On October 9, Dr. Ben Carson posted the following on his official Facebook page. It is very difficult to judge people who decide that they want to end their lives when they are afflicted with a terminal disease that is going to lead to a miserable death. Most people with terminal diseases can be allowed to die naturally if interventions are withheld and adequate comfort measures are taken. For example, people with glioblastoma (grade IV brain cancer) are usually on high doses of steroids. If the steroids are acutely withdrawn with the permission of the patient and family and sedation is administered, death follows quickly. We should never be too quick to judge others without spending some time in their shoes. It is true that medicine presents hard choices sometimes. But consider the four ethical choices of this post. 1. Suicide on its own has been viewed by most as unethical. Today, in dire, terminal circumstances, it is viewed by some as death with dignity. Is it undignified to let nature take its course? For those that see it this way, for God to have his way? Is that undignified? 2. He mixes terms. A natural death would not be one that is assisted by medicine. Acute withdrawal of steroid treatment while adding a sedative in a process designed to end life quickly sounds like doctor assisted suicide. 3. In Texas, treatment can be withdrawn if a doctor and a committee of hospital personnel decide to do it. Generally, there is a ten day window before they pull the plug including food and water. It doesnt matter if the patient has an advanced directive. Dr. Carson at least acknowledges the ethical requirement for the patients consent. 4. Value judgements are often more clearly understood from walking in the other guys shoes. But if the choice is a moral one, it has many impacts beyond the person making the choice for him or herself. Not all will share my view of this which I believe is based in good philosophy and more importantly, Christian thought. If it is your choice, choose to naturally die a natural death. Dr. Carson was responding in his post to a news item about a woman with a terminal disease who has chosen to die on Nov. 1. Everyone whos lived a while can empathize with the pain and difficulty she suffers but it isnt wise to make a spectacle of it. She believes it is important to take the stigma away from dying with dignity. Truly, people who choose to naturally die a natural death deserve at least as much honor and dignity.
Posted on: Tue, 14 Oct 2014 03:06:14 +0000
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