"Rather, her objection lies in the fact that, once we set up rules and protocols for managing assisted death, there will almost immediately be special pleadings and lobbying for extensions. How can we be certain that assisted dying is not being mooted as a way of relieving the state of an extra financial burden?"
"Canada has had Medical Assistance in Dying (Maid) since June 2016. Initial eligibility was confined to individuals with a reasonably foreseeable natural death. Since then it has been expanded to cover those who have serious and incurable but not necessarily terminal diagnoses. Legislation has also been passed to allow Maid for individuals whose sole underlying condition is a mental illness."
Kathleen Stock presents a philosophical opposition to assisted dying legislation, particularly the end-of-life bill before the House of Lords. Despite public support from approximately three-quarters of Britons, Stock contends that establishing formal rules and protocols for assisted death creates conditions for mission creep and special pleadings. She argues that once systems are institutionalized, pressure mounts for expanding eligibility criteria. Stock provides evidence from Canada's Medical Assistance in Dying program, which has progressively broadened from terminal illness to serious incurable conditions and now includes mental illness provisions. Her concern extends beyond individual suffering to systemic risks, including potential financial motivations for the state to encourage assisted dying.
#assisted-dying #end-of-life-ethics #policy-expansion #medical-legislation #philosophical-opposition
Read at www.theguardian.com
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