The Right to Die?
by It is true that every human being in this world has some kind of freedom of choice, but can that privilege be extended to the right to die?
In November 1902, US President Theodore Roosevelt was invited by Mississippi Governor on a hunting trip. Being with the US President, the people who organized the hunt were so pressured to make the said event successful. They made it easy for the President by hunting an old, hurt, and weary American Black Bear and tying it to a willow tree. They called the President to the site and asked him to shoot the bear. But President Roosevelt said “no!” and refused to shoot the bear. According to him, “No one would shoot this old bear for sport. That would not be right.”
Teddy Roosevelt’s refusal to shoot the bear made headline in major newspapers the following day. It became a political cartoon in the Washington Post. The cartoon illustration showed an adult black bear tied by a white handler and a dismayed Roosevelt on the side. 
Image via Wikipedia
This cartoon illustration was adopted by other cartoonist and a smaller and cuter version of the bear became popular. Toymaker Morris Michtom was fascinated with the cute bear and he designed a stuffed-toy out of it. And we all know that this toy is now the famous “Teddy Bear” named after Theodore Roosevelt.
Image via Wikipedia
Others think that President Roosevelt is a hero for refusing to shoot the American Black Bear which eventually lead to the discovery of the Teddy Bear. Even in the advent of techno toys and Barbie dolls, it is difficult to imagine our children not playing with Teddy Bear or even our own childhood without being exposed to this cuddly toy. But did you know that after President Roosevelt refused to shoot the bear, he eventually ordered his men to kill the injured bear to put it out of its misery? Poor bear.
The fate of the bear reminded me of a New Zealander nurse named Lesley Martin. She was found guilty of attempting to kill her mother with a lethal dose of morphine and was sentenced to 10 years in prison.
Martin, who is also an advocate of legalizing euthanasia or mercy killing in New Zealand, said that her actions were in keeping with her mother’s wishes and she was just helping her mother die gently.
Is mercy killing an act that respects the right of people to choose what they want? Thus, the right to live gives us a right to die.
All of us, if faced with that question will yield different answers. Our answers will be influenced by our personal beliefs, religion, culture, or even our economic conditions. Euthanasia is still an unresolved issue. It is true that every human being in this world has some sort of freedom of choice, but can that privilege be extended to the right to die?
Liked it
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Post Commentpapaleng
On May 3, 2009 at 6:26 am
Excellent article and a good point to ponder. for me,God is the only being that has the sole authority to take away one’s life.
Darla Cooke
On May 3, 2009 at 9:54 am
Interesting article.
Jo Oliver
On May 3, 2009 at 10:11 am
Yes, I think that people have the right to die and refuse treatment. But, at the same time, medical professionals have the moral and ethical responsibility to preserve life. SO, while people have the right to die, they do not have the right to expect others to aid them in doing so.
Papa said it best, a good point to ponder.
Bo Russo
On May 3, 2009 at 10:36 am
I often thought about this and have never arrived at a conclusion,also from a christian perspective it’s hard to know what is right.
Glynis Smy
On May 3, 2009 at 11:38 am
As a nurse I had many dilemas in my life. Relatives begging you to end a life of pain and listening to a patient cry out for death to come quickly. As a neice I had to watch my aunt die of motor neurone disease, a dreadful suffering for a human to have to endure, she wanted to die so often but was unable to do anything about it except talk. I think the human being has a right to choose what it does with its own life,so long as it is not at the expense of anothers. I would not assist in a final moment unless it was legal and approved ie: life support machine.
Interesting article cute teddy bear and sensitive subject.
Kate Smedley
On May 3, 2009 at 2:32 pm
Sensitive subject, well handled, papaleng’s comment was probably the most appropriate … it is a point to ponder and depends very much on personal belief.
clay hurtubise
On May 3, 2009 at 4:04 pm
Interesting piece. Why should any government have a say on your choice of living or dying?
Thanks,
clay
Juancav
On May 3, 2009 at 10:20 pm
God gave me life and God will take away my life.
