link: http://www.cnn.com/2015/10/05/us/california-assisted-dying-legislation/index.html
On Monday, California governor Jerry Brown signed legislation ABX2 15, also know as the “End of Life Option Act”. This official state law decriminalizes the act of a dying person ending their own life
Brown states that his choice to pass the controversial law was a personal opinion. He says, ”I do not know what I would do if I were dying in prolonged and excruciating pain…I am certain, however, that it would be a comfort to be able to consider the options afforded by this bill…I wouldn't deny that right to others."
Californians Against Assisted Suicide is an alliance against the Act. This group states that policymakers should have considered how the law will “affect the disadvantaged -- not the well-connected”. More specifically, wealthy citizens, like Governor Brown, has access to the best medical care, unlike most California citizens. They believe it could be potentially dangerous to give lower income healthcare providers the power to, “provide lethal overdoses to patients.”
I agree with the Californians Against Assisted Suicide’s argument. If doctors haven't done everything possible in the effort to preserve a patient’s life, is that morally correct? Wealthy citizens have been seen throughout history ignoring the lower class’s point of view. Just how Mario Cuomo argued against Ronald Reagan’s idea of America being “a shining city upon a hill”, “A shining city is perhaps all the president sees from the portico of the White House… But there’s another city…” Those currently in power fail to take into account the effect a change will have on all parts of the economy.
Carlos Joglar
ReplyDeleteBeing forced to die a slow and painful death is a strain on not only the dying, but also those close to the subject in question. This is a person's final choice in their life, their final moment to have control over their narrative. I'm very glad to see progress in this controversy.