and the ancient Greeks and Romans had no strong social opinions on the topic. It wasn’t until the influence of religion in the societies that people began realizing that human dignity was being taken away from many, many people. Many centuries that followed this revolution created a decrease in support for Euthanasia, which has all led up to this point. Now most countries have righteously banned euthanasia, so I guess if the laws became legalised we are going back to our primitive morals and beliefs of the 5th Century, and look how far we have come in technology and medicine, so shouldn’t our morals evolve too? If the topic has influenced everyday lives since before Christianity began, then I don’t believe that whether it was legalised or not, there will always be a debate, and there will always be varying morals.

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Question 2- If Euthanasia were legalized in Australia, how would this affect your everyday life?

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Question 2- If Euthanasia were legalized in Australia, how would this affect your everyday life?

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Public/Political perspective: Andrew Denton- ABC host for podcast interviews

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Public/Political perspective: Andrew Denton- ABC host for podcast interviews

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In my work, I try to expose, challenge and question the issue of euthanasia, and now I find myself saying that I am completely for euthanasia. In saying this, I come across many different perspectives and the various morals and ethics interviewees have. Throughout each story, I have heard that they are persuaded to draw a line at some point whether it be because of a family member, a friend or themselves. I am one of them. After seeing my father suffer it made me completely for euthanasia, “It was clear that the pain relief they gave him wasn’t enough and my sisters, mother and I were on constant watch with him. Throughout that time, my abiding memory is of these spasms and waves of pain going through his body. He was flinching, and he was buckling ... Then, at the end, it was a violent series of spasms. It was as if something had crawled inside him and was tearing him apart from the inside. It was horrible to watch, and it was horrible to hear. Watching my father die really shocked me – to see the brutality of it. I never understood to whose benefit he was kept alive for those extra three days, but it sure as hell wasn’t his.” (Andrew Denton, 2016) We hear stories that families regret giving euthanasia to the patient, but not us, we regretted making him suffer, so that’s why I don’t draw a line.

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Family/Social perspective: Angie McLaughlin- Son used euthanasia

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Family/Social perspective: Angie McLaughlin- Son used euthanasia

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I’d like to begin by saying that I am glad that Australia prevents euthanasia to be used as assisted suicide and I am very disappointed in those countries who do not. In 2011 to my distaste, my son took the initiative to travel overseas to take the ghastly drug. He was in a coma for weeks and couldn’t tell anyone in how much pain he was in, or anything. When he finally got the chance to talk again he got the nurses to help him fly to the Netherlands and receive Euthanasia. There was nothing we could do about it, he left his family and friends heart-broken in Australia. The impact was so devastating that I fell into deep depression along with my husband. I regret not spending time making sure that he was comfortable and relaxed, we were just so focused on making sure that he would at least live to the age of 21. So, from my experiences, my understanding is that I would draw the line to rule out euthanasia no matter the circumstances or reasoning behind it. I say this because I don’t want any family to go through what the McLaughlin family went through. No mother should have to know that her son fled the country to commit suicide because he didn’t think his life was worth living.

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Scientific perspective: President of the AMA, Doctor Michael Gannon- Healthcare professional

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Scientific perspective: President of the AMA, Doctor Michael Gannon- Healthcare professional

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As President of AMA I have heard that majority of doctors and nurses throughout Australia are for and completely support euthanasia, so when I say facts, statistics and observations on the topic I am gladly speaking on behalf of most Australian healthcare professionals. Of course, it is an ethical issue otherwise there wouldn’t be a debate on it. It is such a controversial topic because when becoming a qualified healthcare professional no one is told whether euthanasia is good or bad. As we doctors and nurses have an obligation to decide for ourselves whether we agree this makes the public unsure what to think. If doctors don’t have a set medical perspective, then how can anyone else decide unless it comes from their own morals and ethics. From a medical perspective, we first consider our medical research and training when it comes to drawing a line to make decisions that will affect the patients and their families, so we then consider personal morals and ethics and draw the line when it comes to giving the patient the option. We do unfortunately find it difficult to draw a line when we consider the situations where life support must be turned off or considering animals and pets that get put down to end their suffering, and we are no different.

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Catholic Perspective: Clare Johnstone- Nun

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Catholic Perspective: Clare Johnstone- Nun

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For starters Catholicism clearly, states that through the Catholic Social Teaching of human dignity, where every person has ethical freedom, therefore, making Euthanasia go against the beliefs of the Catholic church. The CST of Human dignity refers to the idea that humans are all created in the image and likeness of God, so we inherently do not have the right to take a life – no matter the circumstances. It is morally sinful consequently, euthanasia is an ethical issue relevant to the modern society, as well as the Catholic Church. Through our faith, we believe that assisted-suicide should be banned and that no country and no religion should allow it. If murder is illegal and suicide is wrong, then why should assisted-suicide be debatable? Here in the Church we try to change this mindset, from unethical to morally correct.

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Question 1- What is your understanding of morals and ethics when it comes to drawing a line on euthanasia?

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Question 1- What is your understanding of morals and ethics when it comes to drawing a line on euthanasia?