MMV Abad
On May 4, 2009 at 4:46 am
I agree with Juancav. Only God can take our lives… no one should, mercy killing or not.
Mr Ghaz
On May 4, 2009 at 5:19 am
Excellent!.that was very interesting and well presented article..Thnx for sharing this great stuff..nice pics too
berrynice
On May 4, 2009 at 7:35 am
Excellent article that raises lots of interesting questions. It is a sensitive and controversial subject that you handled well.
Melody Arcamo Lagrimas
On May 5, 2009 at 1:04 am
Very thought-provoking, but you expressed it so well.
Blue Buttefly
On May 5, 2009 at 4:16 pm
Only God has the right to take away what he had given! Accomplishes of mercy killing are murderer in God’s view point.
Chris Stonecipher
On May 5, 2009 at 10:03 pm
This is a subject that will be debated for many years. I believe that only God has the right to end a life, but the hypocryte in me says that if a person is soley living on life support there may need to be an end to it. I had a friend who was on life support for 5 years. When the family and friends resources where depleted to the point where they could no longer help him, they took him off life support and he passed away immediately.
You did a wonderful job with this delicate subject. I hope you don’t mind but I want to add this to my Chris Stonecipher and Friends Blog.
Bless you,
Chris
writing4angels
On May 8, 2009 at 6:34 am
a very good article and thought provoking.
Roberto Mortu
On May 8, 2009 at 5:57 pm
very tought question “…right to die”. but is no right is just us being.
anonymous
On May 10, 2009 at 4:46 am
I read here again and again – only God has the right to take away life. What about the animals we kill for food? What about people with heart attacks whose deaths we prevent with open heart surgery? What about people with cancer who would die naturally if we didn’t step in with chemotherapy or radiation therapy or surgery? Has God not given us the power to stop someone’s death with modern medicine?
Has he not, then, by the same token, given us the ability to prevent the horrendous, painful, undignified suffering of one who will most certainly die a lingering death of a terminal illness? Do you honestly think it is the “Christian” thing to do to let such an individual suffer a horrendously painful death rather than allow them to die in peace, dignity and comfort if that is their wish?
I am chronically ill and I am in pain 24-7. Most of my major organs are damaged. I can no longer work, can hardly leave the house, and am barely even able to maintain a relationship with my friends and my children. I can no longer take care of myself. My cognitive abilities have seriously deteriorated. I consider it my right to end my life in peace, dignity and in the comfort of my home at the time of my choosing, not when I have deteriorated to the point of having to be on life support in a hospital and someone finally decides to “pull the plug”.
I choose a dignified, pain-free death at home rather than tied to life-support in a hospital after horrendous suffering.
CutestPrincess
On May 20, 2009 at 11:27 pm
Very in depth and informative article. Well done
Leslee Masoero
On May 27, 2009 at 4:18 pm
I feel that God should determine when a person’s time to go is. We never know why we are having the experiences or physical challenges that we do.. We need to leave this decision to him..yet he has given us free will and the right to choose so there will always be people that will choose when to end it all but I do not think he wants us to do this.. he wants us to trust him completely..
Coconut
On May 27, 2009 at 5:36 pm
Physician assisted suicide is ethical and moral because it offers help to those who cannot end their suffering on their own and also why use the resources on people who dont want to do wht not use them on the ones that want to end there life. Forcing citizens to suffer from incruable diseases as they waste away is crul!!
Only17
On May 28, 2009 at 12:02 pm
@ Anonymous
We were created in a imperfect world. Talking about hear attacks, and killing animals are just two of many fixes apart of this world. If you all believe that God created us and has the right to everything, than I would be guessing that the same would go for situations such as this.
Its unfortunite that these things happen but they do.
People should have the right to there body and control rather the want medicine or not. Its that or you have a suicide on the News every day.
CaSundara
On September 6, 2009 at 8:59 am
A wonderful article that leaves the question entirely up to the reader to answer, just as it should be left to the individual to choose how and when they wish to die.
@anon – I sincerely hope you get your wish to die in peace and dignity at the time of your choosing…