CCBI News: Inherent Dignity; Absolute Autonomy-Repercussions; Legal Rights-Moral Rightness

April 5, 2024

Dear Friends of CCBI,

Rising Numbers

Those who are concerned about the rising numbers of deaths from euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide need only to look at recent numbers from Canada and Oregon to confirm their fears. For example, the Oregon Health Authority released its statistics for 2023, showing that prescriptions rose from 443 in 2022 to 560 in 2023. The number of prescriptions is significant since Oregon does not allow direct euthanasia but only assisted suicide, whereby a prescription is given and the person self-administers the drugs, hence ‘assisted suicide,’ which is a more accurate description. The physician is the ‘assister’ in these cases. An article in Catholic World states: “Nearly all — 92% — said their reason for obtaining the drugs included concern over “loss of autonomy.” Additionally, 82% also reported they were concerned about their “decreasing ability to participate in activities that made life enjoyable” and 64% cited concerns over “loss of dignity.”

Yet again we see that euthanasia procedures are often requested for ‘loss of control’ issues, perceived as intolerable to human dignity, as opposed to the mistaken perception that people seeking euthanasia are always suffering from unremitting pain at end-of-life. Reluctance to accept loss of control, on the other hand, tells us something about the way many people view themselves today and that the kind of society we live in reinforces that view. I cannot be seen as helpless or in need of others, nor will I accept my own limitations. My perception of human dignity is such that I would rather be dead than reveal my frailty, physical weakness and dependence on others. My own limitations of mind and character affect my decision-making. I cannot accept ‘powerlessness,’ so invoke the ultimate power of control over my destiny and choose to end my own life. As is frequently remarked in obituaries: ‘died under his (or her) own terms.’ Is this human progress?

How do those who value human life from conception until natural death counter these cultural perceptions and assure people that loss of control or incapacitating illness does not diminish human worth? That human dignity is not superficial and dependent on control or autonomy, but inherent and constitutive of being human, as Catholic teaching tells us? Can we agree that dignity is always present because we are human? We are no less human and do not lose dignity when we seem to lose autonomy, or part of it.

As Christians, we have another response to life’s challenges, and we should make it better known: we have inherent, non-removable dignity because we have been created in the image and likeness of God. That makes all the difference.

Father v Daughter: Legal v Moral

In a recent case in Alberta, an autistic woman’s approval for a euthanasia procedure was challenged by her own father. The judge in the case ruled that the father did not have “private interest standing,” and decided against him, stating that: “Finding that WV (the father) has standing as of right in relation to his adult daughter’s interactions with the healthcare system would set a dangerous precedent; specifically, that a person has standing as of right to challenge the medical decision-making of an adult family member and their doctors. This runs contrary to the presumption of the capacity of adults….” 

This is legally accurate in a system where autonomy is regarded as more or less absolute. Currently, if a person is an adult and of sound mind to give consent, any medical decision is that person’s alone. Problems arise when either aspect is missing or deficient, and the question of capacity is sometimes difficult to assess. In this case, the father is concerned about the daughter’s decision because, first, she is his daughter (!) and, second, he claims there are other factors clouding her judgement, especially her decision to end her life. The judge, however, while sympathizing with the first point, stated that a diagnosis of a psychological or psychiatric condition does not automatically mean a person is incapable of making medical conditions. He ruled that “…the harm of infringing on the 27-year-old woman’s autonomy and dignity outweighs the pain that her death would cause her father.” It is difficult to know what factors feature in that assessment, apart from the overbearing weight of ‘autonomy.’ Yes, I respect autonomy, but not an absolute autonomy that has repercussions for others. Do such factors as family values and parental protectiveness not count at all?

Catholic Teaching Distinguishes Legal Rights from Moral Rightness

The decision was stayed for 30 days to allow the father to appeal. A Globe and Mail article supported the judgement, quoting the daughter’s lawyer as saying: “W.V.’s love for his daughter does not give him the right to keep her alive against her wishes.” It is questionable whether society would agree with that judgement when people are prevented from committing suicide. Quite naturally, most of us hope they will not be successful and instead be restored to their families. Why, then, is ‘the right’ to be euthanized when people want to stop living treated as a completely different matter? Many people, of course, will say, ‘because it is legal,’ but Catholic teaching is careful to distinguish legal rights from moral rightness. They do not always coincide. 

Brava, Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland’s Former First Minister!

A former First Minister of Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon, is now thinking of voting against an upcoming motion in the Scottish Parliament which would allow euthanasia, a measure she formerly supported. In a Scottish newspaper she stated:

Despite my expectations, the more deeply I think about the different issues involved, the more I find myself veering away from a vote in favour, not towards it. I worry that even with the best of intentions and the most carefully worded legislation, it will be impossible to properly guarantee that no-one at the end of their life will feel a degree of pressure, a sense that it might be better for others for them not be here – even if their loved ones try to persuade them otherwise.

And, even more, fundamentally, I worry about the thin end of the wedge. That if we normalise assisted dying – if we come to associate dignity at the end of life with choosing to die, rather than being supported to live in as much peace and comfort as possible – then we will, as a society, lose focus on the palliative and end-of-life care and support that is necessary to help people, even in the worst of circumstances, to live with dignity. And I worry that, over time, this shift in collective mindset will see the tightly drawn provisions of this bill extended much further.

She is correct. In Canada we know that original safeguards for MAID are being removed (e.g., age, full consent at time of procedure) and we know that its ‘tightly drawn’ provisions were never that tight, but somewhat elastic. As predicted, they are gradually being stretched in favour of making euthanasia and physician-assisted death more widely available. A great deal of resistance has been generated in Scotland over the current Bill, and it will be interesting to see if it is effective, given the current ‘culture of death’ that exists in some sectors of societies, and of which Pope John Paul II constantly reminded us.

Oregon reports significant uptick in assisted suicides – Catholic World
Canadian Judge Grants 27-Year-Old Autistic Woman’s Request for Assisted Suicide| National Catholic Register (ncregister.com)
Opinion: A timely reminder that the courts need to keep their noses out of individuals’ medical decisions – The Globe and Mail
I feel myself swaying against legalising assisted dying | Glasgow Times

Pope Francis’ Intentions for April: For The Role of Women

We pray that the dignity and immense value of women be recognized in every culture, and for the end of discrimination that they experience in different parts of the world.

Moira and Bambi