I talked about Euthanasia (or “mercy killing”) about two years ago. This is from Wikipedia about the Act in Netherlands,
[…] euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide are not punishable if the attending physician acts in accordance with criteria of due care. These criteria concern the patient’s request, the patient’s suffering (unbearable and hopeless), the information provided to the patient, the absence of reasonable alternatives, consultation of another physician and the applied method of ending life.
– Euthanasia in Netherlands
It doesn’t just apply to physical illness, but also mental issues, as long as the criteria (including those abovementioneds and some other) are fulfilled.
Whereas in the state of Oregon, they have Oregon’s Death and Dignity Act (ODDA). The decision will be assessed by at least two qualified psychologist or psychiatrist, that the person is capable of making such decision and to rule out impaired judgement due to psychiatric illness. In other words, people who suffer from psychiatric or psychological illness will be denied of this aid-in-dying, because the illness can cause impaired judgement.
The interesting thing is, when asked, most psychologists and psychiatrists said they are not qualified to complete this death-with-dignity evaluation (1/3), or they will refuse or refer to another colleague (53%).
I mean… psychiatrists and psychologists are trained to prevent suicide (talking about us therapists and clinical psychologists). Doesn’t this Act put clinicians in the Oregon state in a very awkward position, if s/he is called upon to carry out the assessment? They would be thrust into a position of being part of this physician-assisted-suicide…
But then the other thing is also that I always believe that any chronic illnesses, especially those that grow in severity over time, if nothing is done to them, will quite often lead to depression. Be it mental, like suffering from OCD for 15 years or more or Panic Disorder for few months or more, or physical illness like arthritis or cancer, we see that people’s emotional wellbeing and quality of life can really deteriorate over time. So how about the chances of the person having quite severe clinical depression, and hence they will be denied of the aid (in Oregon but not in Netherlands)? Wouldn’t this apply to most if not all of the people who’re requesting for the aid?
In Malaysia “active” euthanasia is strictly illegal. But we’ve heard about animals being euthanised by the vets, by the state governments, by some animal societies etc. The restriction isn’t much (if any), the decision doesn’t seem as difficult (surely still very difficult if it’s by a pet owner but still incomparable to that of a human’s)… Why? Especially when humans decide to do that, most of the time, isn’t it for the benefits of ourselves? (governments can’t let the stray pass the disease, owner can’t see their pets suffer or no longer able to look after it etc).
Please give yourself a second chance. Malaysia suicide hotlines:
The Befrienders
03-7956 8144/ 03-7956 8145
www.befrienders.org.my
Life Line Association Malaysia
03-4265 7995
http://lifeline.org.my/cn/
Agape Counselling Center Malaysia
03-7785 5955 / 03-7781 0800
http://www.agape.org.my